Show attendees awoke to a dusting of fresh snow in Denver on Day 4 of the Show and the promise of over a foot falling at the On-Snow Demo at Copper Mountain Resort, reflecting the hopeful mood that enveloped the Colorado Convention Center during the 2016 SIA Snow Show and Sourcing Snow. For an industry driven by snow, it was the perfect way to wrap up the four-day event, which is the largest snow sports specific event in North America.
A variety of design inspirations were prevalent throughout the Show. Trend forecaster Jessica Kaplan said, “Snow trends for 2016/17 encompassed hallmarks of the past with inspiration from the golden years of 1970s skiing across color palettes and silhouettes. Additional points included advancement in technical innovation, sleek city-like aesthetics and continued momentum in a mountain lifestyle within specific backcountry product.”
In outerwear, innovative technology was found throughout the Show floor. One example is the Elevation Shell Jacket, part of the Helly Hansen Ullr Freeride Collection, won the ISPO Award for Best Shell Jacket and SKI Magazine’s Best in Show award.
“The big story with this jacket is the technology,” said Brady Barry, Specialty and Sports Marketing Manager at Helly Hansen. “It has pillows laminated into the shell, which keeps air flowing throughout the jacket to maintain your personal microclimate. It’s so important for us to be here to show our technology and get our message out. This is the convergence point for us to meet with retailers, press, resort and marketing people. We always need to have a presence at the Show.”
Brady Barry with the Elevation shell from Helly Hansen; Rome’s Blur snowboard; Jen Gurecki, founder of Coalition Snow
In hardgoods, lightweight was the buzzword, as new materials and construction produce gear that is lighter but also more technical.
At Tecnica/Blizzard, the new Zero G Guide Pro boot is creating tons of buzz. “We were trying to get as much performance as we could out of a boot at a weight class as low as possible, so this is a four buckle backcountry/touring boot that comes in at 1500 grams. It’s amazing,” said Frank Shine, Brand Creative Manager. “It’s a new technology called Power Light Design. It’s an injection process where we can make the walls thinner but harder, which cuts the weight, but it’s got the performance of a true committed backcountry boot.”
Over at Rome Snowboards, 2016/17’s boards and bindings pair up to reduce weight and add precision. “We introduced the all-new Targa binding with a super supportive highback but 10% lighter than last year, and also very customizable with a new pivot mount,” said Jeff Rudinski, Northwest Rep for Rome. “We love pairing it with the new Blur freeride board, which features our Dual Arc Turbo Rods. These are hollow carbon rods that run throughout the whole board without adding any weight. This gives it a ton of response and snap. Together with the Targa bindings, it’s a great new lightweight setup.”
The industry’s only woman-owned, women’s-specific ski and snowboard company, Coalition Snow, is leading the trend in women’s-specific gear. “The idea came about on a backcountry ski trip,” said Coalition founder and CEO, Jen Gurecki. “We were talking about this emerging trend of women in leadership roles in the industry, and of really good women-specific gear being produced. So I thought, now is the time to start a women’s company.”
For 16/17, Coalition offers five skis and two snowboards, all designed and tested by women. These include the Roz G Pro Model, designed with help from Roz Groenewoud, a Canadian Olympic freeskier who competed on the Roz G skis Saturday night in the X-Games.
Chris Hoffman, Von Zipper; MyPakage underwear
Baselayers are exciting and bright colored for 16/17, giving off a vibe of fun and energy. “We wanted to introduce fun prints and colors into the underwear market, because who wants boring white underwear?” said Rob Thompson, GM of MyPakage. “We launched our fine merino wool in 230 grams for 16/17, which is exciting because it’s super technical and it’s got our exclusive keyhole technology, so we think it’s going to do really well in the snow sports market. We’re so happy to be here to introduce it at the Show. This is where the industry gathers so we need to be here.”
In accessories, new technology blended with innovation and fashion in all categories, from hats to gloves to goggles. The Seirus Innovation Solar Sphere mittens and Phunkshun Wear recycled fabric are a few of the brands striving to minimize their carbon footprint while VonZipper introduced their new “top secret” lens technology.
Amidst bubbling concoctions of lens-making materials, Chris Hoffman, sales manager at VonZipper, said, “This is the epicenter of the snow sports industry, so it’s extremely important for us introduce our new lens here to differentiate ourselves from other brands, and stand out from the crowd. We’re introducing this new lens in our own fun way.”
After the industry packed up their booths, samples and supplies, they headed on out to the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and Nordic Demo at Copper Mountain (Feb. 1-2). Hosted in-conjunction with the Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) the two-day Demo, allowed snow sports retailers and media to hit the slopes and trails to test next season’s ski, snowboard, AT, backcountry, and cross-country products and accessories.
Stay tuned to Snow Source for more updates, recaps, photos and details from the Show. For more information about the 2016 Show, go to: SIAsnowshow.com. For more about the 2016 Snow Show, follow SIA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Use #SIA16 and #SIAintel to join the conversation.