SIA Snow Sports Directory Now Available

February 22nd, 2012

By: SIA
February 22, 2012

The 2012 SIA Snow Sports Directory is now accessible in three different formats, making the industry always readily available at your fingertips.

The Directory has been produced annually for over 50 years and is the most widely used industry resource for retailers, media, suppliers, resorts and industry groups. This resourceful book is the only place where you can access the most important industry contacts, brand listings and personnel.

There are three ways to use the Directory:

Online Directory
The Online Directory is a live link to the member database and is always up to date with current contact listings. Click here to view the SIA Online Directory.

Interactive PDF
Download the interactive PDF version for easy access to the industry 24/7. Search within the PDF and save directly to your desktop for endless contacts. The PDF also includes the Addendum; a list of changes and editions made to the directory, through January 29, 2012.

Hard Copy
The hard copy version of the PDF is broken down into sections based on brands, products and personnel making researching and cross-referencing a breeze.

Forgot to pick up an SIA Snow Sports Directory at the Show? No worries.
To request a hard copy of the Directory email Directory2012@snowsports.org

To make changes to your Directory listing please contact SIA’s Membership Department at PGrenke@snowsports.org or 703.506.4222

 

 

Thanks to PrimaLoft for being a contributing sponsor of the 2012 SIA Directory.

 

 

The 2012 SIA Snow Show is a Wrap

February 21st, 2012

By: Shayboarder
February 21, 2012

For four days in late January, the snow sports community flocked to Denver for the annual SIA Snow Show to view the latest gear for 2013. Retailers spent their days in appointments booking orders as the press and media captured the products and parties, and the industry took over the Mile High City to reunite, rejuvenate and revive winter sports. For the first time since SIA moved to Denver, people finally stopped talking about missing Vegas.

Despite a less than stellar season for snowfall around the US, over 20,000 attendees made the Snow Show to welcome the next generation of products. In case you didn’t make the SIA Snow Show, here’s a glimpse into the snowboard products and trends coming out for 2013.

Possibilities for everyone Flat, Rocker, Reverse Camber, Hybrid, Camber, new designs are the rage. Riders have an assortment of choices to handle whatever riding they want but now they can choose from new designs out on the market for 2013. Camber isn’t dead either, Lib Tech introduced C3, a new banana technology with three cambers. Venture Snowboards out of Colorado introduced their new Euphoria model built for deep powder days and floating the snow wave. Rome Snowboards take a classic Hosoi shape to the snow for skate influence style and freestyle fun with the Hammerhead snowboard. For their third year, Jones Snowboards introduces three boards to the women’s line and offers a Carbon Series freeride and splitboard the line.

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Tales Of An Office Romance

February 20th, 2012

By: Ryan Dionne
Skiing Business
February 20, 2012

From long tradeshow days and late-night meetings to ripping pow and designing next year’s gear, one thing is clear: We’re all in this industry because we love it.

So in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Skiing Business caught up with a variety of people from across the ski industry, and asked one question:

Why do you love working in the ski industry?

“They say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. That rings true for a lot of us, it’s not really work, it’s hanging out with some great people and talking about something we all have a passion for.” — Jim Blue, Scandinavian Ski and Snowboard Shop

“I love working in the ski industry because I spend more time on the mountain than I do in the office!” — Caitlin Martz, Canyons resort

“Incredible people, stunning places, inspirational feats, endless potential. Coolest (pun intended) industry out there, hands down.” — Laura Schaffer, Mountain Hardwear

whyloveindustryquote01

“I know most people will say the perks of shredding fresh powder or getting first tracks, which are all fine and dandy, but what I love most about the ski industry is the people. It’s hard to consider this ‘work’ when you get to make new friends while doing business and represent products you are passionate about and believe it. That and playing GNAR with my buddies on a work trip.” — Seth Beiden, CamelBak

 

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The 27th annual Legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom

February 17th, 2012

By: Dave Wray, SIA’s Western Sales & Marketing Manager @DWraySIA
February 17, 2012

There’s something about the turn that makes snowboarding so damn fun.  And face it, most of what you do on a board involves turning.  Add some frozen, banked, skate park like walls, some of the best pro snowboarders in the world, some legends, some everyday shredders like me, a slew of groms, some gourmet/homemade food and a splash of Northwest soul and there you have it, the Legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom.  It’s the same thing only better and it’s been going on for the last 27 years.  I’m guessing it could be the longest running snowboard event out there, but that’s not the point.

No hype, no fuss and no joke it’s the real deal of snowboarding and being a part of it is the highlight of my season…every season.  Gumby (Bob Gundram, C3) said it best “you can try to duplicate this event, but you certainly can’t replicate it.”  He and a several other industry dudes somehow figured out how great this event is and that the only way to get in on the action and ride the course is to sponsor the event.

The roll call of industry heads goes like this: Gags (Mike Gagliardi, Never Summer), Johan (Johan Malkoski, C3), Gumby (C3), Blue Montgomery (C3), George Kleckner (C3), Maxx Von Marbod (POW Gloves), Eric Carlson (Smith Optics), Corey Smith (Smith, Mtn Approach), John Kaiser (Mtn Approach), Pete Saari (Mervin), Krush Kulesza (Mervin) Andrew Marriner (Billabong), Bobby Meeks (Nike), Scott Downing (NW rep), Dustin Anderson (NW rep), Dave Graves (Rockies rep), Eric Warble (CO rep), Amy Eichner (Salomon Bonfire Snowboarding) 2nd place women’s pro- masters, Bob Klein (Octagon Olympic and Action Sports), Benjamin Pellegrino (Milosport, Orem Utah), George Bean (US Outdoor), Karma Vella (Poler), Patrick McCarthy (686). 

The fast and icy conditions of the course on Sunday took its toll on many including myself.  Usually somewhere between the 3rd and 5th turn people got bucked off the course and spit out of the turn simply because the G-forces couldn’t be managed properly.  Those that did harness that energy while continuing to generate more speed did it the right way.  And those that did that all the way down the course each and every turn the fastest got a roll of duct tape and huge respect from the entire community that was there.

The course is only part of the action.  The real deal takes place in many different and unexpected forms and places.  The Mt. Baker crew puts their entire heart and soul into this event and it really shows.  They cook over 450 lbs. of salmon, the racer tent at the top is stocked with gourmet soups, paella, chocolate and cheese fondue along with hot cider, cocoa and coffee.  They’ve got a DJ up there spinning tunes, One Ball Jay holds down the waxing scene and all this creates a one-of-a-kind vibe like no other snowboarding event out there. 

This year they threw in a new twist with the addition of a free-from quarter pipe hand plant contest of sorts.  This all went down at the new Ravens Hut Lodge along with the traditional salmon bake and beer garden.  It’s events like this that make me feel so damn lucky to have a career in the snow industry as a professional and a rider.

Here are some random links on the event as well.  Some might have some inappropriate language so beware.

http://the-tackledbox.blogspot.com/

http://snowboarding.transworld.net/1000171287/featuresobf/the-2012-legendary-mount-baker-banked-slalom/?show=gallery

http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/story/_/id/7569372/27th-legendary-mt-baker-banked-slalom

http://www.shayboarder.com/2012/02/mt-baker-legendary-banked-slalom-finals-21212.html

http://www.yobeat.com/2012/02/13/2012-legendary-banked-slalom-video/

 

Snowboard Dollar Sales Down 5% Through December

February 16th, 2012

By: Mike Lewis
TransWorld Business
February 16, 2012

We were pleasantly surprised by the general mood at the 2012 SIA Snow Show. Despite a rough winter (read “brown, sunny, and better suited for skating, surfing, and mountain biking”) brands and retailers were keeping their glasses half full, and not just with beer. Early season sales has been decent, the inventory pipeline was well lubricated at the end of last season, and the overall consensus on the floor about the snow was “it will come.”

SIA released its December sales data for the snowsports industry as a whole at the beginning of the show, but it was largely devoid of snowboard specific stats so we followed up with SIA Director of Research Kelly Davis, as we do each month during the season, to dig into the snow stats.

August-December 2011 Snowboard Top Line Data (Includes all channels and carryover)

  • Snowboard equipment sales down 10% in units and 5% in dollars to $197M
  • Board sales are down 7% in units, 4.5% in dollars
  • Boots are down 11% in units, and 6% in dollars
  • Bindings are down 11% in units, and 6% in dollars

While these figures are from from rosy, the numbers are better than they could have been with as little snow as has been gracing the slopes this season, thanks to those early season sales. The real worry will come if the forecast continues to look like spring for much of the nation.

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High Society’s Focus On Premium Products and Partnerships

February 16th, 2012

By:
February 16, 2012

Nine years ago, a group of friends spent their days on the slopes of Aspen and their evenings tuning and selling equipment.  Frustrated by skis and boards that fell apart as the season unfolded, they hatched a plan to create products that could withstand spending every day on the mountain.  Since then, they’ve built a brand that’s won numerous awards and developed a reputation for a streamlined collection of premium equipment and apparel.

“In 2003, Reggie Charles, Jeremy Rungi, and I were working for a local shop,” explains High Society cofounder Jason Flynn.  “We were shredding pow and park every chance we got and spending all of our money on gear.”  As the season progressed, however, much of this gear fell apart.  “Almost nothing in the industry was tough enough for the local Aspen crews,” explains Charles.  “We saw a need for better boards and skis that guys like us could get behind.”  After the three pooled their meager savings to make a few boards, High Society was born and it hit the ground running.

Although Aspen locals quickly embraced the brand, retailers were initially confused.  “Not many ski shops sold snowboards,” offers Charles, “and basically zero snowboard shops wanted anything to do with skis.”  At the time, there were few boutique brands in the industry and the freeride movement was just gaining momentum.  Luckily, notes Charles, “Just enough people got exactly what we were going for.”

The Freeride Foundation

High Society made its debut in winter, but the brand didn’t hibernate when the snow melted.  “We started High Society because we wanted to make better products that we could use in our daily lives,” explains Charles.  “In the winter that meant skis and snowboards and in the spring and summer that meant streetwear, skate decks, and mountain bike apparel.”  Recently, the brand unveiled an outerwear collection.  According to Flynn, outerwear was a natural progression in the brand’s commitment to crafting “premium necessities.”  For High Society, this focus on premium products helps ensure that the brand is constantly evolving.  Next year, for example, much of High Society’s outerwear will rely on Cocona fabrics to provide even greater waterproofing and breathability.

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Fifty years of K2

February 15th, 2012

By: Dean Seguin
ESPN.com
February 15, 2012

K2 releases Rolling Stones ski for 50th anniversary

Courtesy of K2: A look back at K2 during the 1970s, when the Performers ruled the scene.

Once a garage-tinkering ski brand, this year K2 is celebrating its half-century anniversary. On Wednesday, the company is releasing its second Rolling Stones ski in a series of four skis to celebrate the company (and the band’s) 50th anniversary.

K2 got its start on Washington’s Vashon Island, where company founder and engineering geek Bill Kirschner produced and marketed the world’s first fiberglass ski. During the ’70s hot dogger era, the Performers ruled the scene, Wayne Wong and his white sunglasses became a sensation and the wet T-shirt contest was born (yes, you can thank K2). And in the ’80s, there was the mohawked daffy mayhem from Glen Plake, and the rise of neon that catapulted snowboarding and K2′s first team rider, Dan Donnelly, into the ’90s. And the 2000s: the new millennium of innovative technologies and the rambunctious arrival of big mountain phenoms like Sean Pettit and Pep Fujas.

We sat down with Jeff Mechura, who heads up K2′s global marketing, to talk about some of the defining moments for the brand and ways the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

There’s a lot of hype around the Rolling Stones ski to mark the shared anniversary. How did that collaboration come about?
It all started eight years ago when we were holding a sales meeting in Munich, Germany, and the Stones played Olympic stadium. About 100 of us from K2 went to the concert. They were selling concert T-shirts that said “Rolling Stones: rocking since ’62.” We talked about how cool a partner they would be eight years later during our shared 50th anniversaries. Little did we know then that K2 would be a leader in Rocker technology and the collaboration would make even more sense. We reached out to them a while back and the band was really into the idea about collaborating on an anniversary series of skis.

What can you attribute to 50 years of success for K2?
It’s the people throughout the brand’s history. It’s a very unique and eclectic cross-section of people that are connected to the sports they’re passionate about. From sales to customer service, finance and development to marketing, everyone is all in, committed, loyal and knows how to have fun.

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Please Help U.S. Ski Areas by Including Mother Earth on Valentine’s Day

February 14th, 2012

By: Suzy Chafee
February 14, 2012

eNewsChannels COLUMN: The buzz at the SnowSports Industries Show ending January 31 in Denver was about the Native American snowdance phenomena that restored snow to the Ski Meccas of Colorado, Utah and California in January. They also said, “we need more snowdances.” Some Native Elders who led them say that our giving Mother Earth gratitude for these snowblessings, whether large of small, and including Her in our hearts, especially on Valentine’s Day, can do wonders to inspire more snowfalls.

Many ski resorts, such as Telluride, Aspen, Steamboat, Spirit Mt, Heavenly, have experienced how Mother Earth is even more generous than people when we give sincere appreciation. At their end of the season Gratitude Snowdances, their slush is usually replaced by wonderful powder snow. What brings credibility to all this phenomena is two years ago the U.N’s 192 member nations created International Mother Earth Day, April 22 (on Earth Day), recognizing Mother Earth as a living, loving, sensitive, wise compassionate being.

PHOTO CAPTION: The Eagle Wings Dance Group, descendants of the Paiute, Shoshone and Washoe Tribes from Reno Sparks Indian Colony performing a snowdance at Homewood in mid January. It replicated the one that restored snows to Tahoe’s 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics – the first known cross-cultural snowdance. Tahoe and Mammoth received 4-5 feet, following Vail and Park City’s Snowdances that brought several feet of snow to their regions. CREDIT: Carolyn O’Connor / Sierra Sun.

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TransWorld Business 2012 SIA Booth Of The Year Nominees – Voting Ends February 24

February 13th, 2012

By: Mike Lewis
TransWorld Business
February 13, 2012

Each year we patrol every aisle and corner of the SIA Snow Show floor, scouring the snowboard booths for the standouts that best embody the spirit of the calling— namely, relentlessly striving to innovate and progress in a creative manner that sells more snow sliding fun. The brands that generate the most creative booths are often the ones doing the most to progress the industry through better product, marketing campaigns, and messages that convey not just technical aspects, but the radness of the ride. Using the selection criteria of concept, accessibility, creativity, awesomeness, and product (CACA-P), we select our top picks for the year’s best booths, and then open up the voting to the industry to choose which brand did the best job of taking its presentation to the next level at this year’s Snow Show.

The 2012 nominees are….

686
Burton Snowboards
Oakley

RECCO

SIA’s Backcountry Experience

 

Vote here

Rossignol Group’s Binding Factory’s Environmental Effort Receives Official Recognition

February 10th, 2012

February 10, 2012
By: Rossignol Group

 

The Rossignol Group’s binding manufacturing plant in Nevers, France received ISO standard 14001 certification for adhering to the highest levels of environmentally-sensitive manufacturing standards.

ISO standard 14001 is a management tool that helps manufacturers achieve environmental sustainability within their manufacturing systems and outlines the implementation of an ongoing Environmental Management System (EMS).

Through its efforts to achieve the highest level of environmentally-friendly binding manufacturing, the Nevers plant first created an analysis of its manufacturing and bi-product output. The next step was the implementation of the mandated “Environmental Management System” which adheres to certain standards based on each individual industry.

Specifics include improvement of waste-sorting to recycle 100% of raw materials; improved storage of hazardous materials; staff-wide environmental education programs; and training for accidental environmentally-hazardous events.

ISO 14001 is a globally-recognized, voluntary standard that allows all organizations to most efficiently minimize their effect on the environment.

Companies voluntarily apply for this certification and are then rigorously audited by an accredited independent international organization.

The Rossignol Group’s binding factory was awarded with this certification in January, 2012.

“This ISO certification represents the highest level of environmentally responsible manufacturing within our industry,” said Group CEO, Bruno Cercley. “We continue to do everything we can to enhance our sport and the environment that allows us to fulfill our winter passions.”

The Rossignol Group’s manufacturing facilities in Nevers, France annually produce more than 800,000 pairs of bindings.

 

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