By: Mike Lewis
TransWorld Business
April 23, 2013

Scott Toepfer, a member of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, takes depth measurements every 50 feet at the crown of the avalanche near Loveland Pass on Sunday. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Tragedy struck the Colorado snowboard community this Saturday when four experienced backcountry snowboarders and one skier perished in a massive slide on Loveland Pass during the Rocky Mountain High Backcountry Gathering.

The event, which was organized by Yes/Jones/NOW Rep Joe Timlin, who was one of the victims; was put together to promote backcountry safety and gear and as a fundraiser for Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).

CAIC’s preliminary report said the slide was approximately 500 feet wide and four feet deep, and was most likely triggered by the riders who were touring on Loveland Pass a popular backcountry zone located about 55 miles west of Denver and just south of Loveland Ski Area, in the Sheep’s Creek area, just above Loveland Valley.
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By: TransWorld Business
April 3, 2013

Mervin Founders Mike Olson & Pete Saari

After tallying nearly 12,000 votes, the results are in. The fourth-annual TransWorld Business SIA Booth of The Year goes to Mervin Manufacturing, who claimed over half of 2013′s votes, crushing the competition during the company’s first nomination for Booth of the Year.

By: Josh Johnson
The Youth Shelter Supply
February 25, 2013

I was super stoked to be able to attend the SIA Snow Show for my first time. I had a good time scoping new product, meeting new people in the industry, and hitting up all the events and video premieres. It was an all-around good experience to have a more behind-the-scenes look, since I plan on having a job in the snow sports industry.
My goal in the snow sports industry is to one day be working for a snowboard company designing graphics. I currently am going to school for graphic design and I help out with some graphic and web design projects at the shop I work at (The Youth Shelter Supply).  I have been working at The Youth Shelter Supply for about three years now, and think that it has definitely helped out since it’s a very respectable shop.

I would like to thank TransWorld Business for giving me this opportunity. It was a good way to get a deeper look at the industry, and helped me become one step closer to my goal. I hope that in future years, I will be able to attend the Show again. Once again, a big thanks to TransWorld Business for making this happen.

Thanks again!
-Josh

By: Mike Lewis, TransWorld Business
February 19, 2013

2013 TransWorld Business SIA Booth Of The Year

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 poll retailers at the show and select the 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 2013 nominees are….  

686

Burton Snowboards

Mervin Mfg.

Rome SDS

Salomon/Bonfire/Nikita

Technine

Click on the links above for video and photo tours of each booth and vote HERE

By: Mike Lewis, TransWorld Business
February 14, 2013

By: SIA
February 6, 2013

Winter Park, CO (February 6, 2013) — More than 3,000 retailers, reps, brands and media took to the snow under bluebird skies during the SIA On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest, February 4–5, to test Nordic, alpine, AT/backcountry and snowboarding gear from more than 130 snow sports brands. While the industry was hard at work during the 2013 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 31–Feb. 3), a foot of snow fell in the mountains, making conditions ideal for the two-day On-Snow Demo at Winter Park Resort and one-day Nordic Demo at nearby Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

“Getting on skis and sharing lift rides with the industry is the best possible way for me to wrap up the Snow Show,” said David Ingemie, SIA president. “We have had perfect weather conditions the past two days and a great industry turn-out to enjoy it all. I couldn’t ask for more.”

The On-Snow Demo was hosted in conjunction with the Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo and the Nordic Demo was held in partnership with the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) at Winter Park Resort.

“This demo is so valuable since there is no other opportunity to test equipment side by side like this,” said Joshua Stephen of Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vt.

“It’s great to be here with everybody trying everything out on the hill,” said Transworld Business’ Mike Lewis. “It’s awesome.”

Fischer participated at both the Winter Park demo and Nordic at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. “This is a great opportunity for us to connect with our retailers outside, not under fluorescent lights,” said Matt Berkowitz of Fischer. Over at the Nordic Demo, Fischer’s Peter Ashley said, “The traffic has been nice and steady with very little downtime – perfect. All the right people are here.”

Attendees took in the mellow feeling of the Demo coming off an energy-packed four days at the SIA Snow Show. “The vibe here is so much more relaxed,” said Jason Lybeck of Faction Board Shop in Alexandria, Minn. “It’s a lot easier to get together with people after hours. On top of all that, you are out on the mountain riding!”

“It’s always nice when there’s a little bit of fresh snow and people are out having fun,” said Brad Gobdel, Rockies sales manager for Rome Snowboards. “We’re always having fun – we had a whole crew in Hawaiian shirts yesterday.”

2013 SIA Snow Show – On-Snow Demo Daily Dose from SnowSports Industries America on Vimeo.

After a day of hitting the trails and slopes, hundreds of attendees took the gondola to party at the Shindig at the Summit at Winter Park’s mountaintop Sunspot Lodge. While everyone was enjoying food and drinks, SIA’s own Board Member Billy Treacy of Easton Bell Sports performed live with his band the Willbillys along with cameos from SIA Board Member Dan Sullivan of Rome Snowboards on the harmonica and SIA’s own Tom Davis on the guitar.

2013 SIA Snow Show – On-Snow Demo Daily Dose from SnowSports Industries America on Vimeo.

“We had a huge crowd – way more people than expected,” Billy Treacy said. “We had good support from the crowd and it was super fun for me to be able to play in front of my SIA peers.”

The annual Uphill/Down Challenge at Winter Park sponsored by Scarpa had dozens of finishers, covered 1,700+ vertical feet and raised more than $1,100 for the US Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA). The COSMIC male was Marshall Thompson, who finished two laps in 49:00, and the COSMIC female was Ava Hagan, who finished two laps in 1:00:43. The Industry male and female winners, Mike Hagen and Ellen Miller, finished one lap in 38:08 and 47:21, respectively. Team Dynafit 1 took first (2:06) and Team Dynafit 2 took second (2:16). Third place went to Team Hagan (2:30) and fourth went to Team La Sportiva (2:37).

“It was better than ever – the international contingent was bigger, but it was much more inclusive than ever before,” said Scarpa CEO Kim Miller.

Member-owned, industry-inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the SIA Snow Show is the industry’s largest annual global gathering. It’s where the most influential and visionary brands connect with leading retailers, resorts and media to unveil innovations, exchange ideas and build solid relationships that shape the industry.

For more news and highlights from the Show and On-Snow Demo, read the 2013 SIA Snow Show Dailies, watch the Snow Show Daily Dose and check out the SIA Snow Show photo round up. Stay connected to SIA news year-round with the SIA Social Dashboard, with feeds from the SIA Facebook page, SIA’s Latest and @siasnowsports on Twitter. Use #SIA13 to join Twitter and Instagram dialogues with thousands of snow sports industry professionals sharing their experiences from 2013 SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest.

By: SIA
January 7, 2013

This week, the snow sports industry will have access to two great publications for planning their Snow Show days and nights – SIA Snow Show Preview issue and The Guide. Both publications will help attendees get properly prepped for the upcoming 2013 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 31-Feb. 3) and SIA Sourcing Snow (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) at the Colorado Convention Center and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest (Feb. 4-5) at Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

“Reading through the Snow Show Preview and The Guide got me excited for the 2013 Show in January – they’re both great resources for making plans and getting the most out of those busy days in Denver and the On-Snow Demo,” commented David Ingemie, SIA’s President.

Member-owned, inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the SIA Snow Show is the industry’s largest annual global gathering. It’s where the most influential and visionary brands connect with leading retailers and resorts to unveil innovations, exchange ideas and build solid relationships that shape the industry.
SIA Snow Show Preview
Offering state-of–the-industry analysis and previews of emerging trends, the SIA Snow Show Preview was mailed to 12,000 retailers, sales reps, executives and industry VIPs plus sent electronically to another 30,000. View the digital version here.

Once the Snow Show kicks off, the Snow Show Daily staff will produce the official on-the-floor source for news, analysis, and event coverage. Available onsite, the Show Daily is also delivered each morning to Show attendees’ hotel rooms, sent out electronically to the snow sports industry/media and mailed out to retailers unable to attend the Show.

A new On-Snow Demo Guide will be available at the Show providing resources for navigating the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and to serve as a Demo guide for the regional on-snow demos.

The Guide
A custom co-branded pre-show publication built by TransWorld Business for the snowboarding community, keeping core snowboard retailers needs top of mind, The Guide provides pertinent Show information, new trends, editor’s picks, up-to-date research, feature articles, travel tips and more.

The Guide was distributed both in print and digitally to over 30,000 ski/snowboard shops, manufacturers, executives, media, and SIA members. The digital edition is available online at issuu.com/siasnowsports via a browser-based reader, and additionally, on its own iPad App, through TransWorld’s proprietary iPad magazine platform at no cost. Hard copies will also be available onsite at the SIA Snow Show.

By: TransWorld Business
December 21, 2012

By: TransWorld Business & Skiing Business
November 15, 2012

Enter through TransWorld Business
Enter through Skiing Business

Skiing Business, TransWorld Business and SnowSports Industries America are partnering to send one shop employee to the 2013 SIA Snow Show in Denver.

The winner will get a chance to check out next year’s gear, party with industry leaders and prove they want to make a living in the snow sports  industry.

All you need to do is hit  up TransWorld Business or Skiing Business with why you, of the all the shop kids in the US, should get sponsored to come out to Denver, Colorado for three nights between January 31 and February 5, 2013 and learn more about the sport you love, meet the people behind the brands you carry, and learn more about the legend that is SIA.

If your goal is to build a career in the ski or snowboard industry, the road to a better understanding of what goes on behind the curtain begins at SIA.

Enter through TransWorld Business
Enter through Skiing Business

By: SIA
September 25, 2012

For the second year, SIA is partnering with TransWorld Business to produce The Guide. Keeping core snowboard retailers’ needs top of mind, The Guide outlines Show information, new trends, up-to-date research and feature articles to help attendees get the most out of their time at the SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest. The Guide, along with the January issue of TransWorld Business, will be mailed to 6,000 shops the first week of January. It will also be distributed both in print and digitally and available through TransWorld’s proprietary iPad magazine platform and available on-site at the Show as well. Information on advertising in The Guide will be available in the next few weeks