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Did You Double Your Show Go This Year?

By Craig Altschul
February 05, 2007

So, did you have the stamina for both the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) trade show at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the newly expanded Salt Lake City Salt Palace as January roared to a close? If so, good for you. You win a can of espresso.

SIA came first in glitzy Vegas, but if you moved quickly enough you get could catch the pre OR show Backcountry Base Camp that kicked off the Winter Market. If you were part of a crossover company that exhibited at both shows, we only hope you wore comfortable shoes.

"I heard a lot of groaning from crossover manufacturers as their buyers put off SIA meetings to see them at OR. 'Why do we even bother?' murmured some sock company reps," Jill Adler told The Industry Report. Adler is a long-time equipment and ski writer who often covers the sport for OnTheSnow.com. She attended both shows, all the while introducing her new baby to the shopping business.

Adler said she felt both shows seemed a bit slower to her this year, attributing that to the possibility that this back-to-back concept is finally sinking in to show attendees.

The slow pace was more than made up for, however, by what Adler terms a "revved up look" for outerwear that "flashed back to the seventies without the neon."

Some examples from the lady in the know: "Kamik won raves both at OR and SIA for their psychedelic rubber rainboots for kids and women. Bonfire, Obermeyer, Liquid Boardwear, Five Seasons, Isis, Orage, all offered more feminine stylings and toggle-button jackets (where the closure comes across the chest like on a Chinese garment).

Colors you'll see include more white, watermelon, greys, greens - even for men. Another noticeable trend was the number of new baselayer companies. Everyone's jumping on that bandwagon insisting their garment will produce the warmest/driest winter experience."

You'll see a plethora of companies with goggles next season that attack the issue of switching out lenses for various lighting conditions, Adler says. Giro even claims its new Poptop goggle eliminates fingerprints, cracking, and airholes you commonly get while trying to change out your lens. Just flip the toggle at the top and slide the new lens in.

Adler says skis are virtually the same but with updated cosmetics. Head's Monster series comes with a new torpedo-looking backcountry ski but the rest of the line stays the same. As she puts it so well, "why mess with a good thing?" Volkl's Tiger Shark carver series features a power switch dial on the tail to soften or stiffen the flex by adjusting springs you can see on the topsheet.

She said everywhere you turn they're making mini-versions of adult lines. There also seems to be a growing number of kids-only companies like Roonwear, Outside Baby, Snow Dragon, Molehill Mountain Equipment. Smartwool showed up their new infant merino wool sock and ShredAlert had the cutest little fleece bomber hats for baby.

Recycled fabrics were all the buzz in Salt Lake at OR. Patagonia just announced a new program to take recycled polypro from any company (not just theirs), ship it to Japan to be recycled and made into new Patagonia wear. She also noticed manufacturers common to the NY fashion scene, debuting at OR; especially footwear companies.

Lots and lots of shoes at OR this year, she says. Maryjanes are huge for next fall. Ecco, Merrell, Dansko, Keen, El Naturalista all have their "ruggedized version" of the MaryJane. Plus, the traditional hiking footwear companies have added fashionable, calf-high boots for everyday wear.

Did you head to SIA? To OR? Did you go for gold and do both? Tell us about your show experiences.

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