Snowsports industry heads for huge Vegas show

About the only thing missing will be snow in dry, dusty Las Vegas next week when the annual gathering of anyone and everyone associated with the snowsports industry commences at SIA.07, the gigantic SnowSports Trade Show hosted by Snowsports Industries America. The Las Vegas weather forecast for next week calls for high temperatures in the 50s, but who could be surprised if a little bit of the white stuff fell from the desert sky during this wacky weather year worldwide.
ABOUT THE ONLY THING missing will be snow in dry, dusty Las Vegas next week when the annual gathering of anyone and everyone associated with the snowsports industry commences at SIA.07, the gigantic SnowSports Trade Show hosted by Snowsports Industries America.
    The Las Vegas weather forecast for next week calls for high temperatures in the 50s, but who could be surprised if a little bit of the white stuff fell from the desert sky during this wacky weather year worldwide. Save for the Intermountain West, which has been getting hammered with snowstorms since mid-December, the rest of the United States has seen precious little snowfall. Ski areas throughout the Northeast have struggled to remain open or start the lifts at all this season — and the nation’s ski industry as a whole has taken a big hit economically because of the dry weather.
    So perhaps SIA.07 — as next week’s gathering has been dubbed — comes along at a perfect time. If skiers can’t actually partake in their favorite sport during what has been an absent winter in many locales, then they may as well see and touch some of the latest and greatest products the industry has in store for next season. And hey, maybe it’ll even snow next season.
    The Mandalay Bay hotel and casino and the adjoining convention center will host the SIA show for the fifth straight year beginning Monday and continuing through Thursday. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is the largest on the Las Vegas Strip, boasting 1.5-million square feet of space. SIA.07 manufacturers, distributors, buyers, sales reps, media members, industry professionals and athletes will fill more than 340,000 square feet with exhibits, product displays, athlete performances and more from 422 companies representing 872 brands in 3,400 booths. In addition, 75 new exhibitors are scheduled for booth space this year. Organizers say the event has been sold out since March of last year.
A special treat at this year’s show will be the formal induction of three former U.S. Ski Team athletes into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame as the class of 2006. The announcement that freestyle pioneer Trace Worthington, 1998 Olympic moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley and World Championships silver medalist Julie Parisien had been elected was made in October, but the formal ceremony is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 24.
    Here’s a look at a few of the special exhibits scheduled for this year’s show:
    • The Snow Fashion Show will kick off the event on Sunday night. Exhibitors will display their winter clothing and accessory lines for the 2007-08 season.
    • A two-story structure named The Yard was added to the show to boost floor space and allow for some of the industry’s smaller, emerging brands to display their products. Many lesser-known snowboard manufacturers will have space in The Yard, as will a host of clothing and accessory manufacturers that may not be well-known in the snowsports industry.  
    “We are excited to introduce this new exhibit at the SIA.07 Show and with the help of our partners, anticipate that The Yard will offer the optimal experience for both exhibitors and attendees,” said David Ingemie, SIA president. “With close to 30 brands involved in The Yard, we hope the section will draw the attention of buyers and media in an easy-to-navigate space.”
    • The Locker Project will make the first of four stops around the country this season at SIA.07. Show attendees will be able to check out the “lockers” of 44 skiers, snowboarders and one world champion surfer. The project will consist of five separate banks of eight to 12 lockers that have been fitted with clear acrylic windows and interior lights that will spotlight athletes’ equipment, personal memorabilia and sponsor goodies. No two lockers will be the same.
    “This isn’t a Hall-of-Fame-type exhibit. It’s a way to showcase who’s hot now,” Ingemie said. “Our industry depends on active athletes and personalities to drive the lifestyle and culture of action sports. Our goal is that the Locker Project evolves into a traveling exhibit that takes skiing and snowboarding to the public for the benefit of all SIA members.”
    Grants for the initial Locker Project exhibit were donated by SIA, Salomon, Rossignol/Quiksilver, K2, USSA, Swix, Orage and Best Lockers. The project was not limited to the sponsors’ own athletes.
    “It doesn’t look like a commercial advertisement for one company or another,” said Locker Project creator Jack Turner. “It’s genuine artwork when you see the effort that everyone is putting into their design. The sponsors’ gear just makes it that much more legitimate. You can’t be a world-class athlete if you’re not on the best equipment.”
    Here are some notable special events, autograph signing sessions and contests scheduled for this year’s show:
    • The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24. A reception where show attendees can meet Worthington, Moseley and Parisien is set for Monday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.
    • Salomon big mountain skier Chris Davenport will give a “Ski the Fourteeners” presentation, chronicling his quest to climb and ski all of Colorado’s 54 14,000-foot peaks in one year. The presentation’s scheduled for Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m.
    • Screamer athletes Nikki Stone, the Olympic gold medalist in freestyle aerials in 1998, and Glen Plake will be in the company booth signing autographs on Tuesday. Stone will appear at 1 p.m. and Plake at 3 p.m.
    • Freeskiing legend Dean Cummings will sign posters at the Auclair Sports booth at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
    • Smith Optics will hold a “Sunglass and Goggle Stomp” on Monday at 5 p.m. Attendees can crush a pair of non-Smith sunglasses or goggles and get a new pair for free while supplies last.