Pineview Reservoir • Drones buzzed overhead. Folks happily skidded across a slip-and-slide-like device on the concrete. A woman demonstrated a waterproof ukulele. And a manufacturer proudly showed how to use fire to charge a smartphone.
Such displays marked the start of another Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.
While the trade show doesn't officially open at the Salt Palace until Wednesday morning, several hundred retailers headed to Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point on Tuesday for the annual demo day.
The kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and tents filled with the latest outdoor goodies not only created a colorful outdoor scene, but they also served as an important kickoff to an event that brings retail buyers together with companies that make products.
Woody Calloway of North Carolina-based Native Watercraft said he considers demo day more important for selling his company's pedal-powered kayaks to stores across the country than the more traditional trade show displays that will be at the Salt Palace Wednesday through Saturday. The hands-on trial gives retailers a chance to test his products on the water.
"To me, this is 99.9 percent of the sale," Calloway said. "I wish we could stay out here for the next three days. This is where I get direct feedback ... These people sell these things. They see more consumers than I do."
Alex Suckling of Nibley-based CampSaver has to start making decisions about what his Utah company will buy to sell to its customers. Displays like the ones he saw at Pineview on Tuesday help do exactly that.
"It's big," he said. "We get to see how things perform and whether they match up to what is being claimed. We can see the new technology coming out."
Some of the 1,550 manufacturers expected in Utah this week used demo day to show off all sorts of fun new gear.
One group of seven companies offered a "True Hero" skills event that included sliding on water-covered plastic, playing disc golf and tossing a tomahawk at a target.
Michael Collins of Print 65 of Sweden let retailers try his interlocking, expandable plastic kayaks — think Lego. One group of eight assembled the kayaks and coordinated their rowing across the calm, warm waters of the Weber County reservoir.
Chris Young of Vancouver-based DJI used drones flying over the entire scene to show off a new form of outdoor fun that allows unusual aerial photography and videography coupled with the fun of flying a drone.
That display wasn't far from where another company demonstrated selfie sticks.
Leanne McClellan of Kala Brand Music sat in front of a display of colorful ukuleles designed for outdoor use, including one flat instrument that can be placed in a backpack and another that was water resistent.
Other new gizmos' connection to the outdoors was more tenuous — including a skateboard powered by electricity and a Segway-type device called One Wheel that zigged and zagged in the parking area above the water.
All of the products and thousands more will be on display in the state's largest annual convention that fills the Salt Palace and four adjacent pavilions with the latest and greatest outdoor devices.
In welcoming the group back to Salt Lake City, where government leaders are hoping to keep Outdoor Retailer for years to come, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams marveled at the growth of the trade show.
"Its presence highlights the important economic impact of the recreation industry to Utah," McAdams said. "What started 18 years ago with 5,000 attendees and 100,000 square feet of exhibits has become our largest annual trade show, with over 27,000 attendees."
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation is responsible for 6.1 million American jobs, $646 billion in consumer spending and $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue.
Visit Salt Lake statistics show that the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show will generate more than $25 million in direct spending for Salt Lake Cit and the state of Utah.
wharton@sltrib.com Twitter @tribtomwharton
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A snap together kayak makes for a long ride by Point 65ûN kayaks from Sweden at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Will McDonald of Colorado Mesa University who's mission is getting kids into the outdoors gets schooled on the rolling Key Log by Abby Hoeschler. Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicked off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A snap together kayak makes for a long ride by Point 65ûN kayaks from Sweden at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Greer Brigham with CoRCL takes their hybrid kayak/paddle board for a spin based on the English Coracle or Vietnamese basket boat. Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicked off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Abby Hoeschler, president of Key Log Rolling gives little help to Molly Siverts, 6, as she stays on top. Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicked off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Will McDonald of Colorado Mesa University who's mission is getting kids into the outdoors gets some help on the rolling Key Log by Abby Hoeschler. Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicked off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A snap together kayak makes for a long ride by Point 65ûN kayaks from Sweden at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A snap together kayak makes for a long ride by Point 65ûN kayaks from Sweden at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Blake Crowe takes a spin on the ONEWHEEL, the electric board sport as the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicks off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Tabitha Galeana hovers the Solo Drone by 3DR Robotics out of Austin, TX, during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kickoff demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Jonathan Maki of Drytunes Waterproof Speakers shows off the waterproof case that has a speaker built in to the case and can be controlled from the outside. The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market kicked off with demo day at Pineview Reservoir's Cemetery Point in Huntsville on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. Many of the manufacturers who will be at Summer Market use the opportunity to let retailers try their products, from paddle boards, canoes, kayaks and other water recreation gear.
