Reacting to an announcement that the buying associations that make up the U.S. Winter Sports Market (WSM) show would be moving their event to Salt Lake City starting next winter, Marisa Nicholson, senior vice president and show director of Outdoor Retailer (OR), stated in an open letter that the winter sports and outdoor communities will nonetheless come together united in Denver at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, scheduled for Jan. 26-28, 2022. The combination of outdoor and winter sports had come about in April 2018 through a deal between OR and the buying associations – a connection that saved many players in both segments from having to attend two separate shows. “It was particularly upsetting when WSM unilaterally announced they were moving their event to Salt Lake City despite their contractual obligations,” commented Nicholson, especially because cohesion is more important than ever in a situation like the current pandemic. The OR Snow Show next January will be jointly organized by the Snow Industries Association (SIA) and the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). “Our industry has seen unprecedented growth over the past 20 months as more people have sought outdoor recreation. Now, we need to come together to learn how to sustain this growth and embrace the new opportunities,” Nicholson wrote, adding that OR has begun a process to determine what lies ahead for the industry. More details on upcoming events are expected to be announced soon. That may include whether the show will remain in Denver after 2022, when the 5-year contract with the Colorado Convention Center expires.

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