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Consumer Expos That Bring the Mountains to You

by Dan Giesin | October 22, 2019

It’s show time!

The ski and snowboard industry is traveling around the continent right now bringing consumers the latest beta on resorts, gear, fashion and whatnot on almost a weekly level.

These huge-hall exhibitions and expos also feature interactive entertainment (slack lines, climbing walls and such), huge gear swaps and sales and tons of swag.

It’s how many a skier and snowboarder gets pumped up for the coming season — at least psychologically.

The following are some of the premier shows:

Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo
The Colorado Convention Center will host this annual extravaganza on Oct. 25-27 (hey, that’s this weekend!). Among the attractions are a fitness challenge, a kids’ snow sport learning area and an aerial show.  Admission is $15 — kids 12 and under are free — and with the entry fee you get, among other swag, a $10 getskitickets.com gift card. Details at skisnowexpo.com.

Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo

For the 38th and final year, the largest snow sport-related exhibition in New England will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center on Nov. 14-17.  Admission is $15 — kids 12 and under are free — and with the entry fee you get, among other swag, a $10 getskitickets.com gift card. Details at skisnowexpo.com.

Edmonton Ski & Snowboard Show

The delights of skiing and snowboarding Western Canada is the focal point of the Edmonton Ski & Snowboard Show on Oct. 26-27 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 6-12; there are also weekend and family passes for $20 and $40, respectively. Further details can be found at powderfest.com.

Snowbomb Ski and Snowboard Festival

There are three separate sites and dates for this large Northern California show: Pier 35 in San Francisco on Nov. 1-3; Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on Nov. 8-10 and Cal Expo Center in Sacramento on Nov. 15-17. Each show features beer and wine tastings, and all three will give away lift passes at selected Sierra resorts. General admission is $5, but there’s also a Powder Pass ($20, which includes a lift ticket at three Sierra resorts) and a VIP Pass ($50, 3 lift tickets, a two-fer at a Sierra resort TBD and wine and beer tastings). Details at sfskifest.com.

Toronto Ski + Snowboard Show

The biggest such expo in Canada returns to the International Centre Hall in Mississauga, Ontario, on Nov. 7-10. Admission price is $20 for adults and $12 for seniors (65 and over) and juniors (ages 11-17; kids 10 and under are free) and a Family Pass (2 adults, 2 juniors) costs $48. Further show details can be found at torontoskishow.com.

Northeast Ski & Craft Beer Showcase

Regional breweries and wineries are among the enticements to be had at the Albany, N.Y., Capital Center on Nov. 1-3. Ticket prices are $10 in advance, $12 at the gate (kids 10 and under are free), and you can also purchase a three-day pass for $25. The first 500 attendees each day will receive a free lift ticket for selected I SKI NY resorts and two-fers for selected Vermont resorts. Details at northeastskishow.com.

Ski Dazzle

Billed as the largest such show in the U.S. — it features four football fields worth of ski and snowboard gear for sale at deep discount — Ski Dazzle returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 56th time on Dec. 6-8.  With the $22 admission fee — free for kids 12 and under  — you also get a free lift ticket to Snow Valley or Mt. Baldy or two-fer offers at various Southern California resorts. Details at skidazzle.com.

SkiFever 

The Portland, Ore., Expo Center is the site for this expo on Nov. 1-3. Along with the usual booths and displays there will be a winefest beerfest with free tastings. Ticket prices are $14 adults, $3 juniors (ages 6-12; 5 and under are free); there’s also a two-pay pass for $18. Details at portlandskifever.com.

SnowJam Ski and Snowboard Expo

The Del Mar Fairgrounds is the site of the San Diego SnowJam on Nov. 8-10 before the expo moves to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Nov. 23-24. Admission prices each weekend are $19 in advance, $22 at the gate; kids 13 and under get in for free. Among the swag is a lift ticket to Snow Valley (San Diego show only), Brian Head and Eagle Point plus discounted lift tickets at selected Southern California and Utah resorts. Details at snowjamshow.com.

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