COPPER MOUNTAIN RESORT OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE 2016 ON-SNOW DEMO/SKI-RIDE FEST
And They’re Off! Deep snow draws heavy crowd to test out latest gear and accessories at the Demo
PUBLISHED BY ACTIVE INTEREST MEDIA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Powder Day
Brands showcase new lines, new tech in prime conditions for testing. (p. 3)
MAKING TRACKS AT NORDIC
Retailers test latest skis, accessories in Copper’s East Village. (p. 4)
FIRST-DAY PHOTOS
Images from a day of work and play on the slopes. (p. 6)
FOOD & DRINK
Where to satisfy your cravings on the mountain. (p. 14)
GET DIALED
The latest news and information is on the Snow Show app, SIAshowapp.com. Tag your social media #SIA16 and #SIA16Demo.
ON-SNOW DEMO | CONTENTS
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A DAY OF FIRSTS
Ski brands feature new lines and new tech.
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MAKING TRACKS
New events and fresh snow leave no room for complaints at the Nordic Demo.
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PHOTOS
Top images from a great day of fresh snow and industry camaraderie.
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SKI IMPRESSIONS
Buyers provide their takes on the first day of the On-Snow Demo.
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BOARD CHATTER
Buyers on what they’re most excited for at the Demo.
UPHILL/DOWNHILL
Elite racers and industry teams vie for a year of bragging rights in the Uphill/Downhill Challenge.
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FOOD AND DRINK
Where to grab a bite and a drink at Copper Mountain.
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EXHIBITOR LIST
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAWK AND JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
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ON SCENE | ON-SNOW DEMO
A Day of Firsts
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
BRANDS FEATURE NEW SKI LINES, NEW TECH AT DEMO WITH FRESH POWDER ON THE slopes, and several inches on its way, retailers filled the On-Snow Demo aisles Monday, eager to test out the wares in ideal conditions. Lib Tech, which makes snowboards, surfboards and skateboards, relaunched its ski line this year at the Snow Show. CEO Anthony DeRocco was at the Demo on Monday touting the new skis – wide and perfect for the day’s conditions. In particular, it was showing off the Megapow, a whopping 137 underfoot, with a unique tip and tail shape. This was Lib Tech’s first ski tent at the On-Snow Demo. “We had good interest at the Show,” he says. The brand is proud of its environmentally friendly approach. Its American-made skis are built in a solventfree factory with zero hazardous waste, and the factory’s sawdust is converted to compost. Voilè was showing off its new ski pole line, which sales rep Luke Morris says is both burly and light. The brand has supplied splitboarders with poles for years; it branched out into poles for skiers this year. The new Super Charger, an upgrade from its Charger, was also on display, a lightweight but heavy-duty backcountry ski. “It rips inbounds but it’s true backcountry,” Morris says. UK-based White Dot Skis was making its first appearance at the On-Snow Demo this year. Fergus the dog was there to enthusiastically greet retailers that wanted to try out its freeride, all-mountain line. “Today’s conditions are great for it,” says Craig Woods, sales rep. Nearby, Sego Ski Co. was seeing success with its women’s skis – in particular, its Lynsey Dyer-designed Gnarwahl and UP Pro skis. Both featuring rainbow colors and unicorns (a Dyer signature), the UP Pro is an everyday ski and the Gnarwahl a hard-charger. Another popular item for
Sego: The men’s Cleaver, which athlete manager Evan Grott says is a best-seller. The ski’s American-flag topsheet in particular attracts buyers, Grott says. The day wrapped up with a happy hour at the base and a celebration of Elan’s 70th anniversary, complete with 80s jams. —Lindsay Konzak
FROM TOP: LIB TECH IS LINED UP AND READY TO GO; AND EVAN GROTT SHOWS OFF THE SEGO UP PRO. siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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ON-SNOW DEMO | NORDIC
Making Tracks at the Nordic Demo
NEW EVENTS, FRESH SNOW LEAVE NO ROOM FOR COMPLAINTS THANKS TO A SUCCESSFUL SNOW SHOW IN DENVER and fresh snow, the SIA Nordic Demo is off to a great start at Copper Mountain. Monday morning kicked off with a presentation from SIA Research Director Kelly Davis on the state of the Nordic and snowshoe industries. Demoing then took place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fischer’s Steve Reeder was sharing the brand’s new carbon classic boots with a line of retailers. “They have already debuted on the World Cup with great success and are making their way to the retail level. Everyone is really excited to see the snow and a nice fresh track to test the gear,” he says. Snowshoes also made an appearance at the Demo, with exhibitor Northern Lites showcasing its wares. “Shoeshoeing is one of the fastest growing sports in America,” he says. “When you run in snowshoes, it is important to be a light as possible. We make the lightest snowshoes in the world.” The Demo’s first day was capped by a new event, a happy hour. “In the past, everyone was so efficient that we’d done everything we needed to do by 1,” SIA Nordic Director Reese Brown says. “This year, we wanted everyone to stick around, because a really fun part of the cross country scene is rubbing shoulders with people, talking
about what’s going on and having a beer.” The drinking was supplemented by insights on boot-fitting and skin tech. Another new event this morning - the Cross Country Roundtable - lets participants chat on the past, present and future of Nordic skiing. “It’s a really effective away for everyone to talk about issues, concerns and ideas instead of us just presenting to a group of people,” says Brown, who will be moderating the event. “What’s so important with shows like this when you get like-minded people together is to have a healthy conversation about the future of our sport,” Brown says. —Connor W. Davis
Buzz surrounded the latest accessories at the Demo on Monday, with a slew of goggles, helmets, poles and even audio and communications gear. The boot room inside the room was also filled with Demo-goers looking to try out the latest tech. Jeff Braun, sales rep for Nordica, was showing off the Speedmachine, Nordica’s new boot. Braun also had an InfraRed Machine at the brand’s booth to show how he could custom-fit boots in less than 15 minutes using a combination of heat and suction. A lot of retailers were stoked to test Oakley’s new helmet line and its Prizm lenses. In particular, the Prizm High-Pink Iridium and the Prizm Rose lenses are ideal for low light, and were popular Monday morning. “In Colorado, you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. Prizm helps with that,” 4
Oakley Colorado sales rep Jessica Taylor says. And that was certainly the case on Monday, with no snow for the first two hours, followed by heavy snow for the remainder of the day. Rick Foster, sales rep for GOODE Ski Poles, says that while ski poles are often the last piece of equipment many skiers think of, they are critical. Monday morning, he was sizing Goode’s carbon-fiber pole for a tester eager to get on the mountain. He says the pole is three times lighter and six times stronger and quickly and easily adjusts for the right fit. Jonathan Paul Eyewear was at the Demo less for the demo part of the day, and more for the exposure. The fitover sunglasses are designed to wear over prescription glasses before and after a day on the slopes.
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAWK AND JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
Testing the Latest in Accessories
NORDIC | ON-SNOW DEMO
Nordic Tracks
NOTES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE NORDIC DEMO “Right now we are checking out the new Salomon Prolink bindings. We’re also checking out a lot of the new skin skis this year to see how they are running.” —Meghan Cornwall, Boulder Nordic Sport, Boulder, Colo.
“The Demo has been great for us. People jumped right in … we’re known for our ski poles, and people grabbed a bunch of poles right away, and now we are excited to get some people on our skis.” —Geoff Hurwitch, One Way Sport USA
“Right now I’m on the new (Fischer) Speedmax skate skis and boots. Everyone is really excited, there is lots of new gear to try, and the snow is fast. Altitude is getting to me a little bit, not going to lie.” —Peter Unger, Nordic Review, Charlotte, Vt.
“There is some really cool gear here. Nordic skiing has really excelled over the last 10 years, so it is always exciting to see the new gear come out and see how much faster the skis are every year; it is pretty amazing.” —James Dickhoff, Pagosa Nordic Club, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
FROM LEFT: DIALING IN THE FIT AT ATOMIC; A COLORFUL LINEUP OF SNOWBOARD BINDINGS AWAITING THEIR NEW RIDE; TESTERS NEEDED A VARIETY OF LENSES IN MONDAY’S CHANGING CONDITIONS.
siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: GEARING UP IN THE SNOWBOARD ZONE; THESE GUYS!; FITOVERS FROM JONATHAN PAUL EYEWEAR. 6
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
ON-SNOW DEMO | PHOTOS
PHOTOS | ON-SNOW DEMO
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: KICKING BACK IN THE SEGO SKI BOOTH; POLES IN POSITION FOR TESTING FROM GOODE; CHECKING OUT THE WARES FROM ROSSIGNOL; GETTING DIALED IN AT NORDICA; AND THE LATEST IN ROSSIGNOL’S NORDIC LINE.
siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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ON-SNOW DEMO | PHOTOS
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAWK AND JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DIALING IN THE PERFECT FIT; NORTHERN LITES MAKES ITS DEBUT; A LINEUP OF ADIDAS BOOTS; SHOW-GOER GETS READY TO TEST OUT SOME GEAR WITH A MARKER BINDING AND K2 SKI; AND READY TO GLIDE AT THE START BOOTH.
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ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NOTHING BETTER THAN A HAPPY DOG, THIS ONE AT WHITE DOT SKIS; SNOWBOARD DEMO FUN; ROSSIGNOL SKIS READY FOR TESTING; LINING UP FOR A GOOD TIME; GOOD THING SWIX BROUGHT THIS CAR, BECAUSE THE SNOW WAS COMING DOWN; AND GETTING BINDINGS JUST RIGHT.
ON-SNOW DEMO | SKI
Ski Impressions
BUYERS PROVIDE THEIR TAKES ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE DEMO
“We not only ask, ‘Do I like it, but also who would buy it?’” —Michael McKinn and John High, Premier Skis, Seattle, Wash.
“We’re trying all the rental gear to find a good fit for our clients.” —Bob Neumann, Terry Peak, Black Hills, S.D.
“I’m excited about the new Apex boots. I’m also looking for more lower-cost options for our customers.” —John Raymond, Ski World of Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
“I look forward to trying the SuperGuide 105 – I picked it up at the Show, and it was like picking up a Zip-loc bag full of air.” —Paddy O’Connell, associate editor, Skiing Magazine
“We want to take our ski selection to the next level, and get more elite. We want to carry more than the other shops.” —Katie Moorkamp, Outdoor Recreation, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.
“I’m excited to try stuff that I haven’t tried before.” —Thomas Lyden, REI, Denver, Colo.
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“We’re twins. We grew up racing, and wore Nordica boots from the time we were 14. We are skiing with retailers to help them out with the equipment and their skiing.” —Katie Ertl, with Megan Harvey, Blizzard/Tecnica/Nordica
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
“With our full team here, we can test a different ski in each line.”
SNOWBOARD | ON-SNOW DEMO
Board Chatter
SNOWBOARD BUYERS ON WHY THE DEMO IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEIR SHOPS “It’s 55 degrees in Ohio right now. I love this powder. I want to test everything out.” —Ashley Hoff, Ski Chalet, Niles, Ohio
“It’s nice to get out of California to ride in Colorado. And the total amount of product here is impressive.” —Spencer Ellis, DreamRuns, Mission Viejo, Calif.
“I want to ride the new stuff from the new brands.”
“I’m excited to get on some boards that ladies want to ride.” —Scout Sorcic, Ski Cooper, Leadville, Colo.
“I just want something that’s easy to ride.” “The tapered and fun; the directional snowboards.” —Brett Sanford, Chris Ludwig & Terry Yu, The Source, Calgary, Alberta
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
Powder Boosts Snowboard Demo The mood was upbeat among snowboard brands and retailers on Monday. “I want to try to ride as much as I can,” says Jacy McCorkle, a merchandiser with Copper Mountain’s retail shops. And there were plenty of options. At the Never Summer Industries booth, retailers were checking out the 25th Anniversary board and the West board, according to Micah Cook, media director, who said even early on yesterday, Never Summer was enjoying good traffic. “The powder helps that,” Cook says. Smokin’ Snowboards brought out its bigger boards on Monday, including its Big Wig and Jetson. “It’s good for today’s conditions,” says Shannon Turner, sales rep. Turner was also repping for Technine, which also was seeing more interest in its bigger boards thanks to the deep snow. United Shapes was born for this year’s Demo – many of its new shapes were designed for the conditions on Monday. In its second year and its first at the Demo, cofounder Gray Thompson was touting the brand’s new shapes, each “built for a reason.” “The conditions are perfect today to ride these,” he says. The Inner Orbit model
UNITED SHAPES siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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ON-SNOW DEMO | SNOWBOARD
FROM LEFT: TALKING TECH AT THE DYNAFIT BOOTH; AND HOVLAND SHOWS OFF ITS 2016-17 LINE. 12
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAWK AND JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY
was popular, he says, an aggressive board for groomers and hard-carving. Recently relaunched as a Made-in-the-USA brand, the iconic snowboard brand Sims was upfront and center at the Demo with a red, white and blue motif. Pro rider Seth Hill (right), also decked out like the flag, was supporting the brand, and owner Hilary Sims, widow of brand founder Tom Sims, was to stop by later in the day. “Everyone is stoked to see the brand back,” says Marc Vitelli, brand manager. As part of its relaunch, Sims’s newest boards include a throwback to original models. For example, the new women’s model, So Fun, features a sunflower graphic reminiscent of the Shannon Dunn pro model. The brand was also plugging the Juice, an all-mountain board, which Vitelli says was a favorite at the Snow Show. The Dealers Choice features zombie graphics, designed by a tattoo artist in Denver. —L.K.
RACE | ON-SNOW DEMO
Uphill/Downhill, A Challenge Both Ways
PHOTOS BY JACKIE MCCAFFREY BRADLEY, ANDY HAWK, AND MARY CECILE NEVILLE
NOVICE AND PRO RACERS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN ANNUAL BATTLE FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS THE ANNUAL UPHILL/DOWNHILL CHALLENGE BROUGHT 45 amateurs and elites out in force during the On-Snow Demo on Monday. The fun competition – complete with costumed racers – benefited The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Teams competed against their own best times and at COSMIC elite levels. This year’s field included the usual mix of serious competitors, first-timers, off-the-desk CEOs and costumed warriors. The racers in the longest-running fund-raising industry event of its kind grabbed gear from the Demo area and slapped on skins for the climb up Bouncer to Solitude Station before descending again down to the Village.
MONDAY’S UPHILL/DOWNHILL CHALLENGE PROVIDED VARIABLE CONDITIONS FOR THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPANTS. NEW SIA PRESIDENT NICK SARGENT WAS AMONG THE FIELD OF COMPETITORS. SEE FULL RESULTS AT SIASNOWSHOW. COM/UPHILLDOWNHILL.
FROM LEFT: WORKING OUT THE KINKS AT THE VOILE BOOTH; AND THE SLOPES ARE FRESHLY GROOMED AND READY FOR DEMO-GOERS.
TKTKTK SHINDIG AT THE SUMMIT PHOTOS AND QUOTES
siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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ON-SNOW DEMO | FUEL
Food and Drink
KEEP THAT ENERGY UP: FUEL UP AT COPPER MOUNTAIN’S ARRAY OF HOT SPOTS FOR EATS AND DRINKS
CENTER VILLAGE
Alpinista Family Bistro: Head on in for some baked Brie, Hungarian goulash soup and cheese fondue. Belgian Bean: Stop by for a java, burritos and Belgian-style waffles and fresh pastries in its new location in Flyers Grille on the mountain. Camp Hale: With locations in Solitude Station, Center and East Villages, this is the spot for a latte and a breakfast sandwich. C.B. Grille: Serves artisan pizzas, Choice Angus steaks, plus an upscale happy hour. Endo’s Adrenaline Café: Open all day. Stop by for nachos, soup and turkey melts. From 3–6 p.m., pack in for Happy Hour.
Gustino’s: New York-style pizza with tomatoes imported from Italy and dough from scratch. View of West Lake. Incline Bar & Grill: Tuck in for steaks and seafood, and 20 beers on tap. Jack’s Slopeside Grill: Fare from chicken fingers to Pho Ga in food court layout; open from breakfast to happy hour (3-6 p.m. daily). Jill’s Umbrella Bar: On sunny days, sip cocktails and nosh on apps on the deck. Mahi’s Street Tacos: New at Copper, this spot serves up tasty fish, chicken, shrimp and steak tacos. Mountain Melt: Open from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily, this is where you get your creamy mac ‘n cheese and grilled cheese. Mulligan’s Irish Pub: End your night at this locals’ late-night bar with games and a full menu until close. Storm King Lounge: Grab a seat at the Japanese sushi bar for nigiri, rolls and a late-night happy hour. Sugar Lips Mini Donuts: Fried up while you wait in a cozy shack on West Lake, plus specialty coffees and ice cream.
EAST VILLAGE
Double Diamond: A cozy family-owned Copper institution near the base of Super Bee. Try the baby back ribs or pizza. Grand Hall Market: Variety of food court fare; check for the $5.99 lunch special.
JACKS BAR APRÉS 14
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
C.B. GRILLE
PHOTOS BY COURTESY
JJ’s Tavern: Slow-smoked BBQ in an 1800s atmosphere based on the legacies of JJ and Molly Brown. Meats are smoked inhouse. Happy hour from 3-6 p.m. daily.
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAWK
PHOTOS | ON-SNOW DEMO
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A CUTE COMPANION KEEPS WATCH AT THE MEIER SKIS BOOTH; COPPER WAS THE HOST FOR THE DEMO FOR THE THIRD YEAR; A LITTLE DOWN TIME AT THE DEMO; AND ALL THUMBS UP AT THE BLOSSOM BOOTH.
siasnowshow.com | ON-SNOW DAILY 2016
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ON-SNOW DEMO | EXHIBITORS
Exhibitor List* 32 ThirtyTwo . Snowboard . Boots & Outerwear 4FRNT Skis Adidas Snowboarding Alpina Anon Apex Ski Boots Arbor Collective . (Snowboards and . . Skateboards) Armada Skis Atomic Atomic Nordic Atomic USA Alpine BENT METAL Black Crows Black Diamond . Equipment Blizzard Skis Bolle Sunglasses & .. . Goggles Boot Doc Burton Snowboards Capita snowboards Caravan Skis Dalbello Ski Boots DC Snowboards/Boots/ . Outerwear Deviation Skis & . Snowboards Dinosaurs Will Die DPS Skis Dragon Dynafit Dynastar Skis Elan Electric Faction Skis First Degree Fischer Skis XC Fisher Ski 16
Fitovers Eyewear Fix bindings Flow Snowboarding Flux Snowboard . Bindings Full Tilt Boots G3 Gilson Boards, LLC Giro Goggles Giro Snow Helmets GNU GO PUCK Goode Carbon . Ski Products GoPro Cameras Head Winter Sports: . Alpine Skis, . Ski Boots, Bindings Hotronic Hovland Snowskates Icelantic Skis Jonathan Paul Eyewear Jones Snowboards Julbo Optics K2 Skis, Boots, Helmets, . Goggles, Poles and Accessories K2 Snowboarding Kastle Skis La Sportiva Landyachtz . Snowboards Lange Ski Boots LIB TECH Liberty Skis LINE Skis Look Bindings Marhar Snowboards Marker Ski Bindings, . Helmets & Goggles Meier Skis MOMENT SKI
ON-SNOW DAILY 2016 | siasnowshow.com
*In conjunction with the Western Winter Sports Representatives Association (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo, and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA)
Morrow Snowboards Native Eyewear Never Summer . Snowboards Niche Snowboards Nike Goggles Nitro Snowboards Nordica accessories Nordica Boots Nordica Skis Northern Lites . Snowshoes Now Bindings Oakley ON3P Skis Outdoor . Technology POC Helmets, . Goggles & Armor Pret Helmets Ride Snowboards Rocky Mountain . Underground Rome Snowboards Rossignol Alpine, . Nordic, Snowboard ROXY SNOWBOARDS Salewa Footwear Salomon Alpine Salomon Goggles Salomon Helmets Salomon Nordic Sandbox Helmets Scarpa Scott Boots Scott Sports. Hardgoods/ . Softgoods Sego Skis Signal Snowboards SIMS Snowboards Skia
Slant Skis Slash Snowboards Smith Smokin Snowboards Spy Optic Start Wax and Poles Stepchild Snowboards STOCKLI OUTDOOR SPORTS Superfeet Worldwide Swix Alpine: Ski Tuning . Equipment, Ski Poles Swix Sport USA SWIX Wax, Tuning and . Poles, UT/WY Technine Tecnica Ski Boots Toko Wax, Tuning and . Ski Care Products Triple 8 Tyrolia: Alpine and Alpine . Touring Ski Bindings Union bindings UVEX UVEX Winter/Bike . Helmets, Goggles . and Sunglasses Vansww Voile Manufacturing Volkl USA Von Zipper Sunglasses . and Goggles Whitedot Skis Wintersteiger Yeah for it . Distributions! . (Bataleon, Lobster, . Switchback) Yes Snowboards Yukon Charlie’s Zeal Optics