Day Two at SIA.04 finds industry settling in to home away from home

Day Two at SIA.04 finds industry settling in to home away from home{mosimage}The glass looked half full during Day Two of the historic 50th anniversary Snowsports Industries America (SIA) trade show, with manufacturers and retailers reporting good numbers and a good feeling about the 2004-05 season.

“There was a lot of energy even in the early buying groups,” said Marker’s Greg Grip. “This is definitely a better SIA show in terms of outlook.”

About 3,000 snowsports enthusiasts filled their glasses with celebratory spirits on Monday night to mark SIA’s 50th anniversary at a party upstairs from the showroom in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Each of the four sections of the party carried a historic theme — the 50s and 60s; 70s; 80s; and 90s and beyond — with go-go girls dancing to that era’s music and vintage ski films playing on four projectors. (About 220 industry alumni also attended the event.)

The 90s and beyond section also included coverage from the X Games in Aspen, while many partygoers sported gear from their favorite decades, happy to find an excuse to pull out the neon green and pink.

Still, exhibitors and buyers were up early on Tuesday, filling the nearly 330,000 square feet of space and finding their way around a bit more easily than last year, when SIA first used the hall. “This is our second year in Mandalay Bay Convention Center and attendees have a sense of familiarity this year so we were able to introduce many new features to enhance the show experience,” said SIA president David Ingemie. “The buzz around the show floor is one of excitement and ease as exhibitors, buyers, reps and others settle into their home away from home.”

Hardgoods manufacturers continued busy on Tuesday, with many buyers also starting to order accessories. New helmets and goggles were on display in many ski booths, including Marker, whose Grip attributes some of the excitement to the recent surge in ski racing coverage. “We’re hearing more about ski racers in the general newspapers,” he said. “Also, there’s a feeling among retailers that it’s been a pretty good year to date, no major negative impact from adverse weather, like the previous couple of years for the Pacific Northwest and East.”

Meanwhile the start-up spirit of the snowboard industry seemed to have spilled back over onto the alpine side. “This year seems busier, and I like the fact that there’s a stronger entrepreneurial spirit to skiing now,” said Glen Plake. “It’s reminiscent of what skiing was like 40-50 years ago.”