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SIA Highlights

I left for Vegas not knowing what to expect and a bit nervous on how it would go. For the last 6 years I have been Shayboarder, for the last 1.5 years I have been shayboarder.com. I feel most comfortable and in my own skin when I’m in snowboard gear on the mountain. When I step off the mountain, I never know what to expect or how the world will interpret me. Brooke pointed it out best that I don’t really care to be the coolest core-looking snowboarder, I’m here to ride and for me that’s all that counts. That was the same for SIA, it was the first year of representing my own site and just being me.
When you are surrounded by gear and friends it made Vegas a lot of fun. It was great to check out men’s and women’s gear this whole week because I ride both men’s and women’s gear.
I really want to thank all the people that met with me, went through the lines and are dedicated to their products. I certainly wasn’t let down by any company that I met with, everyone has their own touch and input on what makes a product how they like it.
The most quirky funny comment was from Molly at Evo who said I was the “Perez Hilton of snowboarding” but from what I heard at the show is people really like what I’m doing and I should keep it up. I won’t let you guys down and will continue to express myself through this blog.
I have lots of catalogs to go through from the show, so be patient with me as I dive into the products deeper and see what changes are coming up for each company. I’ll go more in-depth this year as I look at each company. I came home with over 1,000 images and more on press kits to dive into.

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So down to the highlights:
  • Attending SIA as press is the biggest highlight, my badge said shayboarder.com. I’ll go further into this but it was a great opportunity.
  • Everyone in the snowboarding industry who has read the blog, I got a lot of props and recognition…I’m still in awe. It was like a big dream for me. If someone had told me years ago that people I watched in snowboard films, read in magazines and idolized would know my name…I wouldn’t have believed it.
  • Hanging out with my two crews: Never Summer and Mtnops. Both companies are my families and I enjoy spending time with them every chance I get. This was the first year with Mtnops and I appreciate everything they have done for me. Never Summer and I started at SIA and it’s been great getting to know then more and more each year.
  • Finding out that Holy Oly would be going on when I head back to Washington later this month. After I moved away from Washington 3.5 years ago, the Holy Oly came back and it’s one of those events I read in magazines and wish I was there.
  • The big 3: Snowboarder, Transworld and Snowboard. I was able to put names to faces at SIA and met the editors for each of the magazines. I am subscribed to all of them, I read them and admire those in charge. I was also able to meet Matt from Frequency, see Mike Lewis from Transworld Business and meet 2 people from Allus.
  • Pat Bridges goes in his own category. My goal this year has been to learn how to do handplants like Pat and eventually I’ll get it. I really admire him, his writing, his weath of information and his generous disposition. The other reason and nothing against Pat but it’s great to see another fellow shredder holding it down that isn’t stick skinny in this industry.
  • Meeting Aaron Draplin and him hooking me up with field notes and Draplin pens because I needed it. He’s eloquent and real which speaks volumes from his writing on his blog.
  • I think every where I went, I ran into Tj Schneider which is a great thing since I like the guy. I’m supposed to get married to him eventually so I figure this is the pre-dating part…getting to know each other, crossing paths, hugs, weird looks, dancing, e-fights…the pre-dating part is the most fun and I never want it to end.
  • Those Jackson Hole mountain men: Willie, Jesse, Mark. They keep it real and are fun to be around. Really happy that Carter is filming with Absinthe this year, he deserves it and can’t wait to see his riding in it.
  • Chris the Nor Cal rep who does NCP Sales Blog telling me how Robbie Sell told him that a blogger is a journalist and I should remember that.
  • Mark Sullivan. Just going out with him and hanging out for some of the parties was a blast. Just a lot of fun getting to know him and talking about snowboarding.
  • Meeting the bloggers of the snowboarding worlds. Push.ca, Pikture, NCP Sales, Dangerzone, Boardistan, Varmin/Dragon, Yobeat, and EXPN Shred Fantastique. I was able to catch up with bloggers I have met before, Johan’s Tackledbox, Gabe’s Out of the Rain and Marc’s Vociferous Void. I finally got to meet bloggers for companies, Trevor who does Lib Tech, Lance for Ashbury and Mark from Flow.
  • Putting names to faces. I was able to meet with people that have emailed me over the past year and read the blog, like what I’m doing and support me. It was really a great opportunity to meet them in person and get to know them better.
  • Meeting Jeff Brushie and talking about snowboarding with him. I kept getting told to tell him how much I admire him, but I couldn’t do it…so we just talked and that was way cooler.
  • As always my friends who have known me for years from Washington, being able to see them again and spend time with them. Mike, Gorio, Chad, Garvie, Eric. These guys are my inspiration and my knowledge.
  • There’s a good website coming out, I won’t give too much info on. But I was able to meet the people that I’ll be riding with when I come out to Washington later this month and I am stoked to be a part of their new adventure.
  • Being able to try out more products this year. Companies have been great on getting more products into my hands which I never take for granted. I can’t wait to review more gear for you guys.
  • I really walked away from the show just happy at how it went. I was busy the entire time and my feet hurt by Friday, but I was so happy to meet everyone, to see products and stoked that I can bring this back to my readers. I made sure to surround myself with the people I like and have the same passion for the sport that I do. I’ve found that being around the good, positive people are where it’s at. The feedback that I received from the industry was great and it’s always rad to see that people like what I do.
Got props from Boardistan
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In order to give back to those who read this blog daily, I have brought back stickers from SIA (not thousands but some good ones). Whoever can answer this question and email me (shayboarder@gmail.com) with the first correct answer will get the stickers and whatever else I decide to throw in.

The question is: What is the most influential thing I took home from SIA this year?


WINNER IS LAURENT!


The Answer is: The photocopy of the 1st Snowboarder Magazine.

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  • J. Smith
    February 2, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Right on Shay. Great stuff, looking forward to more- I’m sure many others are as well. Keep killing it mama!!!

  • IN SEA PEE SAILS.....
    February 2, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    YEAH SHANNON ! it was rad meeting you too. keep it up. snowboarding (or actually the world) needs more people like you. keep loving what you do and keep doing what you love, all with a smile, and everything will be perfect… hope to see ya on the hill sometime !

    -chris.

  • Anonymous
    February 2, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    Thanks Shay! You’re the best!

    – Laurent

  • hoon
    February 3, 2009 at 7:52 am

    wilmouth is awesome…

  • Jon
    February 3, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    did u happen to get any pics of the signal park series?

  • Arsenic0
    February 3, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Since your big into NS as well, any comments on what if anything is changing in their R.C tech this year? What differentiates a 2010 SL-R from a 2009 SL-R other than topsheet?

  • Shayboarder
    February 5, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Thanks everyone!

    Chris you rock, I hope we get to make turns sometime!

    Jon, I’ll be putting up a signal post with all the pics. Day 1 is when I met with Signal and there is a pic there to check out.

    Arsenic, I’ll dive into Never Summer very soon with all the info!

  • Shayboarder.com - The World of Snowboarding Through Fembot Eyes » Blog Archive » A look back at my 2008-2009 season
    June 19, 2009 at 8:14 pm

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