Ogden rolls out the red carpet for dealers, media

OGDEN -- Gov. Jon Huntsman made a joke about wearing a tie to ease the anticipation in a room full of ski industry dealers and magazine representatives wearing snow clothing and waiting for his speech to end so they could go and ski powder.

"I'm in the most dangerous position of all -- between you and the greatest snow on earth," Huntsman said.

About 60 dealers from all over North America and several writers and editors from magazines such as Powder, Freeskier, Ski, Outside and Men's Health were in Ogden last week for Amer Sports Winter Summit.

Huntsman spoke to the group as did Mayor Matthew Godfrey, Amer Sports Winter and Outdoor President Mike Dowse and Amer Sports CEO Roger Tolermo.

"We're tired of being an old railroad town," Godfrey said to the group. "In two-and-a-half years after deciding what we wanted to do, we now have more ski companies in Ogden than any other town."

Tolermo was visiting Ogden for the first time from Helsinki, Finland. He explained the company's decision to move to Ogden.

"I'm pretty convinced that this is the area where everything will be set," Tolermo said. "For us, the biggest winter sports company in the world, we need to be here."

Outside magazine Senior Editor John Bradley thought the morning's presentation was entertaining.

"Being in the outdoor industry, I've heard about Ogden," Bradley said. "To see a city that looks at outdoor recreation as a way to reinvent itself has to be refreshing."

After the speech and tour it was up the mountain by bus as the snow began to fall. At Snowbasin dealers and media had the opportunity to try out a few of next season's skis made by Amer Sports' companies Salomon and Atomic.

This was not the place for specific reviews of ski equipment, but more of a chance to see what's coming up and familiarize dealers and media with the company's products, representatives and Utah's snow -- of which there was plenty to impress the out-of-towners.

Powder magazine Associate Editor Johnny Stifter said the event was similar to many on-snow demos he has attended except the governor and mayor are not usually in attendance.

"I thought it was pretty impressive with the governor and mayor and that the CEO flew in from Finland for the day," Stifter said. "It seems like the wheels are turning there."

Stifter spent the rest of the day skiing the No Name peak area of the resort in search of powder.

"It's fun to be reminded of the secret stashes you guys have out there," Stifter said.