SIGB Reports Bumper Christmas For Alps Brings Cheer To UK Snowsport Trade

SIGB Reports Bumper Christmas For Alps Brings Cheer To UK Snowsport Trade

Snowy Val d'Isere

It’s been a number of years since the Alps had such a great start to the season – with powder galore right across the Alps. Snow at home has caused chaos in some places, but has brought great pleasure to many keen snowsport enthusiasts who have been able to get there skis/boards out in the most unlikely of places.

Pity it's gone a bit warm in the UK for the Christmas holidays but the European resorts will be epic.

Team GB on a roll

Never before have we seen such a strong start to the season for our athletes, across many disciplines.

So far this season, we’ve had no fewer than 6 podium results at World Cup level: James Woods won the Ski Slopestyle in New Zealand in August; in November snowboarder Katie Ormerod placed second at the Milan Big Air and Katie Summerhayes scored Ski Slopestyle silver in Austria; earlier this month Jasmin Taylor picked up a pair of podium finishes on the opening event of the Telemark World Cup season and Andrew Musgrave gave the UK its first Nordic podium World Cup result with a remarkable 3rd in Italy.

In Alpine, Dave Ryding was on course for another top 3 result at the opening World Cup but crashed out of the Slalom as he was leading the field. Alex Tilley recorded her first top 15 in a GS World Cup, with an impressive 13th in Courchevel.

With everyone's focus on PyeongChang for the Winter Olympics (9-25 February) the anticipation for some world class results from our top athletes is building.

Slide, the SIGB’s annual snowsport tradeshow, takes place from 23-25 January in Telford and visitor registration for the show is now live online.

Visitors are urged to prepare now by taking advantage of preferential hotel rates that have been negotiated. 

About 80 companies, representing almost 200 different brands, have booked up for Slide, to show their products for next winter. Visitors can contact exhibitors to make appointments through the exhibitor listing. Making appointments in advance helps maximise time-efficiency at the show – for both visitors and exhibitors.

There remains some space for last-minute exhibitors; booking forms and current floorplans are on the website here. Or potential exhibitors can contact Slide organisers direct on slide@raremanagement.co.uk

Slide, as a successful annual show for the wintersport trade, has many returning exhibitors, but there are always newcomers joining the industry for the first time, or existing brands who have concluded that attending Slide will improve their sales prospects for the following season. Since our last update, Arcade Belts, Oakley, Nikwax, Giro, Prime Agency, Ultra Sport and Burnt Custard (the 2017 Slide Award winners) have joined the exhibitor list.

For a full list of confirmed exhibitors and their contact details, go here: http://www.slideuk.co.uk/exhibitor-list/

Slide Awards

As has become a regular occurrance, the Slide Awards will recognise the best in show in 3 categories: hardware, software and accessories. Exhibitors are entering their best product and specialist retailers, media and industry opinion-leaders will select the winners.

What’s New?

New for 2018 is an Award to celebrate brands and companies entering the market. The ‘Fresh Brand’ award will celebrate the best new brand or new company to show at Slide.

Further information on Slide is available on the show website.

SIGB Ski Test - time to register

The following brands have signed up for the 2018 SIGB Ski Test in Galtür, with more expected to follow.

ABS, Armada, Atomic, Black Crows, Black Diamond, Blizzard, Bollé, Cébé, Dalbello, Dynafit, Dynastar, Faction, Fischer, Full Tilt, Head, Kästle, K2, Lange, Line, Movement, Nordica, Oakley, Ortovox, Pieps, Rossignol, Roxa, Roxy, Salomon, Scarpa, Scott, Smith Optics, Tecnica, Völkl and Von Zipper.

Retailers and media planning to attend should get their registration in now and book their accommodation. Remember, this is considered one of the best tests anywhere, and with the prospect of good snow and new runs to explore it is a vital part of the build-up to winter 2019.

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