This was not 36 hours of gambling, drinking and debauchery - this was 36 hours of work! Walking the floor at the ski/snowboard industry trade show looking at the 2007/2008 product; trying to spot future trends, discover the next big thing, track down the latest in eco-friendly ski waxes(there really is such a thing!) and somehow divine what colors of pants and jackets you all are going to want next year.
The convention center at the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino was packed full of great looking, high performing gear for whatever kind of fun you want to have on the snow. There's never been a better time to be a skiier or snowboarder! Outerwear is bold and bright with retro influences from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Designers have come up with some clever uses for the neon yellow and pink fabric that has undoubtedly been languishing in a warehouse somewhere for the last 20 years and some great prints that are clearly 1960's inspired. Ski and snowboard manufacturers are following suit. K2 had my favorite graphics for their women's line and have stuck to their irreverent roots with the re-release of the K2 Extreme (a super popular ski of years gone by) with original graphics on a fully modern, fat, twin-tip. Salomon has lead the way in ski boot innovation for decades and for next season they will have the first ever fully breathable ski boot liner and a shell that is easily custom molded across the ball of the foot. Ski boots just might get fully comfortable in our lifetime!
The bottom line is that whatever gear you are going to need next year - it will be highly functional, look great and you can get it at Larson's!
