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 "ISPO" is the largest [I]nternational [SPO]rts trade show on the planet. It makes the September ASR look like a sideshow in comparative size. Just like ASR, it's closed to the public, an industry-only extravaganza of new products, marketing and beer-guzzling. This winter, Silverfish Longboarding sent our own International Man of Mystery on a foray into ISPO (since we found out he was going anyway), and he brings us a look from inside the show:
ISPO Winter '07 Report I was informed that winter ISPO ( ISPO.com - world’s largest sporting goods trade fair, in Munich, Germany) is far more important than the summer
version I attended last year. Those claims were right: Summer ISPO was a 95% pure fashion show, even the surfboard producers showing more cotton than foam and glass. Winter ISPO was a totally different game: Dozens and dozens of snowboard labels (just a few of them actually producing themselves, I would learn). Young & hip crowds and lots of beer and cocktails. The primary reasons for me to be there weren’t the parties and gorgeous hostesses, or even my mission for Silverfish, but rather to check on possibilities of cooperation and (as a part of this) how longboarding is perceived by the snowboard industry. (Most skateboard labels don’t exhibit on ISPO anymore (too expensive) and instead of ISPO they started the street-oriented "bright – skateboard tradeshow" in Frankfurt, Germany.)
I was armed with a Texalium TS Foamy with Radikal Trucks on my backpack and a Topbone with Crails to show off some of my stuff (and to lure potential customers into conversation and biz-card swapping). I entered ISPO in company with Stefan Risch (new wefunk team rider) and Yorck Dertinger (action and Playboy-magazine photographer par excellence), both Munich locals.
Stefan Risch, Bassi Haller, Yorck Dertinger
Our first stop was at the élan booth (the Slovenian élan factory is responsible for 70% of the European snowboard production) where we met with top IGSA world cup downhiller Bassi Haller. -- First big surprise of the day: Bassi has left Kebbek and is now riding for Fibretech.
The Arbor booth.
Opposite of the élan booth were Arbor showing the most beautiful snowboards (but actually produced by Austrian "Global Sport Technologies" (as claimed by GST)) and some longboards, some of them apparently used by the booth crew. They were kind of busy and since only the German distribution seemed to be present I skipped talk and moved on.
The Lush Longboards exhibit.
Next, was the Lush booth. Here we met new Lush team rider and overall badass shredder Kurt Nischel, who also DJ’ed at their booth later on. Lush showed their whole portfolio and I was impressed. It was also good to see that Lush is run by a bunch of friendly, down-to-earth skaters that really stand behind their product and aren’t just some marketing jerks. There was a discussion on the web about the Fareast (Taiwan) production of their maple decks. Without having ridden them that is nothing I would be worried about. The decks all were very solid and well made with a very fine finish. From first perception that looks like really fine quality.
Kurt Nischel with his new mini... and selectionf of 2007 Lush.
But what really got me interested were the Swiss-made wood/composite cruising, slalom and carving/DH decks. The cruisers (left) sport a high camber and no concave for a comfortable and flexy ride, the slalom decks (right) have a mild concave and camber. The absolute highlight in my opinion is the new "Revolution", 39" x 10", a vertical laminated wood core between composite layers. VERY light and stiff. I also dig the graphics which optically enhance the aggressive shape. Right under Interpol's noses...Rich Auden and the Revolution.
If I could have grabbed one board and run, it would have definitely been this! If I had to choose two decks from their very comprehensive line it would be the Revolution and the 29" Tula mini board for zipping through the ISPO aisles. I had a lot of talk with Rich and we came to the conclusion that some kind of collaboration might actually lead to a win-win situation. You can be sure that I’ll post details as soon as this gets serious.
My next surprise was when I stumbled upon the SHUT booth. They were not in the catalogue because they shared a booth with their German distributor, who also runs Ezekiel.
I met Rodney Smith, SHUT CEO and ZooYork co-founder, an extremely cool guy with a friendly and creative aura. I bet he hasn’t to worry about the blank-deck-issue since he has enough original stuff in his portfolio that will bring him business. I absolutely dig the pool decks and the gold on black graphics. I could beat myself for not shooting a pic of the Hotrod deck: A longboard with looong nose and tail and a short wheelbase and a really original shape. I bet this is a helluva fun ride in any inner-city environment.
Rodney and me.
Nearing closing hours, the general mayhem and drinking with live bands or DJ’ing at the bigger snowboarding booths started. If you ever attend ISPO in Munich prepare for extensive degustation of all imaginable different German beers. Try to postpone your first beer as long as possible because it takes several hours to remove the visitors once the after-biz parties start. (You don’t have to attend Oktoberfest to waste yourself in Munich.) I met great guys, made some biz and new contacts and had a lot of fun.
PROSIT! From Germany,
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