In its fourth year in Denver, the SnowSports Industries America’s (SIA) Snow Show continued to hit its stride, despite some challenging times in the industry, with an increase in exhibiting companies and net square footage when it recently ran at the Colorado Convention Center.

“The show had fantastic energy. Everyone is optimistic about the coming season," said Debbie DesRoches, SIA's director of Trade Show.

She added, "After four years in Denver, we’re very comfortable in the city and supporting the snow sports industry’s events, product launches, business meetings and celebrations that happen over the course of four days.”

Exhibiting companies were up from 459 in 2012 to 508 this year and net square footage increased from 333,950 in 2012 to 340,275 this year. Attendance was on par with 2012 at approximately 19,000.

Attendees were pleased with what they saw on the busy showfloor.

“I’m pretty darn impressed with the vendors having so much new product after such a struggling year last year,” said Tracy Gibbons of Sturtevant's Sports in Tacoma, Wash.

She added, “On the hard goods side, there is a lot of new product out there.”

There were several new trends across different segments on the showfloor, such as more females, especially in the 18- to 34-year-old demographic, getting into snowboarding.

“Hybrid camber rocker snowboards seem to have the biggest draw – they give women riders from beginner to expert a versatile ride for any condition,” said Richard Leto ofSki Barnin Wayne, N.J.

In the alpine category, backcountry skiing also is seeing a rise in popularity with buyers.

“Consumers are looking for boots and bindings and gear that allow them opportunities,” said Aaron Provine of Backcountry.com.

He added, “They want the option to go bigger and deeper.”

After the show doors closed, attendees packed up and headed off to the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest hosted in conjunction with the Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s Rocky Mountain Demo and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association at Winter Park Resort and the Nordic Demo at Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

With the help of their general service contractor Global Experience Specialists, SIA also organized kids winter apparel donations for the New York City-based charity Kids in Distressed Situations to help children in New Jersey and New York.

In addition, GES played a key role in ensuring the show moved out of the building in a short turnaround, since the Colorado Garden had to open a few days later.

SIA is the national nonprofit, North American member-owned, trade association, representing suppliers and service providers of snow sports products with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities.

Next year’s SIA Snow Show will run Jan. 30-Feb. 2 back at the Colorado Convention Center.