As most people know this is my one weeks of (hard) work this year. After spending the best part of the week under glass here are a diary of my highlights of the ski show in the Olympia grand hall. A strange land all overseen by a cadre of walkie-talkie wielding people including a suave French man, a follicly challenged giant, an auburn goddess and their leader, a man who went by the name of Holmes. They control the mass of exhibitors with an iron hand and copious amounts of redbull/monster/rockstar drinks.
Day 1 (Sat 17th)
As I arrive on the first day the landscape is a desolate place. The stand is only half built. The huge jump slope structure in the centre of the dome is taking shape. My best guess is its probably a monument to unionised scalfolding/carpentry.
Day 2 (Sun 18th)
The stand is mostly finished. After a day spent on my knees juggling sheets of glass, plastic nodules and rubber hammers if someone else asks me to make another glass cabinet they might have a nasty coming together with a plastic nodule and a rubber hammer.
Day 3 (Mon 19th)
With the stand finished its time for stock to arrive and boy is there a lot of stock. Three lorries full of skis/boots/clothing/accessories to be precise.
Day 4 (Tues 20th)
Just checked out the new K2 hellbents, god they are big. They make my Seths look positively anorexic. This years outfit is handed out and made up some strange thin breathable material, even matches the blue carpet. As the day ends the question on everyones lips is where are the exhibitor passes? Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
Day 5 (Wed 21st)
Doors finally open, press day and half priced tickets. Not surprisingly its quite busy. Lots of journos and pr media types madly swapping details. Lucky there are plenty of bars in the hall to do that deal. Journalists strangely drawn to any young people wearing brightly colored gear. Cute chiropractor opposite makes nice distraction from selling eyewear. The soon to be married Jen Allen pays me a visit. Friday is the big day. How the youth grow up!. A certain Ms Bladon buys the most yellow/blue/pink fluro outfit of the show.
Observation
Why do tannoy announcers always have such boring monotone voices? Do they have interviews and anyone who has even a slightly interesting voice is sent away? Hearing "the ski show is now closed please leave the hall" in a depressing tone really doesn't do justice to such a statement.
Day 6 (Thurs 22nd)
After the busy first day the second day is a more relaxed affair giving workers plenty of time to focus on the burning pain in the balls of their feet. One of the kids on the jump ramp doesn't quite manage to complete his front flip and spends much of the evening being plastered at A&E.
Salomon stand has gone all oriental, something about bamboo in their skis. Vanessa looks good in a kimono.
Observation
How many times will a spouse/friend talk their partner/friend out of a purchase? They try on something, it fits perfectly, the price is reasonable and just when you think you might hear Ill take it all of a sudden another voice chimes up and plants a small seed of indecision in their mind and before you know it Well think about it. When women are shopping for shoes (not that they would take their husbands) would a comment do you really need another pair of (insert color/style here) make her change her mind?
Day 7 (Fri 23rd) The Longest day.
The vernal equinox of the show. I wake up when its dark and leave Olympia when its dark. If it weren't for the glass in the dome I wouldnt know the sun had even risen. Nice to see the lovely ladies from Natives(see photo). Shame I dont have the stamina to keep up with then on Saturday night.
Day 8 (Sat 24th)
Finished 10.30 last night, started 8am this morning. Lucky the organisers office is well stocked with a mountain of energy drinks. Hot redhead Annabel (ex scott dunn) catches my eye; manage to sell her friend a pair of funky pink anon goggles. It will be nice to see her at the Ronnie in Meribel this year. Got an end of the day thank you bottle of thunder toffee vodka for closing the stand up every night.
Day 9 (Sun 25th)
Even with the extra hour sleep thanks to the clocks going back last night the body is starting to show signs of wear luckily the show finishes at 6pm. Get the the more you sell the less you have to repack speech in the morning. Met a crazy rubber clad mono speed skiing French man. Travelling 200+km on a mono for a living, now thats crazy! Hes even got the jigsaw of surgery scars on his legs to prove it.
