the BMB

So the show is over - no more wining, dining, or bro bra'ing. No more events, booths, launches, interviews, presentations, or product demos. No more concerts, gambling, "live girls to your room!", party's, autograph sessions, kissing hands and shaking babies. It's over.

Now spare a thought. A thought of compassion and respect. For those who take all the sturm und drang from the SIA, pack it up, and take it home. Take it home and crunch the numbers, wade throught the catalogues and price lists, do the forecasts, place the orders, submit the PO's, analysize the data, plan media. Who ensure consumers get the best product made and shipped in time for next year. Who burn the midnight oil sending emails, spread sheets and ridiculous loads of data to vendors, dealers, reps, media, mangement, PR firms, team riders, lawyers and warehouses. Who forgo family and personal time because they have a passion to make sure their love of snowboarding translates into the best in-store and on-hill experience for the rest of us.

These people are NOT riding. They love the sport. Yet they can't particpate to the fullest extent. Because their responsibilities mean they have a very narrow window in which to ensure 2010 rolls out in the best way possible for the rest of us.

The SIA invokes tons of frothing at the mouth from the general public over next year's lines. But when it's over and done, hardly a soul thinks about all the people heading home to dig in for the *real* work ahead.

So please - a few seconds of respekt and luv. For all those behind the scenes. Lugging home merchandise, catalogues, price lists, samples and endless amounts of work. So you and I can find what we want, when we want it, in 2010, to extract every single moment of joy on the hill we can.

To All Behind the Scenes ---- Luv Yer Werk !! kiss kiss bang bang

They have my money.  That's enough for now.

Very well said Su. Kudos. My feet and legs still hurt.

it has always saddened me that i ride more the seasons i have a job unrelated to snowboarding, with the exception of my year at snowbird. and it's not because i am burnt on riding, it' because i can't get away from the damn shop

Thanks for remembering Su, and back out to all the others that are sober at 3am, comparing shades of black.
Feb 1 is now!

...and I think I only got to ride three times in January.

The coolest part of the trip to Vegas? Graham Greene was on my plane on the flight back. He's tall.