SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., Mar. 17, 2011)-The board of directors for SnowSports Industries America (SIA) has voted to shift the SIA Snow Show dates to an earlier, mid-January time slot beginning in 2013. That year, the show will begin Saturday, Jan. 12 and run through Tuesday, Jan. 15 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The On-Snow Demo will follow Jan. 16-17. In 2014 and subsequent years, the show will follow the same mid-January, Saturday-through-Tuesday pattern.

SIA hopes to work closely with buying groups, regional rep associations and retailer associations to make the transition as smooth as possible, but that will take some serious effort. The National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA) board of directors has already criticized the move.

The SIA board made its decision "after analysis of the industry's current buy/sell cycle, changing production lead times, as well as date conflicts with major holidays and trade events, including an overlap with ISPO beginning in 2012," according to a prepared statement. Increased reliance on private line previews was cited as another reason for the change.

Specialty retailers aren't sold on the concept. "We are disappointed once again that show dates are being chosen based on the needs of manufacturers rather than retailers," said NSSRA board chairman Brad Nelson. "For many reasons, these dates do not work for specialty snow sports retailers.

"The NSSRA Board is considering options that might better represent the interests of specialty snow sports retailers," Nelson said.

There's plenty of time for consideration. For 2012, show dates remain Jan. 26-29 followed by the On-Snow Demo a Jan. 30-31.

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