Ten stores have already signed up to attend Le Snow Avant-Première, the European snowboard testing event being held Jan. 15-17 in La Clusaz, France, about 28 kilometers from Annecy. A good response has come this year from English shops, as well as from Norwegian and Swiss retailers. Numerous brands will show off their latest collections, including Artec, Burton, DC Snowboard, Elan, K2, Nitro, Oakley, Rossignol, Roxy, Salomon, Grenade and Vans. The event kicks off on Sunday evening, Jan. 15, with food and drink at the center station of Clusaz, sponsored by Skullcandy. Last year more than 30 brands appeared at the show, which drew 650 visitors and 342 shops, 15 percent of them from outside France. More than 3,400 snowboards were tested at the 2011 event.

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