It's 2012 and Denver not Vegas. As much as those 19,000 attendees would like to get over that fact that the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Snow Show has relocated, many still missed the Las Vegas party. 

It's been three years since the move and the vibe still hasn't escalated. At least the temps were about the same, with a nice spring-like day greeting Day 1 retailers, media, athletes, and manufacturers to the annual buy and sell convention. 

The show filled out the Denver Convention Center but no where equaled the size and energy of SIA in its Vegas heyday. One thing we can say about Denver as the host city, however, is it's easy to get around, the restaurants are less expensive, the hotels don't smell like ashtrays, and you won't burn up your wallet at the craps table or strip joint.

Trend forecasters trolled the floor and noticed the ever-shrinking snowboard sector and it’s assimilation into the ski world- or is that the other way around? 

The lines are blurring, literally, as hemlines for both ski and snowboard clothing extend below the hips, colors separate into two camps (earth tones and brilliant rainbow hues), materials are mixed into the same garments and clothing becomes multi-functional in the backcountry, sidecountry and frontside. 

Here's a sneak peak at what's in store for 2012/13. 

The big talk of the show was the waterproof down revolution. Now we can stay warm and puffy in all conditions.  For example, Skea's leather down puffy or Sessions men's jackets.

Color blocking is carrying over for next year.

 

Designers are stepping out on a limb to combine different materials in one garment for better durability, style, and range of motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baselayers are so hot and colorful you can wear them dancing after your ski day- so long as you used plenty of Secret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decking out junior in dashing displays of steez will be huge next season. How can you possibly resist helping your grom put their best boot forward with duds like these? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, no preview is complete without certain companies attempting to resurrect the one piece.  Spyder’s got a luxe suit for $1,200 while O’Neill -stepping into the wintersports scene- is excited to see theirs in the pipe. Talk about your ‘slopestyle,’ Baby.