Skiing in Las Vegas?
Column by Heather Burke Feb. 10, 2008

Skiers and snowboarders in the know flocked to Vegas last week. No, not for the snow or the casinos. They came to get “the goods” for next season. The big draw for over 20,000 skiers and riders was the 37th annual Snowsports Trade Show. This Nevada showdown is where and when ski manufacturers launch next year’s gear. Ironic that this show is hosted during prime ski season in the city of sin instead of the snowy slopes – but what happens in Vegas dictates what happens in our ski shops and ultimately on our slopes next winter.

“Snow is thicker than blood” was the theme of this year’s show, with the tag line “one family, one house.” Stuffing 20,000 passionate skiers and snowboarders into Mandalay Bay’s enormous event space stocked with ski resort swag and the 2009 line of skis and boards obviously generates a buzz and a bond among show-goers, kind of like a Phish concert in Limestone.

The kickoff event of this snow show in the desert is a fall line fashion preview on a runway complete with fake snowflakes. Among the hot items on the catwalk were knit hats with big bouncy pompoms and ear flaps flying, like your Grandma used to make – only way cooler I suppose. A jacket by 686 made of dollar bills was an attention grabber, as was the ladies tattoo long underwear. White continues to be a dominant color (or is that the absence of color?) in ski attire, but bright colors and crazy prints are also fashion forward, as is Asian inspired detail.

Following the fashion show is the premier party (parties are a daily priority among alpine attendees). For four days, shop owners and retailers get the chance to browse over 900 brands from Spyder to Quiksilver, Burton to Betty Rides. It’s a downhiller’s dream with pant loads of parkas, boots, boards, and gloves galore on display. Reps from each manufacturer talk technically and pitch their products in hopes that their hard and soft goods will become next fall’s inventory at our local Joe Jones and Sugarloaf Ski Shop. You never know what former Olympic skier or snowboard star you might find signing autographs amidst 3,000 show booths flaunting the latest greatest in moisture wicking long johns or guaranteed-not-to-fog goggles.

In 37 years, show-goers have seen everything from astronaut glove liners to one piece suits, which are back again along with awkward moonboots. For 2008-09, adult twin tipped skis continue to grow in popularity and width. I wonder how many twin tip buyers ever intend to go switch on these versatile skis, or do they just grab them for their youthful graffiti graphics. The trend is clear - skis continue to morph toward their competitor: the snowboard. So-called “smart skis” are the emerging technology - these skis are designed to adapt to changing terrain and snow conditions.

The sample lines of next year’s snowboards are very eye-catching with bright, fun prints, while the core is lighter in weight and “greener” using eco-friendly materials like renewable bamboo.

Another highlight of this amped alpine conference is the induction of this year’s ski hall of famers. Making history this year, the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame named the first snowboarders, Donna and Jake Burton Carpenter, to the prestigious list of names. Everett Kircher, founder of Boyne - the new managing company of Sunday River and Sugarloaf, was inducted posthumously for his tremendous impact on the nation’s ski resort business, snowmaking and lift design.

So, Vegas was the vortex of vertical winter sports last week, as it will be again next season, same time - same place. I may have to attend and report live from the show room floor, but that would mean missing Maine skiing in the heart of the season. Maybe I will hold out for 2010 when the show moves to Colorado, this was huge news to the perennial Nevada hosts. Denver honchos bid on the SnowSports Industry show and convinced the ski industry to move closer to the snowy mountains after almost four decades on the Las Vegas trip. I guess snow really is thicker than blood.

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