sia snow show preview

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE 2012 SIA SNOW SHOW PUBLISHED BY SNEWS EARLY JANUARY 2012

Energized industry heads for Denver

Be Smart,Plan NowThe details are all inside: Everything you need to know for a successful SIA Snow Show.

HardgoodsRock(er)Next season’s skis and boards bend it, while boots and bindings innovate, too.

ApparelAppealFor ’12-13, waterproof goes down, fabrics get green, and colors span the spectrum.

AbundantAccessoriesHelmets go beyond safety; new entries, venting, vision in goggles.

It’s Show Time!

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Devun Walsh - BC, CanadaZac Marben - Minneapolis, MNDustin Craven - Vancouver, CanadaSage Kotsenburg - Park City, UTEthan Deiss - Osceola, WINick Visconti – Truckee, CAKevin Jones – El Dorado Hills, CA

Andrew Brewer - Monument, COAlek Oestreng - Rykkinn, NorwayJohnny Lazz - North Lake Tahoe, CATim Eddy - Truckee, CANiko Cioffi - Rutland, VTRed Gerard - Frisco, COAlex Tank – Allgäu, Germany

Arnette Dealer Service 888 708 8856 ©2012 Luxottica Group. All rights reserved.

4 SNOW SHOW PREVIEW snewsnet.com

IN THIS ISSUE / TOC

Get ready nowfor your Snow Show

Welcome to the fi rst SIA Snow Show Preview issue, a publication we’re looking forward to bringing you each year . Why publish a Pre-Show issue? W ell, it’s pretty simple–we wanted to provide a glimpse into the events, parties, people, products and excitement that will happen only at the SIA Snow Show (Jan. 26-29) and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest (Jan. 30-31). We also know your time at the Show can be hectic, to say the least, so we’ve pulled together some great information to help you plan your time in Denver, Winter Park Resort and Devil’ s Thumb Ranch, to be more effi cient and effective.

The Snow Show is our industry’ s once-a-year chance to get together , get inspired, do business face to face, hang out with friends and head out on the mountain. In to day’s chaotic world, the relationships we forge at the Show are crucial to both the industry and our own personal success. Whether it’ s new or old friends, retailer to rep or brand man-agement to company principals—these relationships keep our industry moving forward.

One last thought--strength and vitality are built on collaboration, innovation and the undeniable passion we all share.

This is your Show—and we, at SIA, look forward to working with you this season, seeing you at the Show, in the fi eld or on the mountain.

Here’s to another La Niña winter, more SNOW and a great Show!

David IngemieSIA President

Le voici, le premier numéro du SIA Snow Show, un magazine qui sortira chaque année avant le Show . Pourquoi publier avant le Show ? Rien de plus simple, nous voulions vous donner la chance de jeter un coup d’œil aux événements, aux partys, aux gens, aux produits et à l’enthousiasme uniques du SIA Snow Show (26 au 29 janvier) et du On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest (30 et 31 janvier). Comme vous aurez probable-ment l’impression de courir et de ne pas avoir assez de temps pour faire le tour de tous les kiosques au Show , nous avons rassemblé une avalanche d’informations utiles qui simplifi eront l’organisation de votre séjour à Denver, au Winter Park Resort et au Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

Le Snow Show, c’est le seul rendez-vous annuel de l’industrie où vous faites le plein d’inspiration, faites des affaires en personne, passez du bon temps entre amis et attaquez les pentes de ski.

À la vitesse à laquelle les jours, semaines, mois et années passent, les relations que vous forgez au Show sont vitales au succès de l’industrie et au succès de chacun. Que ce soit de nouvelles amitiés ou des amitiés de longue date, des relations avec les détaillants, représentants et gestionnaires de marque ou dirigeants de compagnie, les avancées de notre industrie passent d’abord et avant tout par ces relations.

Une dernière chose : la force et la vitalité se construisent sur un fond de collabora-tion, d’innovation et de passion incontestable que nous partageons tous.

Le Show, c’est pour vous. Et nous, le personnel de SIA, attendons avec impatience de pouvoir travailler à vos côtés et de vous voir au Show, sur le terrain ou la montagne cette saison.

En nous souhaitant à tous un autre hiver de La Niña, plusieurs tempêtes de neige et un super Show.

David IngemieSIA President

Published by SNEWS and snewsnet.com

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Andy BigfordMANAGING EDITOR Peter KrayART DIRECTOR Jacqueline McCaffrey

CONTRIBUTORS Eugene Buchanan, Krista Crabtree, Courtney Holden, Mike Horn

ADVERTISING SALES Sharon Burson, Andy Bigford GROUP PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Barb Van SicklePRODUCTION Diane Paolini / PREPRESS SPECIALIST Joy Kelley

Read the digital version of the Snow Show Preview at snewsnet.com or snowsports.org

Snow Show Preview is part of Active Interest Media’s Outdoor GroupJon Dorn, Vice President, Outdoor GroupMichael Hodgson, President, SNEWSMatthew Bates, Design Director, Outdoor Group

Active Interest Media2520 55th St, Suite 210, Boulder, CO 80301303.625.1600

CHAIRMAN & CEO Efrem Zimbalist IIIGROUP PUBLISHER & COO Andrew W. ClurmanSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CFO Brian J. SellstromSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS Patricia B. Fox

Copyright 2012 by Snow Show Preview

Contents6 IT’S SHOW TIME!Everything you need to know about the 2012 SIA Snow Show.

10 APPARELWaterproof goes down, fabrics get green, colors expand.

16 SNOWBOARDSRocker with camber pro-vides a lucrative mix.

18 SNOWBOARD BOOTS, BINDINGSStripped-down technol-ogy leads innovations.

20 SKISStrong early sales, and more rocker to come.

24 SKI BOOTSInnovative shells, hike-ski concept expands.

26 SKI BINDINGSTourable offerings explode.

28 HELMETSSafety not only story in hot category.

30 GOGGLESNew entries plus better fi t, venting, integration.

32 SUPPLIER Q&ABoa Technology CEO Gary Hammerslag.

34 DININGMake plans now for a special meal during the Show.

37 NEW EXHIBITORSArnette, Halti and Darn Tough.

38 EXHIBITOR EVENTSIcelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, Riders Poll, RECLAIM.

40 SIA SEMINARS, EVENTSGet educated, informed and entertained.

42 ON-SNOW DEMO/SKI-RIDE FESTWhy you need to test on-snow after the Show.

46EXHIBITOR LISTBrands at the Show and On-Snow.

ON THE COVER: Clockwise from top left: Powderhorn Cosmic X-Press; Salomon Rockette 2; on-fl oor energy; K2 Photokinetic; Rome Mob Boss; Colorado Convention Center; Lange 130 XT; Arbor Abacus; at the On-Snow; Carrera Enigma.

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ELAN SKISCOLLECTION2012/13

GLEN PLAKE NEVER SKIED GROOMERS.

UNTIL NOW.

WWW.ELANSKIS.COM

WORLD’S MOST AWARDED SKIS IN 2011/12.


Early season sales, product intros, on-snow demo fuel the buzz.

SIA SNOW SHOW / COVER STORY

SIA Snow Show prepped for big business in DenverAnticipation for the 2012 SIA Snow Show in Denver Jan. 26-29 has been building since June, when SnowSports Industries America announced that the show was sold out, with more than 900 brands set to fi ll more than 330,000 square feet of space at the Colo-rado Convention Center. Pre-registration among buyers skyrocketed through November, with a 14 percent increase in retail shops that haven’t attended the show in the past. Sev-eral longtime exhibitors made plans to celebrate their 25-, 50- and 75-year anniversaries, and Icelantic Skis announced it will use the show as a backdrop for the fi rst-ever winter concert at the iconic outdoor amphitheatre at Red Rocks.

Then, when the outstanding early season snowsports sales results hit the streets, it of-fi cially lit the fuse. For retailers, reps and manufacturers alike, it’ s beginning to feel like this season’s annual industry product intro, Fashion Show, networking extravaganza and On-Snow Demo/Ski Ride Fest can’t start soon enough.

“Snowsports have a great vibe right now ,” says SIA Director of Research Kelly Davis. “From the North Face, REI and Red Bull ads I’ve been seeing on TV tying in to T ravis Rice’s The Art of Flight movie, to the way this year started with consumers fl ooding the early season Labor Day and Columbus Day sales, there is a lot of buzz around skiing and snowboarding, and it has helped the whole industry get off to a very fast start.”

So fast that snowsports retail sales through October jumped 14 percent in dollars and 7 percent in units, up from $565 million in the beginning of the 2010-2011 season—which ended up setting a record mark of $3.3 billion in total sales—to $644 million this season.

Outpacing the economy, and most other markets, the demand for new equipment has been a boon for specialty retailers in particular , where consumers have been hitting the shops early, buying must-have products at full price.

“Our members have been very pleased with all of the promotions they did, from race night to pro night to swap and sell night to the BEWI Ski and Snowboard Expos, where most of the sales they made were on high ticket items,” says Steve Rogers, president of the Sports Specialists Limited (SSL) specialty retail buying group. “The economy has not been an issue this year, and the people who can afford to participate in our sport have been coming in early to get the good stuff.”

According to SIA, specialty retail continues to dominate equipment sales, accounting for 70 percent of the early season hardgoo ds market, and almost 50 percent of all snows-ports sales. Specialty sales reached $319 million, a new record for August to October , up 12 percent in dollars compared to the same period in 2010. In the same period, equipment

sales in specialty shops increased 12 percent in units and 19 percent in dollars. And those sales have begun to paint a very interesting picture as to where the snowsports mar -ket is headed next.

“We’ve seen some interesting developing trends that we are watching, especially in how rocker technology is dominating snowboard sales, and how mixed camber and reverse camber ski sales have been absolutely on fi re so far this season,” Davis says.

Early season reverse and mixed camber ski sales actu-ally doubled compared to pre-season sales a year ago, mov-ing 32,000 pairs off the retail fl oor. Fat skis also got in on the frenzy, with a 60 percent jump in units for boards with waist widths between 95mm-110mm. And rocker/reverse

camber snowboard sales accounted for 70 percent of all the boards sold. But those sales haven’t just been at specialty, as online sales were up 12 percent in units and 19 percent in dollars during the same period, and chain store sales were up 10 percent in units and dollars as well.

All of which should be music to the ears of snowboard manufactur -ers such as Burton, Lib-T ech and Rome, who are intro ducing plenty of new rockered big mountain and freestyle-blended boards at the show this year. And also to ski man-ufacturers such as Salomon, Rossi-gnol and K2, who are expanding their use of rocker in big mountain skis, but also in their frontside mod-els. Apparel, which led all early season business with $222 million in sales, is set to debut plenty of new colors, styles and innovative designs, while the continually strong helmet market will look to benefi t from added features aimed at giving retailers a deeper story to sell. And as far as those buyers are concerned, in one of the most welcome trends heading into the 2012 show, there should be plenty more of them on the fl oor this year, too.

Register Now!

A strong early retail vibe will meet must-see product

on the Snow Show fl oor and at the On-Snow (below).

The Dynafi t team celebrates a second place fi nish in the Uphill/Downhill Challenge.

7snewsnet.com SNOW SHOW PREVIEW

Registration InfoSIA has streamlined Snow Show registration this year, with new kiosks at the Colorado Convention Center for onsite badge pickup for all attendees. Only buyers who pre-registered before Jan. 6, 2011, will receive their badges in the mail. All other showgoers will be able to pick their badges up at the show. To pre-register now, go to www.siasnowshow.com, and review the following steps to ensure that everything goes smoothly: ›› Register each person individually and include their email address. ›› A confi rmation number, sent via email, and valid photo ID are required for onsite pickup.›› A new self-service badge printing area will serve your needs onsite.

That’s because just as early season sales were cranking up, specialty retail-ers were increasingly making plans to attend the show. In November, SIA was already reporting a 14 percent increase in the number of registered buyers who have not been to the show in the past. SIA President David Ingemie attributes the growth to the need to replenish in-ventories and see all the new technol-ogy in one place, and also to the mo-mentum the industry has been able to build in Denver, where it is now hosting the show for the third straight year.

“I keep hearing the same three or four things from people about Denver and the show—how much work they can get done, how the people are so friendly, that there are so many great restaurants and how easy it is to get outdoors,” Ingemie says. “I think what I would add to that is that the buying process is signifi cantly more diffi cult now than it was even 10 years ago, and this really is the one place where you can see all of the lines, with every snowboard and every ski and jacket and helmet and goggle all in one place at once.”

Bryce Phillips, founder of retailer Evo Gear , certainly agrees. “For Evo, SIA is a really important show because it gives us the opportunity to meet face to face with people inte-gral to our business throughout the industry,” Phillips said. “I think that most would agree that so much of what we do and the key to success boils down to building strong relation-ships. SIA provides us with a great venue to do this each year.”

Add in the tremendous number of seminars, industry events, parties and networking possibilities, the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch on Jan. 30 and 31, and an expected attendance of more than 19,000 suppliers, retailers, reps and athletes from around the world, and you’ve got the number one event for the snowsports industry to do business every year.

—Peter Kray

“We’ve seen some interesting developing trends that we are watching, especially in how rocker technology is dominating snowboard sales, and how mixed camber and reverse camber ski sales have been absolutely on fi re so far this season.”

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The SIA Snow Show is the one place where you can

see all the lines.

Are you registered yet for the largest snowsports gathering of the year?


Beer? You’re in the right town.

SIA SNOW SHOW / FIRST PERSON

Retailers, reps and manufacturers talk about why Denver matters.

The Snow Show is where the wintersports industry does business

Tim PetrickPresident, Rossignol North AmericaChairman of the Board, SIA All of us—vendors, retailers and reps—spend a bunch of time and money to attend the SIA Snow Show. Denver might be less expensive overall compared to Vegas, but it’s still a pile of money, and it also consumes three to fi ve days of your time. Although the Denver show is a more pro ductive event (the bars do close at 2 a.m., compared to never in Las V egas), every stakeholder in this little industry has the right to ask WHY this old school, face-to-face, national winter sports trade show needs to take place?

From the vendors’ perspective, the SIA Snow Show is the most effi cient selling event of the year . During the course of the show , we’ll have the opportunity to communicate with about 80 percent of the country’s wintersports retail buying power. Combine this with an increasing number of key Canadian retailers, and you have a chance to see a very large percentage of North America’ s potential cus-tomers.

Importantly, the trade show allows vendors to present their products in the most profes-sional environment. The Snow Show is a vehicle to expose our pro ducts, our marketing stories and our training and promotional plans in a comprehensive manner . Regional events are an important part of this selling process, too, but there is no comparison in be-ing able to see the breadth and the depth of all brands, big and small.

This is clearly a major benefi t to the retail community, too. The SIA Snow Show pro-vides the opportunity to see virtually all wintersports brands, legacy brands and newcom-ers alike, on a level playing fi eld. There is no other event where retailers can see compre-hensive presentations of what’s new and what’s hot in a more effi cient manner. Combine these realities with the opportunity to meet with company principals and reps, and you have an event that is incredibly valuable to the retail community.

Beyond these tangible benefi ts, perhaps the most important reason for the SIA Snow Show is the opportunity to rally around the “fl ag” of sliding on snow. This is the annual meeting of the Gravity Tribe: Reps, retailers, resort operators, vendors, and suppliers who have built their livings around this crazy idea of sliding down snow covered mountains. Each year we make the annual pilgrimage—for me, it’ s been more than 30 years—to do business and join with others who share the same spirit. For wintersports to endure and thrive, I think it is critical that we come together as an industry to reconfi rm our member-ship in this very special fraternity.

Bob OlsonOwner, Viking Ski Shop, Chicago I don’t see how you can be successful in today’s snowsports retail climate and not be at the SIA Snow Show. It’s hands down the best show for seeing all of next year’s skis, snowboards, acces-sories and apparel. The pro ducts are displayed with all mo dels and colors (a must in cloth-ing) in a bright, exciting show setting, which is critical for buyers to make smart buying de-cisions. You can meet the company principals, including sales, credit, marketing and customer service managers, and even touch base with fel-low retailers. Since we all work closely in this industry, it’ s rewarding and helpful to know these people.

It’s also important to get out of the shop (even when you know the work is piling up) and get re-energized about our sport and all it entails. Both the show and the On-Snow Demo/Ski Ride Fest (we usually bring six to 10 testers) are critical for Viking to stay on top of the latest and greatest in snowsports.

Bill MaroltPresident, U.S. Ski & Snowboard AssociationOur best in the world athletic success would not be possible if it weren’t for the many equip-ment suppliers and partners who support our athletes. The SIA Snow Show is the perfect marketplace for us to connect with partners—a who’s who gathering of our entire industry in Denver during the height of the ski and snow-boarding season.

Lisa BrannerCo-owner, Venture SnowboardsSIA is the defi nitive event for our industry—if you’re not present you’re just not on the map. It’s an irreplaceable opportunity to connect face to face with our retailers and partners. We’re es-pecially stoked about the on-snow component since it gives our retailers a chance to try before they buy and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for our line.

Marty CarriganFounder, Global Sales GuysSIA creates a contagious professional excite-ment for why we all chose to be in the winter sport business, it is the most important week of the year for our business.

“SIA is the defi nitive event for our industry—if you’re not present you’re just not on the map. It’s an irre-placeable opportunity to connect face to face with our retailers and partners. We’re especially stoked about the on-snow component.”

IF ITbLOWSYOURMIND

Every YEAR SINCE

01.26 - 29, 2012COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER, DENVER, CO

ON-SNOW DEMO / SKI-RIDE FEST: 01.30 - 31, 2012WINTER PARK RESORT/DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH, CO

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TOP TRENDS / APPAREL

In a market where Mother Nature plays a lead role in sales, record snowfall and resort visits in 2011 helped carry the momentum for apparel into this season. “The industry is in a much healthier place coming out of last winter,” says Patagonia Snow Director , Tyler LaMotte. “There is less carry-over product out there, which should lengthen the full-price selling window at retail. The mar-ket is faring better than other industries during this time of economic uncertainty.”

But if there is a dark lining to those beautiful storm clouds, it’s because many of the larger apparel companies are facing increases in material and labor costs, which will continue to affect retail pricing in terms of higher prices and less units sold. According to LaMotte, that also means customers are going to be more particular about their choices, looking to brands they feel they can trust with the right value, quality and performance.

“It will be interesting to see how the market play-ers will react to rising pro duction and transportation costs and other supply chain challenges,” says Urs Egli, Oakley’s global category manager for technical outer -wear. “On-time deliveries and great sell-through in the fall of 2011 will help greatly to maintain growth rate in fall ‘12.”

Even with economic uncertainty and warm tempera-tures in some parts of the country, early season sales have been positive. In resort towns and metro areas, jackets with price tags upwards of $1,000 are hot ticket items. “Even though it’s early season, high-end technical pieces are selling,” says Michaela Beitzel, co-owner and soft-goods buyer for New Y ork’s Hickory and T weed Shop. “They may have initial sticker shock, but people are will-ing to invest in high-quality, functional outerwear.”

Waterproof and breathable outerwear top the hot trends list for ‘12-13, buoyed by the wave of sidecoun-try interest driven by resort skiers and snowboarders who ride out-of-bounds and require clothes that can handle harsh weather conditions yet offer mobility and freedom of movement as well. T o that end, Gore-Tex continues to dominate as the must-have ingredient in many top-of-the-line jackets and pants, and is partnering with more emerging apparel companies such as Armada to reach the younger market as it grows. Patagonia uses Gore-Tex Pro fabric in its fl agship Pow Slayer Jacket and bibs. Outdoor Research’s Vanguard collection is a sidecountry-focused new collection with 30 new pieces, which includes a four-way stretch softshell fabric with waterproof Gore-Tex construction. Arc’teryx, in conjunction with Gore, developed a new fabric called N80p-X, a durable, high-density fabric with a water repellent surface, which will

appear in pieces including the signature Alpha SV Jack-et. And Oakley, with feedback from Seth Morrison and other athletes, adds Gore-T ex Pro 3-layer fabrication, known for its breathability , waterproofi ng and abrasion

resistance, to the new Unifi cation Pro jacket and pants. Companies such as The North Face, Flylow and Moun-tain Hardwear continue to use proprietary waterproof/breathable technologies as well.

For ‘12-13, waterproof goes down, fabrics get green, colors span the spectrum.

Obermeyer Ketchikan

▼ Arc’teryxAphix Hoody

▼ Special Blend Blow

Early apparel sales strong, but higher costs loom



Look for these trends at the 2012 SIA Snow Show›› Retailers can expect to see new apparel lines from estab-lished hardgoods companies at the show this year. Dynafi t, for example, is introducing a new line of apparel to refl ect its backcountry heritage. This includes a hybrid insulation jacket, combining the insulation properties of PrimaLoft with the stretch of softshell under the arms, and a focus on freedom of movement that refl ects the relaxed fi t found in many technical outerwear pieces being intro duced at the show. Another category crossover comes from accessories powerhouse Dakine, which is launching an outerwear line designed to appeal to both skiers and snowboarders.

›› Puffy jackets are still hot at retail, but the hottest news for next season is that down jackets get a water -proof exterior. Powderhorn introduces a 4-way stretch Gore-Tex shell material on the outside with down fi ll in jackets like the Powderride and Soulride. KJUS brings Quix Down to their line in a DWR-treated down jacket for water repellency.

›› Sustainability, blends of materials and palpable textures will continue to be a topic of conversation in fabric. Bur-ton goes green next year by joining forces with Mountain Dew to combat plastic waste in the new GMP (Green Mountain Project). Outerwear in the line will feature fab-ric made from recycled plastic bottles, with Thinsulate for insulation. Obermeyer expands its use of Cocona (or co-conut based) waterproof/breathable fabrics from baselayers to jacket and pant linings for increased breathability.

›› Look for innovative insulation in outerwear pieces at the show. Scott includes Primaloft Eco insulation, made out of post-consumer recycled material, to the new Bel-mont and Cambie jackets. As one of the largest provid-ers of uniforms for pros like ski patrollers and instructors, Helly Hansen uses waterproof/breathable PrimaLoft One in jackets like the new Odin Isolator for its high warmth-to-weight ratio. Foursquare introduces a 3-in-1 layering technology, called Squared System, combining fully inte-grated jackets with insulating layers to their line.

›› Athlete participation remains a top priority for youth-driven pieces and signature collections are poplar next season, particularly with snowboard brands. O’Neill’s snowboard stars Celia Miller, Seb Toots and Jeremy Jones introduce new pieces to their lines, as does T anner Hall and Simon Dumont with Oakley.

›› Fresh bright colors will dominate the racks and the slopes next season as well as the runway of the SIA Fashion Show. Early 2011 accounts show that colorful pants are selling like hot cakes—not just to youth but to Baby Boomers as well, surprising many retailers. Even companies that have been traditionally conservative are bringing a bounty of colors to their lines. Fashion forward brands continue to add fur and faux fur and embellish-ments to functional fabrics, such as Sunice’s addition of

▲ Powderhorn COSMIC X-PRESS ▲ KJUS Lava ▲ Outdoor Research Vanguard

▲ Dynafi t Patroul ▲ Helly Hansen Odin Hooded Belay

▲ Patagonia Pow Slayer

▲ Polarmax Xtrdry Zip Mock▲ Burton Eleanor(Green Mountain Project)

ErgoGrip Freeride

Visit Hestra at SIA Booth 2160.

scan / visit / friendhestragloves.com

®

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Introducing:

A patented design that makes it possible to sew gloves with different levels of pre-curved fingers for optimal grip.ErgoGrip® creates a very close fit on the palm, with minimal excess material. Featured on3 NEW MODELS for 2012.

Innovation X 75 yrs = HestraWe continue to perfect the formula. . .

Downhill Comp ErgoGripSpring ErgoGrip


Save the date

Snow Fashion + Trends ShowMark your calendar for SIA’s Snow Fashion + Trends Show on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. While a live DJ sets the mood, multi-media video projections of old school photography (think Hip-stamatic) provide a dramatic backdrop as professionally styled models work the catwalk in next season’s snow fashions, gear and accessories. Doors open in the Mile High Ballroom of the Colo-rado Convention Center at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Cocktails, sounds and style make this a premiere evening for the snowsports industry. “It’s a perfect way for retailers to have an overview of what is being offered for the coming season; a quick look at colors and style directions; and maybe seeing a new sup-plier they have not looked at before,” says Philip Dixon, president of Liquid Boardwear.

Immediately following the show, the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) dares the men to don women’s outdoor and snow-sports apparel and gear, put on some feather boas and bright red lipstick and RAMP IT UP. Notable industry veterans will take over the runway in women’s snow sports clothing, calling attention to member brands and raising funds for OIWC educational programs designed to help women in the industry reach their professional goals.

silicone to zippers and piping and a high-polished shiny nickel logo in women’ s jack-ets. “The industry has shifted back to a resurgence in specialty retail emphasis, which has promoted fashion and innovation,” says Grace Galdi, VP Design & Merchandising for Sunice. Long jackets are the rage in both urban areas and resorts, exemplified by Rossignol Apparel’s Lana Long Down Jacket with removable fur trim on the hood.

›› In an effort to help retailers educate consumers about staying warm and dry underneath their outerlayers, Polartec will promote a new “Layer Up” campaign. Underlayers continue to enjoy more attention with new prints, styles and whimsical designs by companies like

Hot Chillys. SmartWool adds more color next season and showcases a technology called PhD Smartloft, which combines Merino wool with quilted nylon. T ech-nical lifestyle pieces will dominate the apparel booths at the show, and a plethora of snowboard and ski apparel companies increase their units of hoo dies, technical flannel shirts and pullovers. Polarmax will intro duce a proprietary performance wicking cotton called Xtrdry.

›› Sweaters are a popular slope-to-street look next season and companies like Ice-landic Design and Neve capitalize on bold patterns and vintage looks. Dale of Nor -way’s water and stain repellent yarn and breathable windproof liner adds a jacket personality to a retro sweater look. Ice-breaker’s new water resistant Realfleece 320 adds an ecologically clean finish to Merino wool to make it water resistant.

—Krista Crabtree

Icelandic Design


See the new 2012/13 Collection at:Outdoor Retailer Winter Market: Booth 18043SIA Snow Show: Booth 773www.daleofnorway.comCustomer service: (800) 441-3253


TOP TRENDS / SNOWBOARDS

Who would have imagined a little bend would go such a long way? According to manufacturers, the new wave of hybrid rocker/camber boards continues to gain momentum and drive signifi cant sales. Says Arbor’s Brad Farmer, “The most obvious force shaping board sales is the undeniable onslaught of the rocker revolution. From a retail perspective, without a full and complete rocker offering you’re certainly leaving sales on the table. Re-tailers want rocker.” And so do kids, according to Farmer, who adds that Arbor is entering the youth market for the fi rst time with mini versions of its best selling Draft and Element RX boards.

Dan Sullivan, Rome’s director of sales, says he is see-ing the same trends in technology . “In snowboards, we are seeing ‘hybrid’ cambers checking out at retail,” says Sullivan. “Our Mountain Pop camber, which uses a blend of positive camber between the feet and reverse camber in the tip and tail in our Agent Rocker , Reverb Rocker and Factory Rocker, is what we are selling briskly.”

Fresh and redesigned iterations of rocker/camber will continue to be a big story on the show fl oor this year , with brands putting their own style—and monikers—on the technology. Ride’s new Hybrid LowRise debuts in the Machete GT, Rome’s NoHang-UpsRocker is unveiled in the Crossrocket, and Burton’s Flat Top will be incorpo-rated in the women’s Lip-Stick LTD. Lib Tech introduces a new camber-heavy Banana Technology called C3 in the Phoenix Classic, while sister -brand Gnu adds two high-power sticks to its women’s line—the Ladies Choice and B Pro Pendleton.

According to Ron Steele, Rossignol’s vice president of sales and marketing, “Snowboard sales are trending toward the newest and most compelling rocker and tech-nology developments.” On-snow versatility paired with fresh technology is represented in Rossignol’ s new Tem-plar Magtek, designed as an easy-to-ride, do-it-all board.

Producing one board that does it all certainly seems to be a popular strategy this year , as Flow’s new Rush fea-tures what the brand is calling A.B.T. tech, which is de-signed to adapt on the fl y to all snow conditions and ter-rain. Likewise, Forum is advertising its new The Kitchen Sink as the most versatile freestyle board the brand has ever made, and Academy’ s new Icon Series delivers the latest rocker tech in an affordable package for $329.

Backcountry and freeride also continue to gain steam, and several manufacturers will introduce new splitboards at the show , including Burton’ s Spliff, Rome’ s Double

Agent, Arbor’ s Abacus, and Venture’s Euphoria. K2 brings a whole new Backside collection to the show, fea-turing three new powder -shaped mo dels including the Peace Keeper, Ultra Dream and High Lite.

Burton is also launching a new board series called Family Tree for 2012, according to Scott Barbieri, vice president of hardgoods, who says, “Driven by Terje Haa-

konsen, Family T ree is a true freeride quiver series de-signed by our team —it will be the collection within the line that continues to innovate and evolve our freeride shapes year over year .” The Family T ree features fi ve board mo dels, including the new Spliff splitboard and Cheetah models.

—Mike Horn

Rocker continues to ratchet up snowboard sales Manufacturers mix in camber for versatility, control.

“From a retail perspective, without a full and complete rocker offering you’re certainly leaving sales on the table. Retailers want rocker.”

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TOP TRENDS / SNOWBOARD BOOTS & BINDINGS

Stripped down technology highlights boot and binding innovationsLighter weights, ease of use lead list of sales-friendly features.

Maximizing the feel of the board beneath a rider’s feet, new lightweight and responsive materials, adjust-able canting and on-the-fl y function are at the forefront of 2012-13 binding innovations being intro duced at the SIA Snow Show this year.

To make getting in and out of their bindings even faster, Flow has redesigned the brand’ s SpeedEntry sys-tem in the new NX2 binding line, including the NX2-SE model. Both Ride and Burton introduce new highback tech—Ride’s Slimeback, found in the revamped Revolt, is derived from its storied Slimewall sidewalls, which uti-

lize urethane for cushioning and control. According to Ride Binding Engineer Peter Pontano, “Compared to a standard nylon highback, which is inherently snappy and active, the Slimeback material provides an inherently smooth, consistent fl ex for a fl uid and damp ride.”

For its part, Burton mo difi ed its Heel Hammock highback design to fi ne-tune the suspension in the new Genesis and women’ s Escapade (EST and 3D mo dels). Burton is also intro ducing a new buckle system called Smackdown, which allows a rider to get in and out of a toe strap with one swift motion, and no more ratcheting to fi ne tune the fi t. Likewise, Salomon is intro ducing the high-performance Shadow line at the Snow Show , featuring the new ultralight Hologram and District bindings.

For consumers who want to dial in their fi t and riding style, Rome offers multiple canting options throughout the binding line, and Director of Sales Dan Sullivan says customization is becoming an increasingly important fac-tor at retail. “W e don’ t dictate one canting option; we offer several canting options in varying degrees,” Sullivan

said, “thus allowing riders to experiment and fi nd their own desired canting option.”

In boots, comfort, new, ever-faster lacing technology and reduced boot volume and weight are the dominant innovations for next year’ s lineups. Boa technology continues to be refi ned and integrated into hybrid lac-ing designs like Van’s new Infuse and Revere mo dels. Vincent Connolly , global category manager for Boa Technology, says, “Many of our forward thinking boot partners are utilizing our closure system in more hy-brid confi gurations, so you’ll see more Lace/V elcro/Boa Combo boots in the marketplace to address the needs of each segment.”

Other Boa partnerships include the Burton Ion x Pirelli Collab, which yields a new boot with a snow tire-inspired tread and outsole. And Ride’ s recent signing of freestyle phenom Seb Toutant, will result in the new Triad Speed Lace Boot, while K2’ s Contour, Gretchen Bleiler’ s boot of choice, returns with Double Boa lacing and fi ne-tuned liners for optimal heelfi t and warmth.

—Mike Horn

“Customization is becoming an increasingly important factor at retail. We don’t dictate one cant-ing option; we offer several canting options in varying degrees.”

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▼ Ride Revolt ▼ K2 Contour ▼ Vans Revere Boa

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TOP TRENDS / SKIS

Rocker expands into meat of the market with hardpack specifi c skis.

The ongoing phenomena of cleaner inventories and early sell-through at specialty retail—with some vector products in scarce supply as early as Thanksgiving—con-tinues to clear shelf space for new ski designs. And with another exciting year of innovation on tap, one of the biggest stories at the SIA Snow Show will be how aggres-sively some brands are implementing rocker into their frontside products.

K2, for example, updates its All-Mountain Perfor -mance (A.M.P.) line with the new Bolt (125/72/99), a hard-snow-specifi c ski built with a combination of Speed Rocker, MOD shape and a new Carbon W eb placement in what the brand has labeled RoX T echnology. “Speed Rocker allows us to create a level of turn initiation that wouldn’t otherwise be possible with a ski this torsionally rigid,” says Mike Gutt, K2 global marketing manager . K2 will also intro duce the Charger and V elocity in the new category, as well as the SideSeth (147/118/135), a new Seth Morrison pro model with Powder Rocker in its Backside Collection.

Volkl unveils its new V -Werks technology, a Metal-Tex hybrid construction featuring a combination of ti-tanal and carbon fi ber, in the V-Werks RTM 84, offering frontside carving and fl oat in softer snow. For women, the new frontside-focused Charisma (127/79/100) features a slight tip rocker for ease of initiation, as well as an updated Extended Double Grip construction for more control in the center of the ski. Nordica’s new Transfi re line (which is matched with a new boot collection, both aimed at the middle of the market) combines early rise in the tip and slight rise in the tail with a new wide-sized Evo binding plate for increased control and easier handling. The line features four new slim-waisted mo dels in the T ransfi re 78Ti, Transfi re 78Ca, Transfi re 74 and Transfi re 75.

Blizzard, which enjoyed success with its rockered Flip-core Technology in its Free Mountain collection this sea-son, expands the design into a new Women’s Free Moun-tain collection, and also into the existing all-mountain Magnum Series, with two new skis that are 85mm and 80mm underfoot. “We recognized that the energy and ex-citement in the ski industry is focused around rockered, wider waisted skis. With the expansion of Flipcore Tech-nology into both the women’ s Free Mountain category and the all-mountain category, we will be able to deliver this fun and excitement to all skier types, from the big mountain athlete to the average weekend intermediate skier,” Tecnica Blizzard Product Director Jed Duke says.

Salomon is also upgrading its hard snow capability with the Enduro XT 800 (125/80/108) featuring a full wood core and Double Ti Laminate. But the real story is

the expansion of its innovative BBR line in the BBR 10.0 (145/97/110) and women’ s BBR Sunlite (133/79/98), with a Lite Density Core for ease of use. The Rocker line is also expanded with the Rocker2 115 (139/115/131), which features Twin Rocker and Honeycomb tip and tail inserts, and the well-named new big mountain women’ s ski collection, the Rockettes. “W e’ve really focused on the opportunities we see for innovation in women’ s skis, especially with our new all-mountain freeski collection,” says Jenny Naftulin, Salomon alpine brand manager.

Atomic, which is intro ducing a new tourable binding in conjunction with Salomon at the show , is also build-

ing up its big mountain line with the Atlas (150/125/132 at 192 centimeters), which will be paired with the new Guardian binding. Its biggest news is the all-mountain Vantage Line, featuring two new skis in the Ritual and Alibi at 103 and 98 underfoot, that are built with a T i and Carbon backbone milled into the woo d core down the spine of the ski, as well as a mix of 25 percent rocker and 75 percent camber underfoot.

Some of the big stories for Rossignol at the show will include the redesigned Super 7 (146/117/127), from the brand’s hot S Series, which features a fl at tail with more taper for more all-terrain versatility , and the more hard

Early sell-through opens doorsfor another banner year

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TOP TRENDS / SKIS

snow friendly Pursuit HP Ti (125/81/111), with 10 per-cent rocker and 90 percent camber underfoot. “What we’ve found is that a little bit of rocker goes a long way in how much easier it can make a ski to turn,” says Tait Wardlaw, Rossignol VP of marketing and communi-cations. “And what we’re doing with our Power T urn Rocker in the Pursuit Series is adding just enough tip splay to really improve that perfect corduroy experience because that’s what so many people are actually skiing on the slopes.”

Dynastar is introducing the new Cham Series, high-lighted by the Cham 107 (137/107/121) and Cham High Mountain 97 (133/97/112), which feature a long rocker tip, classic camber underfoot and a fl at pintail for maneu-verability in powder and hardpack. The brand’ s updated Exclusive line for women also features an Xpress inte-

grated ski/binding system, which on some models reduces the weight of the ski by almost 20 percent. Elan extends its Amphibio line, providing a unique mix of rocker and camber in the shovel of the ski, with three new men’ s models in the Amphibio 88XT i, 78XTi and 78, as well as the new women’ s Inspire, with a 78mm waist width. Elan will also unveil its Triple Base Technnology (TBT) in the men’ s Puzzle and W omen’s Delirium, which the brand says is a new form of rocker designed specifi cally for the park and pipe segment.

Fischer hits the show with a unique new take on rock-er, as well as a no d to a successful launch from the past. The “Hybrid” project, paired with boots in the V acuum Fit category, is an adjustable rocker system that utilizes an aluminum band that allows skiers to dial in the amount of rocker the ski has, raising the tip as they tighten it. And

in the brand’ s other new line, the Big Stix are coming back, with three new skis with waist widths of 120, 110 and 98. As Fischer Skis USA Vice President Erik Ander-son told SSP, “We had so many dealers and instructors approaching us saying how much they missed that line, that we decided to update it with all of our new technol-ogy and bring it back.”

Head replaces its i.Peak series with the all-new uni-sex Rev series; its era 3.0 models blend rocker, radius and rebound and come in six different waist widths in the 70, 75, 80, 85, 95 and 105 with varying constructions. Kastle introduces its new XX Colby James West twin tip pro mo dels in the XXColby (111/80/111) for the half-pipe, XXJames (120/90/120) for all-mountain, and XX-West (134/110/134) for powder, as well as new additions in its MX and TX lines. Line arrives with new Capwall construction and Thin T ips throughout its All-T errain collection, as well a new thinner line of skis with 85mm waist widths in the Prophet 85, Prophet Flite and Celeb-rity 85. And Black Diamond Equipment arrives at the show with nine new skis, including a more tour friendly version of its Megawatt with a 125mm waist.

—Peter Kray

“What we’ve found is that a little bit of rocker goes a long way in how much easier it can make a ski to turn.”

▲ Dynastar Cham 97

▲ Black Diamond Carbon Megawatt

▲ Elan Delirium

▲ Kastle XXJames

▲ Line Celebrity

▲ Head Rev 90


TOP TRENDS / SKI BOOTS

Boots have been relegated to a supporting role behind the headline-hogging ski category for some 15 years, but they continue to provide the engine that powers your customers’ experience. They’ve enjoyed their own tech-nological breakthroughs, ring your cash register just as frequently as skis, and create buzz on the retail fl oor. SIA reports that pre-season (August through October 2011) retail sales for boots were up 24 percent in dollars over a year ago. Several top models were already in short supply by late fall, so now’ s the time to start formulating smart buying decisions for next season’s inventory.

Market share leader Salomon unveils two intriguing technologies for 2012-13, T win Frame and CS 360°, transforming the hike-ski Quest Max as well as the Ghost Max and X Max. The Twin Frame shell combines a stiff chassis with a softer inner shell to provide the right rigid-ity in the right place, then adds a new Oversized Pivot to transfer power more quickly and evenly . The 360° Custom Shell expands the Salomon fi t benchmark for complete wrapping and straightens and fl attens the foot position for the new rocker ski generation.

Dalbello, which says its A-to-Z lineup has elevated it to No. 2 in the U.S. market, launches an entirely new Krypton KR2 Series for its big mountain brethren, led by the Krypton Pro I.D. The three men’ s and two women’ s models feature bi-injected Power Frame construction, new modern stance geometry and an anatomically pre-cise fi tting 98mm last using Dalbello’s acclaimed Contour 4 Fit Technology. Dalbello also updates its sports perfor -mance Aerro and Aspire series with bi-injection designs, dual density replaceable soles and aluminum buckles.

Nordica earned kudos for introducing the mold-break-ing, three-dimensional FireArrow for this season, and now brings the concept of a boot designed for to day’s ski technology to lower price points. The new 102mm- lasted Transfi re, which replaces the big unit Hot Ro d, provides a “relaxed fi t” alternative to FireArrow , incorporating a new lateral shell, Adjustable Cup Profi le and Stability/Control Hinge. Transfi re includes three models (R1, R2, R3) for men and women, with MAP pricing from $499 down to $299.

Lange and especially Tecnica see the future for all-mountain boots in hike-ski SUV -type versatility , with an emphasis on ski performance. With its acid-green RX 130 arguably the hottest boot at retail this season, Lange rolls out the 100mm-lasted XT 130 and XT 100 W, billed as the fi rst high-performance adventure boots that climb. The secret ingredient is a simple but effective Power V -

Lock, a V -shaped insert in the back of the lower shell which moves backward for hike mo de but locks securely in ski-mode.

Building on the success of the brisk-selling Cochise 120, Tecnica expands its athlete-inspired Free Mountain Series to include a whole collection of models from $399 to $799 MAP. Made of lightweight Triax plastic, the FMS boots feature interchangeable sole systems that allow the soles to switch from DIN to Tech compatible (sold sepa-rately) and an internal metal-on-metal cuff mobility sys-tem that securely locks the cuff to the lower when in ski mode. “This redefi nes the all-mountain boot,” says Bart Tuttle, Tecnica’s product manager. “And we realize that any skier can appreciate it.”

Fischer’s moldable shell Vacuum Fit technology proud-ly debuted in 22 of the country’s best boot shops this sea-son to overwhelming acclaim. The brand is expanding its lineup and reach for 2012-13, looking to place ovens in another 80 shops. Fischer launches seven new mo dels of Vacuum, including the hike-ski Hybrid with two mo dels each for men and women, a stiffer 101mm last and softer 103mm, and the sidecountry Ranger 12. V acuum’s cus-tom fi t is impressive, but the benefi ts also include the ver-

satility to accommo date different feet with fewer SKUs. “The untapped potential,” says Erik Anderson, Fischer’ s alpine division VP, “is for inventory management.”

Atomic’s big news for ‘12-13 is a bold, feature-laden race boot, The Redster, whose numerous innovations will also appeal to big-mountain chargers. Calling it the boot world’s fi rst two-component spine, Atomic co-injects the PU shell with carbon fi ber. The Redster has a new last, twice the lateral cuff adjustment, three different boot board fl exes, and a heel sole lug that is longer than the toe. The Redster arrives in the 95mm-lasted W orld Cup (150, 130 and 110 fl exes, $699 MAP) and the 98mm-lasted Pro (130, 110, $599 MAP).

APEX unveils two injection-molded mo dels with price points coming down $500-plus in the all-new M Series, while continuing to offer its carbon fi ber mo d-els. Full Tilt fi lls a void by bringing an interchangeable rubber sole to each of its four categories in the vector model—the FTS Soul, Seth Morrison and Tom Wallisch pro models, and the First Chair . Rossignol redesigns its Experience Sensor 120 for better fi t and power and offers the all-new Electra Sensor 90 for women.

—Andy Bigford

▲ Lange XT 130

Amid strong sales, innovations multiply For ’12-13, boots get clever new shells, a hike-ski emphasis, improved fi t.

▲ Nordica Transfi re R1 ▲ Glen Plake and the Dalbello Krypton Pro I.D.

▲ Tecnica Cochise 90W

▲ Salomon Ghost Max 120

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TOP TRENDS / SKI BINDINGS

Major ski brands look to help retailers rebuild the ‘Binding Wall.’

When Marker introduced its Duke and Jester ski bindings fi ve years ago, offering a touring feature for moti-vated powderhounds who wanted to chase fresh tracks both in- and out-of-bounds, ski systems dominated at retail, and in most specialty shops the ala carte “Binding Wall” had dis-appeared. But today, ala carte sales account for about 50 per-cent of Marker’s total U.S. market share, according to Geoff Curtis, Marker Volkl USA VP of marketing—and this de-spite Marker’s system sales being strapped to the strength of the K2 and Volkl ski lines, as well as a handful of others.

“When we fi rst introduced the Duke and Jester, many a ski retailer literally thanked us for giving them a reason to talk about bindings again,” Curtis says. “T ourable, step-in bindings in general have changed the market a great deal.”

Crowned as Marker’ s “Royal Line,” three upgraded tourable additions will be unveiled at the SIA Snow Show, including a new Jester and Jester Pro, and also a brand new Duke, with a Power Frame chassis that is 28 percent wider than the original design and a 16 DIN. But several brands are also hitting the show with the inten-tion of taking a piece of Marker’s ala carte throne.

Call it the increased SUV-ifi cation of skiing, as Atom-ic, Salomon, Head/Tyrolia and Fischer will all introduce downhill-focused bindings that feature a touring option. Former World Cup star turned freeskier Daron Rahlves tweeted Atomic’ s Tracker 16 out of the bag when he posted a photo of it on Facebook in September . Paired as it is with Salomon’ s identical Guardian 16 under the Amer Sports umbrella, press releases and Q&As quickly followed as part of a concentrated move to capitalize on the early exposure to the benefi t of both brands. “W ith both companies testing the binding in the fi eld, we’re defi nitely hoping to peak everyone’ s excitement for the introduction of the binding,” Jenny Naftulin, Salomon alpine brand manager said at the time.

Both bindings will be marketed primarily for their downhill performance, according to Naftulin, and fea-ture a Hike & Ride Switch that can be engaged with a ski pole, a clear difference between the Marker bindings, which skiers have to remove in order to switch mo des

between hiking and skiing.HEAD/Tyrolia calls its new group the T riple A Series,

and enters the market with the Adrenalin for ‘12-13, a 16 DIN binding with an AT option that can also be activated on the fl y with a fl ick of a ski pole. The Adrenalin features a horizontal spring in the toe and also three different an-gles for hiking. Unlike systems, which are most commonly matched with skis in the 70-79 mm waist category , the Adrenalin requires skis to have a minimum waist width of

80 mm. It will be offered in Head branded versions in the new Rev 105 and Sacrifi ce, and also on the Binding W all as a Tyrolia standalone. Fischer, which partnered with Ty-rolia on the development, is also planning to follow suit with its own version. As further proof that the ala carte is going to continue to expand, T yrolia is planning three additional models in the T riple A for ‘13-14, including a lower DIN model and a lighter touring model.

—Peter Kray

“When we fi rst introduced the Duke and Jester, many a skiretailer literally thanked us for giving them a reason to talk aboutbindings again.”

▲ Salomon Guardian

▲ Atomic Tracker

SUV-style tourable ski bindings explode at the SIA Snow Show

▲ Marker Duke


TOP TRENDS / HELMETS

With statewide mandates and new resort regulations in the works, protecting skiers and riders’ heads has become big business. Helmets accounted for 10 percent of all acces-sory sales last season, with more than 1.2 million snows-ports-specifi c models sold. Manufacturers for 2012-13 will continue to embrace the trend with lighter materials, better fi t, goggle compatibility and enhanced plug-in capabilities.

“More and more companies are developing helmets and goggles in conjunction,” says Ben Flandro, Smith senior product manager. “There’s also a growing interest for multi-sport helmets, as consumers look to streamline their gear closets.” To that end, Smith unveils the multi-sport Gage, a minimalist lid made from injection-molded ABS. It features AirEvac V entilation that siphons out warm air and a Lifestyle Fit System for fi t customization.

While consumers are streamlining their gear closets, man-ufacturers are doing the same with the number of models they offer to make purchasing on the retail fl oor easier. Salomon addresses this with a new lightweight helmet family debuting a new shell and oval fi t, including the Prophet, whose Im-pact Custom Air system is adapted to the new shell shape, and the men’s Phantom and women’s Aura, which carry the same shell shape minus the brim and big mountain cosmet-ics. “We’re trying to reduce retailers’ need to carry a bunch of SKUs,” says Salomon product manager Mike Aicher.

Following this emphasis on fi t, POC addresses the women’s-specifi c market with its 18.4-oz. Skull Light WO, designed specifi cally to fi t women’s heads, which are shaped differently than men’ s. PO C also unveils a new light-weight Aramid bridge shell helmet, the Fornix, with the weave added just under the outer shell and molded to-gether with the foam liner for enhanced structural stability.

Ride is also hopping on the fi t bandwagon with such technical fi t features as Zone-Flex, Ride Dial fi t systems and stitched liners. That and more can be found on its new Duster Helmet, a snowboard-centric headpiece that fi ts a variety of head shapes and comes with removable earpads, an audio kit and passive venting. “As helmets become lighter, more comfortable and less bulky, they’re becoming a lot more palatable to wear,” says Ride Acces-sories Engineer Nigel Steere. “That’ s why we’re focusing on making helmets that function well but also fi t great.”

Temperature regulation also continues to be a corner -

stone of design. Carrera, now distributed in the U.S. for the fi rst time in three years by Dalbello Sports, looks to solve this with its top-of-the-line, ABS/In-mold Enigma and Paradox. These lightweight, hybrid-construction lids feature a concealed center panel that can be raised for ventilation and a V enturi System of three vacuum-cre-ating air channels that remove heat and humidity . Bern also focuses on airfl ow with its 18-oz. G2, a brimmed offering with liquid-foam-injection Zipmold shell and three-position vent sliders for adjusting air infl ow.

K2 combines fi t and fl ow with phonics with three new hard-shell designs, the Phase, Emphasis and Entity , each made from lightweight EPS foam bonded to an injected molded ABS shell and coming with an adjustable Dialed Fit System, Active Matrix and Passive Channel venting

systems, and three levels of Baseline Audio systems that connect to two-way radios and mp3 players. And RED introduces the new Commander Helmet, a team-driven design with dent resistant construction.

With new studies out on concussions, impact resis-tance is also at the forefront of design trends. Scott’s new Rove MIPS is a freeride helmet featuring Multi Direc-tional Impact Protection System technology , which adds a low friction layer inside the shell allowing it to rotate relative to one’s head. “It mimics the safety system already in the skull,” says Scott marketing manager Adam Greene. “Upon impact, the brain slides along a membrane on the inner surface of the skull, which reduces the forces trans-mitted to the brain. This does the same thing.”

—Eugene Buchanan

Helmets up the ante with features, fi t and even lighter weight modelsSafety not the only story in hot-selling category.

“As helmets become lighter, more comfortable and less bulky, they’re becoming a lot more palatable to wear,” says Ride Accessories Engineer Nigel Steere.

▲ Carrera ENIGMA ▲ Salomon Prophet

▲ Smith Gage ▲ POC Fornix ▲ K2 Emphasis

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TOP TRENDS / GOGGLES

Competition increases in accessory-sales leading goggle marketEntry of Salomon, return of Carrera spice up the category.

Better fi t, venting and helmet integration—that’s the name of the game in goggles, which continue to lead all accessory sales in snowsports. According to SIA, goggle sales grew 21 percent in dollars last season to comprise 29 percent of the accessory category.

Fueling this growth is manufacturers’ commitment to create SKUs that work no matter what the weather. “One of the most prevalent demands we’ve seen is the ability

for goggles to accommodate a wide variety of conditions,” says Ben Flandro, product manager for Smith, whose new I/OX goggles debut at the SIA Snow Show with a new 5X anti-fog lens with a hydrophilic, micro-etched surface to absorb and disperse moisture, as well as a new quick-release system for its spherical, carbonic-X lens.

The sales growth has also lured other players into the category. After a test market in Europe last year, Salomon brings its goggle line to the U.S. for the fi rst time, with a proprietary technology focused on more lens and less frame. The new X-Tend combines a spherical BNL lens with a unique suspension frame system and patented, fog-

preventing airfl ow system. “The new frame expands the fi eld of vision and improves peripheral vision,” says Salo-mon product manager Mike Aicher . “For us, that’ s what it’s all about.”

One player back in the eyewear aisles is Carrera. After a three-year hiatus, Dalbello is bringing the brand back into the U.S. market with a new goggle line highlighted by the Cliff SPH/SRP, featuring Carrera’s Seal-Ring Air

System (S.A.S) anti-fog design, which joins the inner and outer lenses to-gether via a thin polyure-thane membrane. Arnettenever went away , but it is

refocusing on goggles, intro ducing the Mini Series 3 for small faces and the over-sized Skylight for fi t, comfort and optimum viewing.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, K2 Sports introduc-es a new line of K2-branded goggles in the men’ s Photo-kinetic and women’s Captura, both with Optics by Carl Zeiss Vision lenses. The lenses incorporate eight-layer di-electric mirror technology, designed to balance out harsh sunlight and glare and enhance low-light visibility.

Scott is also all about increased visibility with its new Off-Grid, the company’ s largest spherical lens goggle to date with increased lens and frame size and Scott’ s pat-

ent-pending Fit System carried over from its motocross line, offering four fi t adjustments.

Oakley adds AVC to the equation. “Adaptability, vis-ibility and comfort are the three strongest trends in gog-gles,” maintains Oakley global category manager Andy McSorley, pointing to the new Seth Morrison Signature Airbrake goggle, which comes with a blue iridium lens, Switchlock lens change technology , rigid front frame with fl exible O-Matter rear chassis, and triple-layer polar fl eece foam. “Not one lens tint works optimally in every environment—that’s why we created Switchlock, which lets you change lenses to adapt to different conditions.”

Native Eyewear is also aboard the lens-swapping trend with its Kicker goggles, which come with GLIDE-LOK interchangeable, spherical/thermal, polarized lenses to reduce glare. They also harbor an anti-fog interior coat-ing as well as lens and face chamber venting to reduce condensation.

Other trends you’ll see at the show include a new wom-en’s-specifi c line by Julbo, highlighted by its new V esta, the fi rst goggle in its line to come with its polarizing/pho-tochromic Falcon or faster-changing photochromic Zebra Light lens. Also onboard the XX chromosome trend is Spy, whose new Keep A Breast goggle series donates $3 for every sale of its Zed and Whip MX goggles to charity.

—Eugene Buchanan

Adaptability, visibility and comfort are the three strongest trends in goggles.

▲ Oakley Seth ▲ Carrera CLIFF

▼ K2 Photo Kinetic

▲ Scott Off Grid ▲ Smith IOX Turbo ▲ Salomon XPRO 12

THE BEST MOUNTAINSONE EPIC SEASON PASS PRICED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SIA

SIA Epic Pass only available to show attendees, exhibitors and buyers with valid show credentials. Must be present to purchase. Adult passes only.* SIA Epic Pass valid for the remainder of the 2011/12 ski season, starting January 30, 2012. Does not include summer 2012 access.© 2011 Vail Resorts Management Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Stop by the Epic Pass booth #766 at SIA to get your Exclusive SIA Epic Pass for over 60% off the regular price! Plus, $10 of your purchase goes to Winter Feels Good — providing outreach tools

that introduce youth to snowsports.

ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE SIA SHOW

JAN 26–29!

The freedom to ski 6 world-class resorts and the legendary Arapahoe Basin with unlimited and unrestricted access.*

PASS™$239


SUPPLIER INSIGHT / Q & A

When Gary Hammerslag realized in the mid-1990s that there must be a better way to tighten his snowboard boots, he had no idea that his invention-to-be would deliver six million units into the marketplace. Boa Technology closure systems are now incorporated in products ranging from snowboard boots and snowsports helmets to hik-ing, cycling, golf, running and casual footwear . Based out of Denver in an old brick building that used to be a coffin factory, Boa Technology likes to mix innovative engi-neering with outdoor play, and was recently ranked fourth by Outside Magazine on its “Best Places to Work” list for 2011.

—Andy Bigford

Snow Show Preview: What’s your impression of the SIA Snow Show being held in Denver? Gary Hammerslag: Having the show so close to our home is great. It allows us to send more employees to the show and mingle with new and existing partners on the show floor as well as bring our customers in to see our Denver headquarters. We are passionate about our work, but as you know, we all moved to Colorado to be close to the mountains so we can play with the best of ‘em. We want our employees to mix sports and life with work as much as possible. It’s just one of the many benefits we have been able to offer here at Boa.

SSP: How did Boa Technology get started? GH: With a growing family and a desire to raise our two children in a mountain town where they could share our love for the outdoors, I sold my coronary guidewire medical device business in 1994 and decided to make Steamboat Springs the new Hammerslag stomping grounds. My Southern California surfing roots translated perfectly to snow-boarding, and our family soon became a regular fixture on the mountain, while the kids also began playing ice hockey. I’ve been an entrepreneur most of my life and so has my father, so I was actively looking for a new business to start. I recognized that shoelaces were an inadequate closure system for snowboard boots, hockey skates and actually most types of performance footwear and pro ducts. Traditional shoelaces don’ t perform well in the elements, they don’t stay tied, they don’t give you the ability to adjust tightness, and they create pressure points.

SSP: How long did it take you to develop the product and get it to market? GH: For two grueling years, I built the earliest Boa Closure System prototypes, snow-boarded in them, then refined them and snowboarded more. Finally, I determined that the Boa system truly delivered a genuine breakthrough. Our current business mo del of designing, manufacturing and selling a branded closure system to multiple brands and

supporting them strongly has worked out really well for our partners and us. In 2001, both Vans and K2 launched snowboard boots featuring the Boa Closure System.

SSP: What are the growth areas for Boa outside of snow-sports?GH: Cycling, golf and outdoor are all emerging growth areas for us. W e have top partners in each category , in-cluding FootJoy for golf, Specialized in cycling and The North Face and T reksta making outdoor and trail run-ning shoes.

Boa Technology’s Gary HammerslagCEO’s lacing frustration launched iconic performance closure system.

We want our employees to mix sports and life with work as much as possible.

ZDAR BOOTS

INTRODUCING ZDAR FOOTWEAR. 100% GERMAN WOOL FELT.SHOWING AT SIA SNOW SHOW BOOTH 567 | 305 672 7768 | WWW.ZDARBOOT.COM33snewsnet.com SNOW SHOW PREVIEW

SSP: Where else might Boa go in the future?GH: Over the past two years, our system has experienced a surge of interest from many different industries, and 2011 was our best year ever. Two really different emerging cat-egories for us are the medical and protective industries.

SSP: What Boa closure systems being exhibited in 2012-13 pro duct at the SIA Snow Show are you most excited about?GH: We have two new reel platforms this season that will debut at SIA. The first is our seventh generation reel platform called the H3. We’ve redesigned this platform with a smaller visual footprint and overall size yet with slightly more power than the previous reel. It has a precision feel and function and there are no special tools required for on-the-fly repair or maintenance in the backcountry or at the resort. A great example of a new boot that will make its debut here at the SIA Show is the new V ans Infuse. We also have a new Mid Powered Reel named the M3, aimed at our fastest growing seg-ment, which is our Dual Reel (Zonal) solutions. This new reel platform compliments our dual reel offering while enabling price segmentation across the line. Another area of improvement is to provide more ways to use Boa in hybrid configurations, so you’ll see more Lace/Velcro/Boa combo boots in the marketplace addressing the needs of each segment.

SSP: Can you suggest a great Denver spot for Snow Show attendees?GH: Well, I’m a Steamboat local, but Denver is like a second home. Don’ t miss the Denver Beer Co. It’s a stone’s throw away from our office on Platte Street. You are guar-anteed to find a few Boa offsite meetings taking place there at any given time during the week!

Boa expander: “2011 was our best year ever,” Hammerslag says.


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1. Euclid Hall 1317 14th St.303-595-4255; euclidhall.comFrom the owners of Rioja and Bistro V endôme, this American tavern is focused on high quality and innova-tive pub foo d from around the world, including house-made sausages, po’ boys, poutine and schnitzels.

2. Ocean Prime 1465 Larimer St.303-825-3663; oceanprimedenver.com Ocean Prime, the Modern American supper club located at Larimer Square, features Prime steaks and seafoo d, award-winning handcrafted cocktails, world-class wines and red carpet hospitality.

3. Bistro Vendôme1420 Larimer Square, Suite 200303-825-3232; bistrovendome.com Bringing some serious Parisian fl air to the already tres chic Larimer Square, Bistro Vendôme is a Denver foodie favorite. The restaurant’ s mouthwatering menu makes prodigious use of local, seasonal ingredients to create up-dates on classic French bistro fare.

4. Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House1106 14th St.303-640-1012; ktrg.net A fi xture on the Denver cuisine scene for more than 20 years, Kevin Taylor has dedicated his life to creating refi ned French-style cuisine, with a distinctive Colorado twist; lo-cated at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

5. Osteria Marco1453 Larimer St.303-534-5855; osteriamarco.comSpectacular Italian dishes are on display at Osteria Mar -co, a commo dious Larimer Square basement establish-ment that exposes the high priest talents of cutting-edge kitchen magician Frank Bonanno.

6. Panzano909 17th Street at Champa

303-296-3525; panzano-denver.com Located near the 16th Street Mall, the award-winning Panzano has become a true local favorite. Exceptional Northern Italian cuisine matches the warm and inviting setting.

7. Vesta Dipping Grill1822 Blake St. Ste. D303-296-1970; vestagrill.com World grill cuisine. Ethnic entrees and exotic dipping sauces served in a relaxed urban environment in the heart of LoDo.

8. TAG Restaurant1441 Larimer St.303-996-9985; tag-restaurant.com Troy Guard’s home to continental social food offers urban progressive dining in an intimate 125-seat setting right in the heart of Downtown’s Larimer Square.

9. Rioja 1431 Larimer Street303-820-2282; riojadenver.com Chef Jennifer Jasinski’s much acclaimed Mediterranean-infl uenced eatery in Historic Larimer Square.

10. Appaloosa Grill535 16th St.720-932-1700; appaloosagrill.com This employee-owned neighborhoo d favorite offers high-quality cuisine, a great atmosphere and live entertainment nightly. Kitchen open until 1 a.m. seven days a week.

11. 1876 Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Denver1750 Welton St.303-296-1876; granddenver.hyatt.comLocated in the heart of downtown Denver’ s entertain-ment and business district, Grand Hyatt Denver’ s 1876 Restaurant serves three meals daily . Weekday buffets for breakfast and lunch as well as a la carte dining. In the evening choose from a selection of contemporary dishes or from a prix fi xe menu at just $52.80 per couple.

12. Avenue Grill630 E. 17th Ave.303-861-2820; avenuegrill.com Traditional San Francisco-style grill specializing in fresh seafood, grill cuisine, pasta and delicious salads. Private room available. Serving until 11 p.m. weekdays, and to midnight Sat., Sun. 5-10 p.m.

13. ChoLon Bistro1555 Blake St., Ste. 101303-353-5223ChoLon, which translates to “big market,” is named after the largest Chinese-infl uenced market in Saigon, V iet-nam. Executive Chef Lon Symensma, formerly of Bud-dakan and Spice Market in New York City, showcases his passion for Asian ingredients and French cooking tech-niques in a striking and eco-friendly environment.

14. Cook’s Fresh Market1600 Glenarm Pl., Ste. 120303-893-2277; cooksfreshmarket.comA treasure-fi lled store packed with goo d things to taste and eat: fantastic breads, pastries, oils, vinegar , imported cheeses, innovative prepared foods, delicious sandwiches, gift baskets and much more!

15. Corridor 441433 Larimer St.303-893-0044; corridor44.comA stylish new Larimer Square establishment featuring a menu of small plates, sparkling wines by the glass and bottle along with a full bar and complete still wine list.

16. Cru - A Wine Bar1442 Larimer St.303-893-9463; cruawinebar.com Experience and explore the fascinating world of wine, with over 350 selections, 60 premium wines by the glass as well as taster pairings and wine fl ights. Eclectic, wine-friendly cui-sine including shared appetizers, gourmet pizzas and entrees.

17. Earls Restaurant Downtown Denver1600 Glenarm Place. Ste. 140303-595-3275; earls.caOffering an award-winning international cuisine with two outdoor patios, a private dining room and a full bar and lounge retreat with a west-coast atmosphere.

18. EDGE Restaurant & Bar1111 14th Street303-389-3000; edgerestaurantdenver.com

From casual to upscale, walk-to dining options are diverse and delicious.

AT THE SHOW / DINING

Work hard, eat wellDenver may be best known to SIA Snow Show attendees as the gateway to the country’s best skiing and riding. No longer just a steakhouse town, Denver’s re-energized dining scene offers diverse tables to close that big deal or just relax after a long day on the show fl oor. Here are 25 top restaurants from which to choose, all within walking distance of the Convention Center. Thanks to Visit Denver for the reviews.


Located in the heart of downtown Denver’ s theatre dis-trict, EDGE Restaurant & Bar is a progressive Ameri-can steakhouse with a focus on seasonal ingredients and custom dry-aged steaks, sourced from the best farms and ranches in Colorado.

19. Ellyngton’s321 17th St.303-297-3111; brownpalace.com In the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa. Outstanding cuisine and top-notch service for breakfast and lunch. Sunday brunch features extravagant buffets, live jazz and a selec-tion of champagnes.

20. Elway’s Downtown1881 Curtis St.303-312-3107; elways.com The Ritz-Carlton Denver’s signature restaurant is Elway’s, named after Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway. Of-fering delicious food across the menu, great wines at great

prices, attentive service and a comfortable, memorable dining experience.

21. Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse1513 Wynkoop St.303-623-9600; fogo.com An authentic Brazilian Churrascaria (Portuguese for steakhouse) from Southern Brazil in Downtown Denver.

22. Freshcraft1530 Blake St., Unit A303-758-9608; freshcraft.com Upscale comfort food in a casual atmosphere paired with some of the best beers in the world. Nearly all foo d is made from scratch using fresh ingredients.

23. H BurgerCO1555 Blake St.720-524-4345; hburgerco.com H BurgerCO offers diners an energetic, stylish and

comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy renowned chef Ian Klienman’ s unique take on classic American comfort food.

24. Hard Rock Café500 16th St., Ste. 120303-623-3191; hardrock.com Bringing Rock to the Rockies since November 1998. Located on 16th Street at Denver Pavilions, the Hard Rock features an oak bar with a Harley Davidson, and a private room with wrap-around windows overlooking 16th Street Mall.

25. Jax Fishhouse1539 17th St.303-292-5767; jaxfi shhousedenver.comVoted one of the Top Ten Best Restaurants in Denver by 5280 and named Best Seafood Restaurant by Westword and CitySearch, Jax Fish House is one of Denver’s most popular destinations for unforgettable food and drink.

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HOTEL REGISTRATION


Arnette: ‘Eye’m back!’Goggle pros return from ‘hiatus’Debuting two new goggles this January, Arnette Sunglasses and Goggles has set its sights on the winter sports industry…again. A snowsports eyewear powerhouse in its early days (sponsor -ing major athletes like multi-Rider of the Y ear,

Kevin Jones), Arnette’s numerous changes in ownership led to a retreat from the goggle market. “For the past seven or eight years we’ve been on a little bit of a hiatus,” Joe Freitag, global brand director for Arnette, says.

Falling back under the Oakley umbrella in 2009—an ironic move since Arnette founder Greg Arnette left Oakley in 1993 to start his own company—the brand knows that now is the time to go solo at the SIA Show . Last year marked its soft re-launch, but Freitag calls 2012 the real deal—especially for Arnette’ s line of goggles. Last year the medium-sized toric lens, high-end Mercenary goggle and the heritage-style Series 3 goggle hit the market, but for 2012-2013 season, Arnette is targeting Gen Y. The Mini Series 3 is designed to fi t the junior high and female consumer, people “with small faces who don’t necessarily want to rock a super big goggle,” Freitag says.

The new Skylight will be Arnette’s headliner goggle, Freitag predicts. With an over-sized and peripherally optimized domed toric lens, the Skylight still sits within a helmet frame and fi ts a range of faces. Its clean lines mask what Freitag calls “just the right amount of technology so that it has everything you’d expect for fi t, comfort, anti-fog and a wide open fi eld of view.” arnette.com; Booth #3607

Halti pinpoints comfortFinnish brand uses acupuncture tech in new coatThe roots of Finland’ s premier softgoo ds brand Halti lie in necessity . “Juhani Hyökyvaaram started the company in 1976 for one simple reason: he was an avid out-

door person, and he realized that there was no real pro d-uct in the market that would meet his needs,” Joze Spar -ovec, president and owner of Halti’s Canadian distributor Diamond Head Sports Inc., says.

Though Hyökyvaaram sold the company and retired in 2000, the brand has become one of the most respected among outdoor retailers thanks to the Finnish nordic skiers, ski jumpers and alpine ski team that put Halti on the map, Sparovec says. The clothing’ s durability hasn’ t hurt either. Named after the tallest mountain in Finland, a peak located north of the Arctic Circle, Halti pro d-ucts “withstand all of the environmental challenges out there,” Sparovec says. Halti recently renewed its contract to supply the International Ski Federation (FIS) for an-other three years.

Since 1999, Halti has been working with athletes like World Cup slalom champion Kalle Palander , backcoun-try freestyler Julien Regnier, alpine skier Tanja Poutiainen and others, as a way to ensure their products are designed not only for athletes, but by them too. This season, Halti introduces the W ellness During Skiing (WDS) compo-nent to their most technical men’ s and women’ s coats. WDS places specially designed foam knobs inside the jacket to improve airfl ow and to apply pressure to specifi c

acupuncture sites on the wearer’s back. halti.com; Booth #565

Darn Tough: Sockin’ it to ‘emVermont’s Darn Tough calls itself best in bizRic Cabot brags that his customers “beat the crap out of our socks.” After all, he labeled them Darn T ough for a reason. “We will give you attractive, good-looking, hardworking socks that will exceed your expectations in terms of comfort, dura-bility and fi t,” he says. Darn Tough also offers what Cabot calls the sock industry’s only unconditional lifetime guarantee; his current return rate is a mere 0.001 percent of sales.

Cabot calls the intro duction of Darn Tough socks in 2004 as the only option to save a business that’ s part of the heart and soul of Northfi eld, Vt., where the maker of Darn T ough, Cabot Hosiery Mills, is located. The mill had been a private

label company since 1978, but the early 2000s proved to be a trying time for the mill’ s second and third generation co-owners as outsourcing became a cheaper alternative to American-made socks.

Seven years ago, looking to the rugged V ermont landscape for inspiration, Cabot set out to re-sock the outdoor industry. Unconvinced that any company was offering a premium sock, “I fi gured if I couldn’t produce the best, nobody could.” Now, in a factory equipped with the latest in Italian knitting equipment, Darn T ough meshes seamless technology with strong merino wool. Director of sales and marketing Mark Comco-wich, who’s been in the ski business for more than 25 years, calls the ski and snowboard industry “the last bastion” for Darn Tough. Comcowich suggested adding shin pads and a fl ex zone where the top of the foot meets the shin, leading the company to the SIA Show. “Now, we’re ready to rock,” he says. darntough.com; Booth #2290

—Coutney Holden

About 90 brands, from emerging to established, hit the SIA Snow Show fl oor this year as New Exhibitors. Here are three of the newcomers and their stories.

TOP TRENDS / NEW EXHIBITORS

Arnette, Halti, Darn Tough

Finland’s Halti: Look good, feel good.


SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

New Product MarketplaceHighlighting new and noteworthy products at the SIA Snow Show.

Bon Hiver was created on the notion of letting go. Riding since the days when neon one-pieces were slick, only grommets wore helmets and two-planks ruled, we’ve seen riders let go and push progression to unseen levels. Tweaked 180 cabs won half comps back then; now double-cork 10s simply get you in the running. Unfortunately since then, we’ve also seen an industry compla-cent with pumping out minor revisions to a binding design created in the 80s (yep, strap-ins are older than most riders today). So, we took it upon ourselves to step up and give riders what we need — unprecedented per-formance with common-sense convenience.

917-727-7201SIA booth # 2107www.bonhiver.com

After 20+plus years of manufacturing the boot press, which has become the professional boot fi tter’s most reliable and dependable tool, Ski Kare has redesigned the press. A more durable press is the result with added features of micro-adjustable pressure control and a lower arm that has two positions for total inner boot shell access.

Please see us at booth # 3578 for a hands-on demonstration.

5375 Orchard StreetGolden, CO 80403303-279-3828800-525-5374www.skikare.com

Coming to America…distributed in over 40 countries, now available in the US and Canada. Warmer than Fleece!• High performance microfi ber retains heat, blocks the wind, wicks perspiration and dries quickly.• This product has been described as “mis-sion essential equipment” by the US Army. • Can be worn 12 different ways, including: facemask, balaclava, skull cap, helmet liner, head band, ear band, neck gaiter, and scarf.• Warm in the winter and cool in the sum-mer, this is a year-round accessory.Hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from. Licensee of: Vail Resorts areas- Vail, Beaver Creek, Breck-enridge, Keystone, Heavenly and North Star at Tahoe

Birds of Prey World Cup Downhill, TEVA Mountain Games, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, CLC (Collegiate Licensing Corp)

Authentic Multi-Functional HeadwearSIA booth # 4218 www.windx-treme.com

Play Safe and Look Great with Helmet Band-Its, the original fashion accessory for ski helmets. Marrying style with safety, Helmet Band-Its are the new must-have ski and snowboard item. 100% manufactured in the USA, Helmet Band-Its are easy to attach and switch. Our patent-pending design fastens easily on most helmets. Crafted from fi ne European faux and premium furs, and quality novelty materials, the bands are available in a variety of styles. Fur styles shift from headgear accessory to shawl collar, complete with matching wrist cuffs, for a chic après ski look, offering versatility both on and off the slopes.

Robin Dorman [email protected]

Kirk [email protected]

1.855.5.bandit (1.855.522.6348)SIA Booth #2451www.HelmetBandIts.com


SIA Snow Show hits high gear with exhibitor eventsRed Rocks concert, Reclaim Project, Riders Poll top must-see list.

AT THE SHOW / EXHIBITOR EVENTS

Icelantic’s Winter on the RocksHistory will be made at the SIA Snow Show this year , as Icelantic Skis, with help from brands such as Subaru, Discrete, Never Summer and 686, presents the fi rst ever winter concert at Red Rocks. The legendary natural am-phitheatre will play host to the snowsports industry on Fri-day, Jan. 27, with bands such as Atmosphere, Common, Grieves, Budo and Get Critchy set to amplify the Rocky Mountain Night. For more information, and to buy tickets, go to: www.icelanticswinterontherocks.com. Icelantic is also offering a special $250 per guest VIP package for show attendees, which includes front and center seating, foo d, drinks and gifts. General admission: $40. 13th Annual Transworld SNOWboarding

Riders Poll AwardsThe 13th Annual Transworld SNOWboarding Riders Poll Awards, presented by New Era, hits the Fillmore Audito-rium the evening of Friday, Jan. 27. Held every year at the show, the awards have attained legendary status, annually honoring the best athletes in the sport. The industry’s elite will be at the event, which holds special signifi cance as Transworld is also celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Transworld SNOWboarding.

Celebrate K2 Skis 50th anniversaryK2 Skis celebrates its 50-year anniversary at the show. Check out Snow Show Daily on the fl oor for more information.

The RECLAIM Project

Presented by SIA, 686 and Malakye.com, the RECLAIM Project returns to the show for a second straight year , giv-ing three hand-picked designers a once in a lifetime oppor-tunity to support environmental awareness while showing off their talent. Live at the show , the designers will have three days to pro duce an original garment created from “Reclaimed” materials and trims. Located inside the Show Hall in the Snowboard section, booth #3317, to allow for more interaction, the RECLAIM Project celebrates the creativity, functionality and longevity of the snowsports industry, while also developing a channel for encouraging and fi nding new talent.

“We are looking forward to the second installment of the RECLAIM Project at SIA,” says Michael Akira West,

president and creative direc-tor at 686. “W e had a very talented pool of designers en-ter the contest last year and it made for a full and creative atmosphere. This year , the RECLAIM Project is on the Show fl oor, so we’re hoping to drive even more traffi c and attention to the future talent of our industry .” Be sure to stop by the booth on Satur-day, Jan. 28, at 5 p.m. to cel-ebrate the RECLAIM designers and to see their creations.

Shmoozapalooza industry job fair & networking event

HELLO,My name is:

SIA and Malakye are hosting the ShmoozaPalooza indus-try job fair again this year. On Friday, Jan. 27, job seekers can meet with the snowsports industry’ s leading employ-ers. The only show event that is open to the public, the “Shmooz” is also the world’s only cohesive snowsports em-ployment and networking event. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Colorado Convention Center’s Grand Concourse.

Vail Resorts Epic Pass only $239 for show attendees

For the third year running, SIA Snow Show attendees may purchase an Epic Pass for more than 65 percent off the original price, and valid for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season. For adults only, and only available onsite, this exclusive SIA Epic Pass is available to credentialed SIA Show attendees during the Show for $239 at the Epic Pass booth (#766). For more information about the SIA Epic Pass, visit siasnowshow.com/epic

Icelantic to host fi rst-ever winter Red Rocks show.

RECLAIM Project heats up the action on the show fl oor.

Snowboard industry’s elite come out for Riders Poll Awards.

WE’RE SOCIAL. ARE YOU?

Winter is a terrible thing to waste.

* EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. †MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title and registration fees.

Dealer sets actual price. 2012 Impreza 2.0i Premium 5-door pictured has an MSRP of $21,295. Vehicle shown with accessory crossbar set-fixed and ski attachment.

Impreza®. Well-equipped at $17,495†

The all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza. Made to help you make the most of winter. Symmetrical

All-Wheel Drive and 36 mpg* put any destination within reach. Stability and traction control keep

you on course. It turns winter into the best season of the year. Experience love that lasts.

Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

AT THE SHOW / SIA EVENTS

The Snow Show presents the top seminars and eventsSIA spotlights trends, retailers, reps & best business practices.

The Snow Show is legendary for being the must-stop spot for seeing all of the hottest new hardgoo ds, apparel and accessories in snowsports. SIA makes sure it’ s also the number one place to learn more about the best busi-ness practices, top trends and face-to-face networking opportunities that can help grow your business. Here’ s a highlight reel of just some of the ways the show can help improve the way you work.

Put the whole show in your handDownload the entire show into the palm of your hand with SIA’s free mobile app. iPhone, Android and other

smartphone users can just go to www.SIAshowapp.com to in-stantly manage their schedule, navigate the show floor, check out exhibitors, events and speakers, and plan their post-show outings at Denver hotspots.

SIA SnowSports AwardsEach year the industry recognizes the reps, U.S. and Canadian retailers, suppliers and snowsports icons who represent the best of our industry . Celebrate the 2012 winners, including this year’ s Industry Achievement Award winner , on Friday, January 27 at 6P in the CSCUSA Central Lounge & Foo d Court. For more information: snowsports.org/awards.

Backshop + Rental + Uniform

One the show’s most popular annual exhibits, the Back-shop + Rental + Uniform space (Booth #4677) is an exclusive venue focusing on the best in backshop and rental business practices. The Backshop section offers a preview of the latest backshop tools and tuning, while the Rental portion highlights the innovations in rental equipment. The Uniform section is all about what’ s new

in uniforms for making the best impression to your cus-tomers. “It’ s truly the industry’ s most important intro center for these markets,” says Bill Irwin, sales manager , Alpina/Elan Sports. On Friday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m., don’t miss a special presentation on, “How Rocker T echnol-ogy is Rocking the Rental W orld.” Backshop + Rental + Uniform Reception: SAM, SIA and Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month invite you to join us for a reception. Booth #4677 at 5:30P

Improve your business at the Backshop + Rental +

Uniform space.

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Backcountry ExperienceWant to see all the avalanche beacons, back-pack airbags and snow safety equipment in one

place? Stop by SIA’s Backcountry Experience (Booth #4506) and learn all the best practices for outfitting your customers and delivering a wealth of safety information, from lift accessed sidecountry to multiday expeditions. Backcountry experts will share their knowledge on ev-erything from gear selection to avalanche warning signs. There will also be daily beacon searches, a chance to win prizes from the best brands in backcountry, a happy hour, lots of great films and live music.

SeminarsThe Snow Show offers free seminars from experts in marketing, merchandising, research, exporting, customer relationship management, fashion and more. Most semi-nars are run several times during the week to accommo-date your schedules. 2012 Seminars topics include:

›› SnowSports Market Overview by Category ›› F/W 2013 Color and Snowsports Trends ›› SIA Recycling Program Overview ›› Exhibitor Tips - Make the most out of the show! ›› Marketing to Women, Kids and Seniors ›› How Shops Can Improve their Community Relations ›› Social Media Series ›› How to Obtain Credit

›› Marketing 101: Basic Tips and Trends ›› Merchandising Tips

Sneak Peak DigitalSnow Innovations/New Product Directory.Can’t wait to see the lat-est innovations at the Snow Show? You don’t have to. SIA is providing a “Sneak Peak” digital pro duct preview on siasnowshow.com/sneakpeak and all of SIA ’s social media sites. The format serves as an excellent hot item and

trend spotter for retailers and media alike.

BlueBird Social Zone

Booth-less bloggers, press individuals and daily guests have a place of their own during show days as SIA in-troduces the BlueBird Social Zone (Booth #303). Send social marketing messages and press updates live from the show floor. Charging stations are offered to give a boost of power while seating and streaming music give you an opportunity to recharge.

SIA EventsGrowing Participation Breakfast (Year 2)Join SIA on Friday, Jan. 27, to learn what the industry is doing to help increase participation and how you can get involved. Tk time and place

Pancake BreakfastOn Sunday, January 29, at 8 a.m., SIA Board members will be flipping pancakes for show attendees.

Daily Happy HourEvery day at 5 p.m., at the CSCUSA Central Lounge and Food Court, you can swing by for a

post-show beverage and an opportunity to network.

Reception and State of the Industry PresentationSunday, January 29 (check out the Snow Show Daily for more details)

Complimentary Breakfast and Lunch Monday , January 30 and Tuesday, January 31 in the Barn.

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The SIA Awards honor the

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The annual SIA On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Wi ter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch Jan. 30-31, 2012, provides the perfect transition onto the slopes and trails after four days of meetings and pro duct recons at the SIA Snow Show . “There’s so much good stuff being introduced right now,” Sports Specialists Limited president Steve Rogers says, “that you really have to test if for yourself.” Snowsports retailers and media can test gear and accessories they just previewed at the show , including ski, snowboard, cross-country, snowshoe, AT, telemark and backcountry products.

Organized in conjunction with the Western Winter Sports Reps As-sociation (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo, the alpine and snow-board portion is held at W inter Park. Besides all the testing, the On-Snow includes the Uphill/Downhill Challenge, a fundraiser for the U.S. Ski Mountaineering team. Free and open to all demo attendees,

the Jan. 30 event has industry teams skinning from the Winter Park base up 1,700 verti-cal feet to the Sunspot Lodge. After removing their climbing gear, competitors descend through bumps and glades to arrive at the base area fi nish. “The race team concept is a perfect way to encourage camaraderie and collaboration more than competition, but let’s face it—some of us love to compete,” says Kim Miller, Scarpa’s CEO. To sign up for the Uphill/Downhill Challenge, go to siasnowshow.com/uphilldownhill.

2 Mile High BBQAfter a day on the snow trying the latest products, join the industry for the 2 Mile High BBQ at the Lodge at Sunspot on Jan. 30. Take the Zephyr Express to the top of Winter Park Resort for a hearty and delicious Rocky Mountain buffet BBQ featuring Cowboy Chicken, prime rib and garlic mashers. Reservations must be made by Jan. 19. For more information, and to guarantee your spot, go to siasnowshow.com/bbq.

Offi ce Booyz and Girlz The On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest’s favorite non-contest contest re-turns, courtesy of Malakye.com. Open to everyone, and all skill levels, this year’s theme is, One Hit W onder. Participants just need to hit one obstacle to win a prize at Winter Park’s Re-Railer park on Jan.

30. Costumes are encouraged. And fun is guaranteed. Go to www.malakye.com for more info.

TEST IT / ON-SNOW DEMO

On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Festis all work (and play)

How can you resist getting on snow to test all the 2012-13 gear and accessories after ogling it indoors for four days, especially when it’s your job?

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The Rental market is

ROCKING!New systems, new technology,and more players make therentalmarket a hot segment for2013. Read all about it in SAM'sRental Buyer's Guide, online atwww.saminfo.com/marketplacestarting Jan. 5, or in RentalWorld at the SIA show, booth#4677.

Special Rental World booth events on Friday, Jan. 27 >>>• 1:00pm Discussion, “How Rocker Technology is Rockingthe Rental World.” The past, present, and future of rockertechnology in rental business, and how it is transforming theexperience for beginners and enthusiasts alike.• 5:30pm SAM, SIA and Learn to Ski & Snowboard Monthinvite you to join us for a reception.


Nordic Demo at Devil’s Thumb RanchOccurring simultaneously with the W inter Park demo is the Nordic Demo, which returns to the scenic Devil’ s Thumb Ranch and is held in partnership with the Cross Country Ski Areas Association. The demo provides the opportunity for retailers to meet, mingle and ski with key principals from all the top Nordic brands, to keep their

fi nger on the pulse of the market, and of course to test all the latest and greatest gear . The gathering features more brands, mo dels and sizes than any other Nordic demo in the country, and Devil’ s Thumb is a premiere cross country center that provides the perfect testing environment.

“Love connecting with all the people,” says MaryLou Lowrie, a 2011 attendee from the Rangeley Lakes T rails Center in Maine. “Loved demoing all the skis and trying everything. The venue is superb. The Nordic Demo helped us make a decision to add a new element (skate) to our rentals. W e’re small, yet the investment to come here was totally worth it.”

Free lift ticket offer returnsfor SIA Show attendees

For the third year running, SIA and Colorado Ski Coun-try USA have partnered to offer attendees of the 2012 Snow Show free or 2-for-1 lift ticket vouchers from 21

participating CSCUSA member resorts. Lift vouchers will be valid for fi ve days following the Snow Show, from Jan. 30 through Feb. 3.

“It’s a fantastic way for Show attendees to explore Colorado, visit some place they haven’t been before, discover the variety of ter-rain we have here, and get a thorough sampling of our snowy winter goods,” says Melanie Mills, President of CSCUSA.

There are two separate voucher offers accompanying Show badges: Snow Show Buyers will receive three free lift ticket vouchers and all Snow Show Attendees will receive three 2-for-1 vouchers. Present the voucher at a participating resort ticket of-fi ce and ski or ride away.

Participating resorts include Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Echo Mountain, Eldora, Howelsen, Loveland, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn, Purgatory (Durango), Ski Cooper, Snowmass, SolVista Basin, Steamboat, Sunlight, Telluride, Winter Park, and Wolf Creek Ski Area.

IT HAPPENS HERE: The SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest. Check out why we go...

A snowsports industry initiative in

partnership with this publication.

01.30 - 31, 2012 ON-SNOW DEMO / SKI-RIDE FEST

Ski & Snowboard/Winter Park Resort

MONDAY, JANUARY 30· Breakfast· Demo· Lunch· Offi ce Booyz & Girlz

· Uphill/Downhill· Happy Hour & Awards

· 2 Mile High BBQ

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31· Breakfast· Demo· Lunch

Nordic/Devil’s Th umb Ranch SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

· Nordic Market Overview

· Welcome Reception

MONDAY, JANUARY 30· Breakfast· Nordic Demo· Lunch· Clinics· Nordic Aprés Ski

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31· Breakfast· Nordic Demo· Lunch· Clinics

In conjunction with Cross CountrySki Areas Association

In partnership with the WWSRA Rocky Mountain Demo

there is no better way to follow up four days of trade show

than with an on-snow demo test. Get out on the mountain

with gear from over 200 ski, snowboard, AT, backcountry,

cross country and snowshoe brands. If trying out product,

skiing/riding and mixing on snow with the rest of us isn’t

enough to get you there, free lift tickets, transportation,

breakfasts, lunches, happy hours and entertainment are

all included in your $10 registration fee.

IN AN INDUSTRY THAT’S

ALL ABOUT EXPERIENCE,

SIASNOWSHOW.COM

In today’s economic environment, everyone needs an edge. As your partner, it’s our job at SIA to help the industry fi nd and maintain that edge. SIA Research offers an incredible range of reports and data designed to give you industry insights that will help you make smarter decisions to grow your business. Take a look at some of our top reports.

RETAILTRAK™ & CROSS-INDUSTRY RETAILTRAK™SIA and the Leisure Trends Group have worked together for over 30 years, providing the snow sports industry with exclusive retail market data detailed down to the model level for virtually all apparel, accessories and equipment sold in the snow sports market. SIA Members get free access to the RetailTRAK™ and Cross-Industry RetailTrak™ Dy-namic Portals offering Topline Data and signifi cantly reduced member rates for Brand Share Data for the many business situations that call for a deeper level of market data that measures sales at the brand and model level.

SIA’s RetailTRAK™ Brand Share Reports subscription provides this level of data for six categories including: Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic, Apparel, Equipment Accessories, Apparel Accessories and a total of 36 product segments. The Cross-Industry Retail-TRAK™ Topline Reports and Dynamic Portal in addition to snow sports data, provide access to monthly data in the Snow Sports*, Outdoor*, Running*, Paddle Sports* and Athletic Apparel* outdoor/leisure market segments. (*regional sales available)

SNOW SPORTS MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORTSThe Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report is the most comprehensive report on snow sports sales, participation, and overall trends available in the snow sports market. It gives an unprecedented quantitative review of the most recent snow sports season. Three Report Versions Are Available: Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report – Total Market, Women’s and Kids.

SNOW SPORTS PARTICIPATION REPORTThis report measures participation and participant demographics in the following winter sport disciplines:Alpine Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing and Nordic Skiing.

SIA SALES AND ORDERS SURVEYSSIA Sales and Orders Surveys are conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys USA, with data submitted by participating SIA Member companies. Information is collected/coded by a CPA fi rm and is strictly confi dential. These Surveys are only available to SIA compa-nies that submit data.

SNOW SPORTS INSIDERSSnow Sports Insiders is an online consumer research survey system that enables SIA to examine, changing consumer behaviors, attitudes and perceptions. Hosted on www.snowsportsinsiders.com, Snow Sports Insiders panel members are pre-recruited U.S. residents, 16 years or older, that participate in snow sports. Snow Sports Insiders panel studies can be customized to meet your needs.

UNIFORM SURVEYReleased each November, the results allow SIA to measure trends in uniform purchases and provide uniform suppliers and their sales reps with individual buyers at resorts.

RENTAL EQUIPMENT SURVEYReleased each November, it also contains a list of more than 150 qualifi ed rental equip-ment leads with full contact information.

Contact SIA Research at 703.556.9020 for information on other SIA Research products including:›› Model for Success›› Cost of Doing Business and Compensation Studies›› Revisiting Growing the Snow Sports Industry›› Succession Planning›› Custom Research Services

SIA SHOW MOVE-OUT

FEBRUARY-DECEMBER

PRE-SHOW PREP

SIA SHOW MOVE-IN

CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL SALES MANAGER FOR DETAILS:

SIA’s Members-Only warehouse makes move out easy and ensures a smooth, worry-free entrance back into the Show in 2013 and includes these year-round benefi ts.

WE’RE SOCIAL.

STAY CONNECTED. FIND US ON

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AT THE SHOWS / WHO & WHERE

Exhibitor ListsMore than 900 brands on display at the Show (as of Dec. 15, 2011; subject to change).

686 ..................................... 3213180s LLC........................... 15551Love.org ............................ 20610th Mountain Division Foundation32 DegreesLLC ................. 6583point5.com .................... 25294FRNT Skis, LLC ............ 42335150 Snowboards ........ 3914540 Snowboards .............. 702AAS - Anomaly Action Sports Inc ....... 3935ACADEMY Snowboard Co. .............. 3713adidas Outdoor ............. 1166Advanced Racking Systems........ 4346Aerial 7................................. 912AFRC-Outdoor Gear, Inc. ....................... 2755Airblaster ......................... 3912Alpina Sports Corp. ...... 2774Alpine Valet™ ................. 3358AMATERRACE Inc .......... 333Ambler ................................. 747American Paper and Plastic Co ........................ 573Anakie Outerwear .......... 419Analog Clothing............. 2913Anarchy Eyewear ......... 1311Anon Optics .................... 1918Apex Sports Group LLC 3890Arbor ................................. 1619Arc’teryx Equipment Inc ............ 1339Arctix ................................. 2468Armada ............................. 4229Arnette ............................. 3607ARVA ................................. 4590Ashbury Eyewear ............ 517Aspire Brands LLC ........... 745Astis Mittens .................. 2566Athalon Sportgear, Inc. ............ 4261Atlas Snow-Shoe Co. ... 3832Atomic USA, Inc ............ 4155Auclair Sports, Inc ........ 1355AYG-All Year Gear ........ 2347Backcountry Access, Inc.................... 3378BackCountry Experience ...................... 4615Backshop + Rental + Uniform ......................... 4677Backside Clothing Company ...................... 4308Banshee Bungee .............. 510Bataleon ........................... 3107Bearded Apparel .............. 421BEARPAW ....................... 1032

Bergans of Norway ......... 758Bern Unlimited Inc ....... 2119Betty Rides ......................... 317Billabong USA ................ 3619Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. .............. 3428Black Diamond Sportswear ..................... 742Blizzard Sport................. 3778Blue Bird Social Zone ..... 303Bogs Footwear .................. 948Bolle’ ..................................... 528Bon Hiver Inc. ................. 2107Bonfi re Snowboarding Company ...................... 2902Bonnier Mountain Group ............................. 3751Booster Strap ................. 3472Boulder Gear .................. 2755Bounceboards, LLC ......... 214brandbase Inc .................... 328Brandwise ........................ 3745Bridgedale ....................... 3365Briko .................................. 3560Buff Inc................................. 311BULA ................................. 1028Burton Snowboards ....1913/2513Buzrun Snowboards ....... 702C3 ........................................ 2919Camtrol ................................ 316Canada Goose ................... 536CandyGrind .................... 1108CAPiTA Snowboarding 3219Capix .................................. 3702Carrera ............................. 4274Causwell ........................... 3837Celerant Technology Corporation.................... 938CelsiusSnow USA, Inc. ........................ 1715CenterStone Technologies, Inc. ...... 1964CEP Compression Sportswear ..................... 664Chaos ................................. 2456Cheetah Factory Racing (CFR) ............... 1908COAL Headwear ........... 2919ColdDist LLC .................. 2319COLDPRUF Base Layer 746Colorado Ski Country USA ............... 1747Colorado Ski Country USA Central Lounge & Food Court .............. 2132Contour ............................ 4528Contract Snowboards .... 314COREUPT.COM ............ 4231CoVelo Clothing Inc ..... 1163

Crash Pads ....................... 2156crazeeHeads inc ............... 946Crescent Moon Snowshoes ................... 3733Croakies ........................... 1136CSA - Leggett & Platt .. 4135CTR (Chaos Thermal Regulation) .................. 2456Cushe Footwear ............ 1350CW-X, Wacoal Sports Science Corp . 2941DAKINE ............................ 2519Dalbello Sports LLC ..... 4177Dale of Norway, Inc ......... 773Darn Tough Vermont... 2290DC Shoes, Inc ................. 2102Deeluxe............................. 3920Demon Snow .................. 2209Dermatone ...................... 3174Descente North America, Inc ................... 345Devils Thumb Ranch ...... 371Dinosaurs Will Die Snowboards ........... 910Discrete Headwear ...... 3267DNA ...................................... 345Dot Dash .......................... 1110Double Diamond Sportswear ..................... 742DownUnders Footbeds ....................... 3842DPS SKIS .......................... 2962Dragon Alliance ............. 1519Drake ................................. 3202Dregs Distribution/ Indoboard .................... 2219Drop MFG ....................... 3034DRYGUY LLC.................. 2453Dye Precision .................... 515Dynafi t and Salewa ...... 3164Dynastar Skis ................. 3770EC3D Sports ...................... 950Echelon Snowboards ... 4207Eggbar-Vise, LLC ........... 3948Eider ................................... 1039EIRA ................................... 4624Eisbar USA .......................... 947Elan Blanc ........................ 1749Elan Skis ........................... 2774Electric Visual ................... 619ELM CO ............................ 1511EMERGE Snowboards 1810EMSCO Group ............... 2150Endeavor/Air Hole .......... 908Entity Tall Tees ............... 4211Epic Pass .............................. 766Erica Molinari .................... 564Erik Sports- WhiteWoods .............. 3576Erin Snow ......................... 1263

Eurosocks International 934EVEREST AMERICA ....... 669Expand A Sign USA ...... 4210Faction Skis ..................... 4237Fast Strap ......................... 2940FATE Clothing ................... 969Fat-ypus Skis .................. 3361FedEx/FedEx Offi ce ..... 4619Fera International Corp................................ 1168Firehouse LLC ................... 513Fischer Skis US .............. 4568Fits Sock Co .................... 2464Five Seasons ................... 1735Flow Sport Inc/ Flow Snowboarding . 2921Flux Binding Systems .. 3716FlyLow Gear.................... 3169Footbalance System Inc 223Forum ................................... 919Foursquare ......................... 919Fox 40 International Inc ........ 3471Fox River Mills, Inc. ...... 2564Frends ............................... 1717FTWO Snowboards ........ 702Full Tilt Boots ................. 3858Function ........................... 4576G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc......................... 3371Gabel Sports Group (North America) Inc . 3560Garmont NA, Inc ........... 3365Geiger of Austria Inc ... 1775GHEEK .............................. 2425Girl Powder, Inc ............. 1608Giro Sport Design ......... 3728Glowboardz, LLC ............. 512GNU ................................... 1307Goldwin ............................ 1733GOODE Ski Technologies ............... 3356GoPro ................................... 319Gordini USA, Inc ............ 2834Gorski Group .................. 1258Grabber Inc. .................... 4161Grandoe............................ 2836Grangers .......................... 3373Grenade Inc .................... 3907G-Shock ............................... 511H2O Outdoor Gear...... 4305Halti Oy ............................... 565Happy Goat Lucky ........ 1558Hart Ski Corporation... 2971Head Wintersports ...... 3155Heat Factory Inc ........... 2791Hell is for Heroes .......... 1564Helly Hansen (US) Inc . 1755Helmet Band-ITS .......... 2451HESTRA

GLOVES, LLC .............. 2160High Sierra Sport Co. .. 3747High Society Freeride Company LLC ............. 3917Highgear ........................... 3373Highland Trading Company/Sportube.. 2890Holden .............................. 3419Holmenkol.US ................ 4357hOme Swiss Watches . 3015Homeschool Snowboarding ............ 3211Horizon Agency, Inc - Outdoor Sports Insurance” .................... 2790Hot Chillys ....................... 3350Hotfi ngers Gloves ........ 1776Hotronic USA, Inc ......... 3355House of Marley............... 703i.N.i. Cooperative ............. 206Icebreaker USA ................ 542Icelandic Design ............... 559Icelantic Skis ................... 3563Impact Canopies USA . 3266Implus Corporation ..... 3373INA International, Ltd. ................................. 3502Itasca Footwear by C.O. Lynch Enterprises ............ 734Jacob Ash/Schuessler .... 750Jambu ................................... 593Jones Snowboards ....... 2910Joshua Tree Skin Care ... 591Joystick ............................. 3837K2 Skis .............................. 3929K2 Snowboarding ......... 3922Kali Protectives ............. 4213Kamik div of Genfoot America .......... 570Karbon ................................. 175Karvena Helmets and Goggles .................... 314Kastle GmbH .................. 3775Khombu ............................ 1373Killtec NA Inc. ................ 2168Killy .................................... 1042Kiss My Face LLC .......... 1490KJUS USA ........................... 576KLINT ................................ 4339KneeBinding, Inc. .......... 3570Kombi Ltd. ....................... 3050Komperdell ..................... 3773Krimson Klover ............. 1348Kuhl Clothing ................. 2164Kulkea, LLC...................... 3675KUUsport Mfg. Ltd....... 4163KVZ Sports, LLC ............ 1035Kwik Tek, Inc. .................. 3847La Sportiva N.A. Inc. ..... 4246Lamar .................................... 506

LandYachtz ...................... 1707Lange Ski Boots ............. 3770Launch Pad ...................... 3742Launch Snowboards .... 4513Laundromat .................... 1161Lazer Sport ...................... 4516L-Bow Mittens................... 952Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month ...........................................Leisure Trends Group . 1750LEKI USA, Inc ................. 3160Lib Tech ............................. 1507Lib Tech NAS (Skis!) ..... 4235Liberty Mountain .......... 2970Liberty Skis ...................... 3855Life-Link............................ 3365Line Skis ............................ 3655Liquid Boardwear ......... 4107Liquid Image Co, LLC ... 2421Little Hotties Warmers 3373LODGESOXX™ ................. 673Loki ..................................... 1364Long Advance International Co, Ltd 1368Lorpen North America Inc ................. 1764LTD Snowboards .............. 506Lucky Bums Inc .............. 2770M. Miller .............................. 962Madshus ........................... 3732Majesty Skis ....................... 314Mammut Sports Group USA ................... 3368Manzella Products ....... 3134Mariner Business Solutions .......................... 764Marker Ltd ......................... 255Marker Sport and Travel Bags................... 4165Marker USA .................... 4557Marmot Mountain, LLC ............ 1446MasterFit Enterprises 3739MeCo Designs ................ 1464Megaphone US .............. 1559Mental ............................... 1774Mervin Manufacturing 1307MFD ................................... 4503Millennium Three (M3) 3502Mitchie’s Matchings ....... 373Molehill Mt. Equipment, Inc ... 2090Moment Skis ................... 4239Montana Sport North America Inc ................. 3942Moon Boot ...................... 3678Moon Shadow ................ 2456Morrow Snowboards .. 3922Mount Tec Gloves ......... 2960Mountain

Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth #


Hardwear, Inc ............. 1046Mountain Shades .......... 3434Mountain Uniforms ........ 632MTN Approach .............. 3921NARGEAR .......................... 216National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA) 4577Nation’s Best Sports (NBS) ................... 267Native Eyewear ............. 3142NEFF .................................. 3206Neve Designs ................. 1746Never Summer Industries ..................... 1513New Wave Enviro Products ......... 4355Niche Snowboards ....... 1607Nidecker USA, Inc......... 2910Nike .................................... 3622NILS .................................... 1742Nirvanna Designs ............ 762Nitro Snowboards ........... 907Nobis ................................. 2809Nomis ...........................................Nordica USA ................... 4169Northside by Triple T Trading Ltd .. 1669Northwave ...................... 3202NOW Snowboarding ... 2910NXTZ ................................. 2423Oakley Inc ........................ 1328ON3P Skis ....................... 4578Oneballjay ....................... 1412O’Neill ............................... 1522OneUP .............................. 1312Optic Nerve .................... 3434ORAGE ............................. 1728Ortovox USA Inc ........... 3167OSBE USA Inc ................ 3245Outdoor Research ........... 739Outdoor Technology ...... 623Outer Edge Industries 4515OZ Snowboards................ 211Pajar ................................... 1468Parajumpers ................... 1564Patagonia Inc. ................. 1823Paul Frank Skis & Snowboards ................ 4343Pepper’s Performance Eyeware, Inc ................ 3424Peter Grimm Headwear .................... 2915Phase 4 Imports ............ 1367Pieps ................................. 2970Pinnacle Designs ........... 2568PISTIL ................................ 2254Planet Earth Clothing . 4120POC USA LLC ................. 1023point6 LLC ....................... 1451Poivre Blanc .................... 3042POLARMAX .................... 2347POW Gloves ................... 2208Powderhorn .................... 1751Precision Mountainwear / Helix Snowboardwear 748Promotive.com .............. 2529

ProRider ........................... 1713Pro-Tec .............................. 3408PSIA-AASI ........................ 3974PTL Enterprises ................ 569Pull-In ................................ 1346Pulse .................................. 1223Pyour Performance Sport Tights ................. 2452Quickpoles, LLC............. 3737Quiksilver Inc ................. 1202R.E.D. ................................. 1919Rab ..................................... 3571Rawik ................................. 2755RC Products ....................... 315Recco Systems Ltd .......FoyerReclaim Project ............. 3317Recon Instruments Inc .. 423Redfeather Snowshoes 3580Regina Imports LLC ..... 1573Rep The Zip ........................ 422reusch SnowSports ...... 2250Ride Snowboards .......... 3715Ripzone / Powder Room .............................. 4216Roces USA, Inc ............... 4174Rocky Mountain Sunscreen .................... 2528Rocky Mountain Underground RMU .. 4356Rome Snowboard Design Syndicate ......... 915Rossignol .......................... 3765Rossignol Apparel ........ 3861Roxa North America .... 3458Roxy ................................... 1502Ruffolo Enterprises, Inc .......... 2527S4® Optics ...................... 1313Sabine Sommeregger ..... 566SABRE ............................... 2310Salomon Snowboards . 2502Salomon USA .................. 4147SCARPA North America, Inc. ............... 3171Schure Sports U.S.A., Inc ......................... 175Scott Sports .................... 3037Screamer ............................. 755Sector 9 ............................ 3406Seirus Innovation .......... 2844Serengeti Eyewear .......... 528Sessions LLC ................... 2507Shenzhen Pengyifa Industrial Co LTD ......... 331Shifty .................................... 592Shred Optics ................... 3935Shred Ready Inc ............... 312Sidas ................................... 4572SKEA, LTD ........................ 2469Ski Kare, Inc .................... 3578Ski Retriever ................... 3666Ski Tops/Chaos/ Moon Shadow/CTR .. 2456SKIHOOKUPS Inc ........ 3579SKILOGIK ........................ 3863SkiMetrix, Ltd ................. 3472SkiSkootys ....................... 3390

Skullcandy, Inc. .............. 2202SlayerNation LLC .......... 2207Slide-On............................ 3472Slytech Protection ....... 3935SmartWool Corporation................. 2763Smith Optics ................... 2828Smokin’ Snowboards ... 2307Snapdry ............................ 3355Sno Life, LLC ...................... 738Sno Skins Inc ...................... 966Snow Angel ........................ 942Snow Dragons ................ 2755Snow Show Daily ............. 264SnowFab........................... 4339Snowjam LLC ..................... 702SOS Outreach ...........................SOS-Sportswear of Sweden .......................... 1737Soul Poles......................... 4574SP3i Sports ...................... 4245Spacecraft ........................ 2807Spark R&D ....................... 1807Special Blend ..................... 919Spice Snowboards ........... 702SpiritHoods ..................... 1657Sport Obermeyer Ltd. . 2173Sportcaster Company, Inc .............. 1223Sports Accessories America Inc ................. 2760Sportube .......................... 2890Spy Optic, Inc. ................ 3707Spyder Active Sports, Inc. ................... 1175Spyderco .......................... 3860STANCE ............................ 1813Steez Gear LLC ................. 222Stepchild Snowboards 3902Stockli Ski USA .............. 3363Storm Creek Apparel .. 1569Strap Pad LLC ................. 2908Stylesight ............................ 193Subaru of America, Inc .. 531Sun Valley Ski Tools Inc 3844Sunbelt® Optic.............. 2125Suncloud Polarized Optics ............................ 2827Sunice ................................ 1766Superfeet Worldwide Inc.............. 2560Surface Skis ..................... 3837Swany ................................ 1777Sweet Turns LLC ........... 1659Swix Sport USA, Inc ..... 3174Tailfi sh Sports .................... 212Technine ......................................Tecnica USA .................... 3778Terramar Sports Inc ........ 723The North Face .............. 4219The Program ...................... 919The Soze Group ............. 4572Therm-IC .......................... 4572Thirty-Two Boots .......... 1909Thorlo Inc ......................... 1561Thule Inc ........................... 3374TOKO ................................ 3190

Tomahawk International .................. 420Toyota Tsusho Corporation.................... 630Transpack ......................... 3146TransWorld Media .......... 302Trespass USA ..................... 261TREW ................................ 1611Tubbs Snowshoes ......... 3833Turbine Boardwear ......... 706Turtle Fur Group ........... 1155UCLEAR ........................... 4674Ugg Australia .................. 1051Under Armour - MTN .... 728Union Binding ................ 3016Unity Snowboard Manufacturing LLC .. 2916Uvex ................................... 3174Vail Resorts Inc ................. 766Vans .................................... 3612Venture Snowboards .. 1711VestPac ................................ 310Vew-Do Balance Boards .............................. 307Vintage Winter .............. 2490VIRUS Action Sport Performance ...... 313VIST North America .... 1361Vittoria Industries North America ........... 3202Voile Splitboards ........... 1710Voile-USA ........................ 3269Volcom ................................. 710Volkl ................................... 4566Volkl Performance Wear .............................. 4566VonZipper ........................ 1012VR2 Distribution Inc ... 1733White Sierra ...................... 555Wigwam Mills, Inc ........ 2460Wind X-treme America, LLC ............... 4218Winter Trails ..............................Wintersteiger Inc. ........ 3342Wrong Gear Inc ................ 603Yaktrax .............................. 3373Yeah For It Distribution ............. 2907YES Now Board ............. 2910Zanheadgear & Bobster Eyewear .......... 911ZDAR Boot USA ............... 567Zeal Optics ...................... 3223Zeon Corporation ......... 2108Zero rh+............................... 769Zero/The Fairfi eld Line 1351Ziener ................................ 1733

On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest

WINTER PARK:ALPINE/SNOWBOARDThirty-Two Boots 4FRNT Skis

540 Snowboard Aerial 7 APEX Ski Boots Arbor Armada Skis Atomic USABataleon SnowboardsBern UnlimitedBlack Diamond Equipment Blizzard Bolle’Burton Capita SnowboardsCarrera Helmets and GogglesCelsiusSnow USAContour Wearable Cam-corderContract SnowboardsDahlgren Dalbello ATDalbello Ski BootsDCDeeluxeDPS SkisDragon AllianceDynafi tDynastar SkisDye Precision OpticsElanElectric VisualEndeavor SnowboardsFaction SkisFischer Skis U.S. FK/SKS Tools (Ruffolo Enterprises)Flow SnowboardingFlux BindingsForumFull Tilt BootsG3 Genuine Guide GearGarmontGeigerRigGiro Helmets & GogglesGnuGOODE Skis & PolesGoPro H2O Outdoor Gear (H2OG)Hart SkisHead WintersportsHigh Society FreerideIcelantic SkisJones Snowboards“K2 Helmets, Goggle, Poles”K2 SkisK2 SnowboardingKarvena Helmet’s & GogglesKastle SkisKerma Ski PolesKLINT La Sportiva N.A.Lange Ski BootsLEKI USALib TechLib Tech NAS (Skis!)Line SkisLiquid Image Summit Series

Look BindingsMajesty SkisMarker AT (Marker USA)Marker Bindings (Marker USA)MOD/MOD LiveMoment SkisNative EyewearNever Summer SnowboardsNiche SnowboardsNitro SnowboardsNordicaNOW SnowboardingOakleyOSBE USA HelmetsOZ SnowboardsPOC Helmets & GogglesPoint6 SocksPro-TecRecon InstrumentsR.E.DRide SnowboardsRossignol AlpineRossignol SnowboardsRoxy SnowSalomon USASalomon Helmets & GogglesSalomon SnowboardsSandbox HelmetsSCARPAScottShred Helmets/ GogglesShred ReadySignal SnowboardsSKILOGIKSkullcandySmith OpticsSmokin’ SnowboardsSnowjamSpice SnowboardsSpy OpticSun Valley Ski ToolsSuperfeet WorldwideTecnica Tubbs SnowshoesTyroliaUnion BindingsUnity SnowboardsVansVenture SnowboardsVoile USAVolkl AT/TeleVolkl USAVon ZipperWigwam SocksYES Snowboards

DEVIL’S THUMB:NORDIC DEMOAlpina Sports CorpAtlas SnowshoesAtomic NordicFischer Skis XCRossignol NordicMadshusSalomon NordicSwix Sport USA

Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth # Company Booth #

Note: Listings as of 12.15.11

Pipestar FREESKIER: “KLIИT made a statement this year by coming into the game with two Editor’s Picks.”

FREESKIER (PIPESTAR): “It’s an overall awesome ski.It’s great for jumps and rails, has a sweet sidecut, is prettyplayful, super light, quick and is filled with energy off jumpsand groomers.”

Fringe SKIING: “KLIИT, which debuts this year, looks like a sophisticated newcomer to the indie scene, one with considerable action-sports marketing fire power behind it.”

SKIING (FRINGE): “… is a solid effort for a freshman company. It’s damp and aggressive and likes to go fast, with a GS-y sidecut that engages tip to tail and holds infallibly.”

Pure POWDER: “Stable and fun, the PURE is ready to tackle almost anything that a wild-eyed park-builder puts in front of it.”

FREESKIER: “A full birch wood core, slanted sidewall construction and a symmetrical sidecut translate into durability, smooth flow while riding and balance in the air and on landings.”

At we think product first.

With over 60 years of manufacturing experiencebehind us, we are increasing brand awarenessthrough a comprehensive sports marketing strategy.KLINT continues to prove its quality and performance on snow with the industry’s best skiers.We are more than a niche brand. KLINT offers a wide range of skis to all skier types, ages and levels.

And we aren’t sitting still...At SIA in 2012 we will introduce 7 new models!We invite you to come and take a look at booth #4339or call 619-876-5060 for more information.

1st year, 3 magazine tests,3 skis, 4 top picks!

Faction_SIAPreview_BackCover.ai 1 12/10/11 2:36 PM

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