London Ski Show 2011, Earls Court
So the grand old London Ski Show is back in the Earls Court exhibition centre, for the first time in quite a few years. Many of the standholders we spoke to couldn’t even remember it being anywhere else but at Olympia!
So, what does this year’s edition of the London Ski Show look like? First impressions are pretty good, with heavy presence from key sponsor Landrover. Their 4x4s were dotted around the much of the show, from the catwalk/fashion show to the Trespass Big Air, as well as their own stand.
The Canadian, Italian and French resorts had their own aisles. On opening day the French were putting the most into the Post show Apres. Entertainment included some seriously good sax playing (the French love sax) with a rapper & female vocalist, as well as a DJ (from Folie Douce). Copious quantities of alcofrolic bevs flowed, which may explain some serious drunk-chalet-girl style dancing – well it was Press Day after all. There was also a pretty good guitar and bongos (I kid thee not) duo, who were pushing the Whistler brand but playing some good covers too.
Sno Zone kids slide
The Trespass Big Air looks impressive, with a straight ramp over a crashpad, but the landing’s a face onto the crowd quarter pipe/hip at 90˚, which got the audience involved a bit. By the way, this is NOT the Big Air… it truly isn’t… it’s a kids slide… with snomen bowling pins at the bottom. Go figure. Other entertainment to look out for is Ms Fireball – a skintight red Lycra© clad model type, trying to force passers by to try the Fireball tequila looking drink. Tasty.
If you fancy your chances of treking to the South Pole… check out what it’s like to haul a sled. The army are there with a weighted training sled for you to drag on a short timed sprint; and they’re collecting for Help For Heroes, as if you needed a reason to give!
London Ski Show 2011 After Show Party
The magazines were there in full effect, as are Snowbombing (who are doing the official After Show Party), SCUK and various other usual suspects. Free masseurs were seemingly at every corner, offering to relieve all that tension from deciding which pair of boots to buy, or the shock of how much the sandwiches were..
Is it worth going? Probably yes. There are definitely some deals to be had. On the retail side, The Snowboard Academy had some very nice deals going down, as did Snow & Rock. The big tour businesses were making their corporate presence felt, alongside the indy operators ranging from a smattering of chalets upwards. Alpine Elements were offering 10% off ski & snowboard holidays (with liftpasses thrown in) to those booking at the show. If you want to buy a cool r/c helicopter there’s a nutter demo where he flies the copter to the top of the ceiling then crashes it to show how it bounces back! The guys selling microfibre underwear looked seriously out of place, but I guess they know their market. Some of the stands are brilliant, some utterly pointless, some seriously out of place and some the saddest things known to humanity. All in all it’s a typical ski show!
Check out the official 1st day video on the jump – cheesy but it gives you a taster. <JUMP>
Birmingham Ski + Board Show 2011
Next up is the Daily Telegraph British Ski + Board Show, Birmingham NEC 28-30 Oct.
