On March 12, ispo China hosted the very first Asia Pacific Snow Conference (APSC), presented as a communication and information platform for Chinese and international retailers and industry members. Some 220 retailers attended the event that included a programme of speeches, presentations and workshops. It provided information from European and American brands and sporting goods specialists on the snowsports market and highlighted the product situation for Chinese retailers as well as status reports and insider information on the Chinese snowsports market for the Western brands and visitors of the conference. The focus of the conference was to supply Chinese retailers with more input on what foreign brands and organisations are planning for China’s snowsports industries’ in the future.

Amongst the competent speakers and presenters were Roger Zeng from the Chinese Outdoor Retailer Association, Christian Stipp of Avantgarde China, Stefan Reichmann of Reichmann & Sohn, Hubert Fink of Interski, Steve Zdarsky and Ali Waugh of Mellow Constructions, Tom Ramoser of Roland Berger, Benny Wu of Snowfavor (Rossignol distributor), Alberto Zanatta of Tecnica, Craig Smith of Burton, Martin Beyer of TTiss C.lothing, and Alessandro Marzola of A.N.E.F. Alto Adige.

The second Ispo China itself was officially opened on March 13 by Manfred Wutzlhofer, president and CEO of MMG. The fair features 286 brands from a total of 26 nations. It will run until March 16.