SnowSports Industries America (SIA) updated its consumer-facing website, Snowlink.com with content from supplier, media and non-profit partners across the industry for the 2013/14 season. Snowlink.com is designed to help beginner and mid-level skiers and riders plan vacations, improve their skills, buy equipment and learn about latest in snow sports style.

“Snowlink.com reaches consumers directly and unites the participation goals of snow sports suppliers, retailers, media outlets and organizations,” said David Ingemie, SIA president. “This site also has many resources that shops can use to educate and engage their customers and that media can use to develop their winter story ideas.”
 
Some of Snowlink.com’s industry-inspired content for the 2013/14 winter season includes:
 
  • Gear & Styles on the Snow Brand Gallery and Brand Directory. Snowlink’s most popular page now has a searchable brand gallery and directory to easily track down what’s hot on/off the slopes this season from SIA’s member suppliers.
  • Tips from the Pros – Instructional and Safety Advice.  There’s no substitute for a lesson from a snow pro, but Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has provided some great tips anyone can use to improve their skills. Snowlink.com also has safety tips and Safety IQ test from the National Ski Patrol (NSP) to test kids’ and parents’ “Snow Smarts”.
  • Top Ski andSnowboard Buyer’s Guides. Snowlink.com is great for researching trends or finding the perfect skis, snowboard or snowshoes. The ski-specific guides include buyer’s guides fromBackcountry Magazine, Freeskier, Powder Magazine, SBC Skier Magazine, SKI, Skiing Magazine, and Ski Prophet. The compilation of guides also includes the snowshoe buyer’s guide from Snowshoe Magazine. The snowboard-specific guides include Backcountry Magazine, Snowboard Magazine, Snowboard Canada Magazine and TransWorldSnowboarding.
  • Kids’ Zone, Goggle Gap. Parents can start here for resources, websites and links to programs that get their kids excited about enjoying snow sports safely. Goggle Gap is a new program in the Kids’ Zone that educates parents about the gap between kids’ goggles and helmets and how it affects fit and performance. Snowlink.com has direct-to-consumer information about how to address Goggle Gap as well as resources retailers can use to educate their customers about it.
  • Women on the Snow. Whether it’s planning a girl’s trip to the mountains, getting in shape for the season or seeing what the latest snow sports trends are, this section is for the girl who shreds. New for 2013/14: blog feeds from Burton Girls and SBCwomen.com.

“Skiers and riders visiting Snowlink.com will find great advice to help them enjoy a fabulous time on the snow this season,” saidSusan Urbanczyk, director of membership marketing and communications for the PSIA-AASI. “We’re thrilled to team up with SIA to provide content which helps new and returning skiers and riders receive accessible, complete and accurate information.”

SIA annually updates Snowlink.com with the support of industry experts invested in skiing, snowboarding, cross-country and snowshoeing.
 
“There is a lot of information skiers and riders need to know in order to get off to the right start, and Snowlink.com is a great resource for folks coming into the sport,” said Troy Hawks, founder of the Goggle Gap initiative. “The style, safety, gear, travel and technique tips packed into Snowlink.com provides a central hub of information with tips for learning more. This helps set beginners on a positive trajectory toward becoming l