Immediately following the inaugural SIA Snow Show in Denver, record numbers of more than 3,500 industry attendees – from buyers to reps to CEOs and more than 200 registered media – hit the slopes of Winter Park to get their ride on with a full array of next year’s hottest innovations.

“The word I keep using is ‘refreshing,’” an obviously elated SIA President David Ingemie said of the energy at the On-Snow. “We were cautiously optimistic about this kind of turnout, and are glad to see so many people in the industry taking advantage of this extension of the Snow Show.”

There were a lot of ‘what-ifs’ awaiting the Snow Show’s move from Las Vegas to Denver. And some reps and retailers made good on their promises not to attend. But steady business on the floor at the Colorado Convention Center (final numbers will be released next week)– including the introduction of some awesome new brands such as Jeremy Jones’ Jones Snowboards and the new Kastle ski line – as well as millions of dollars worth of local media coverage being broadcast daily in print, TV and radio to a captive Colorado market, provided instant results for exhibitors, and helped set the foundation for the new Show. The On-Snow demo only helped to seal the deal.

“If you’re not here, I think you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to do business,” Marty Carrigan of Apex Ski Boots and Palmer Snowboards said at the On-Snow. “I mean just look at all the people here.”

It was a sentiment echoed by two Canadian retailers who admitted “We came here looking for things to bitch about, but are going home impressed with how this all worked out.”

From Little Pierre to the Upper and Lower Hughes runs, or all the way back into the fresh powder on Parsenn Bowl, buyers got to compare and contrast dozens of brands, many media got a head start on their upcoming equipment tests, and manufacturers got a good look at what they’ll be competing with for market share next year. Good snow, great grooming and a second day of cloudless sunshine helped out, too.

Good show!