The 2007 Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard Expo opened last night with enthusiastic crowds pouring into the big building during a pouring rain.

They were getting tons of gear from Ski Market and getting info and advice from dozens of resorts and other companies.

The Ski Market sales area was busy last night at the Bayside Expo in South Boston.
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Boots anyone? Check out the Technica display and info area.
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All three of the ski area trade associations in northern New England were represented: Ski Maine, Ski New Hampshire and Ski Vermont.

And most of the bigger resorts in each state sent their own reps and set up info and sales booths.

Joanne Taylor, marketing director at Saddleback, represents this up-and-coming destination resort.
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Eric Schoenholz sits on one of the old single chairs at Mad River Glen. The funky skier-owned resort spent $1.6 million this past summer to rebuild its iconic one-seater.
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I stopped by Peak Resorts, which is the owner of two New Hampshire ski areas: Attitash in Bartlett and Crotched Mountain, in Bennington. The Missouri-based ski area chain is hugely into snowmaking and especially embraces fan guns.

Craig Messa, of Crotched Mountain, explains the workings of the new fan guns, the latest rage in snowmaking.
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Krissy Fraser, of Attitash, and Greg Sweetser, of Ski Maine, have an animated conversation on the floor of Bayside Expo.
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I picked up a copy of Ski and Snowboard America, the annual publication published by Charlie Leocha. It's considered the gold standard of ski travel guides. I plan to do a review within the week, but let's note for the moment that I chatted with Charlie, who added that virtually all the info contained in his 544-page paperback can also be obtained online at www.skisnowboard.com.

Charlie Leocha's annual book, Ski and Snowboard America, is the bible of resorts across North America.
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Stein Eriksen, one of the two or three most famous skiers on the planet, reminisces about teaching during the 1960s at Sugarbush.
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The Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard Expo runs through Sunday. For hours, directions, discount coupons and other info, click here to get to the Ski Market home page where you'll find it all.

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