Boat Show Blues
By Paul Jurbala


The Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS) was under a lot of pressure
in 1996. The construction of the new Trade Centre at the Canadian
National Exhibition grounds cut into floor space by 20% and drastically
reduced available parking space. Exhibitors were disgruntled - show
attendance and sales were dropping slowly and steadily in the early
90s, and a group decided to set up the competing Ontario International
Boat Show (clever, huh?) a few weeks later.

Well, the TIBS management fought back, putting a greater emphasis on
advertising and promotion. They coped with the space squeeze by
downsizing and jiggling exhibitors until they all fit. Unfortunately,
the OWSA, beneficiaries of granted space from the show management for
nearly 20 years now, was low on the totem pole and ended up in a
slightly smaller space a few rows back of the traditional Upper East
Annex location... and that, more than anything, was likely responsible
for a very frustrating show for the OWSA.

We tried old things, like our non-stop ski videos and members draw. We
tried semi-new things, like the free non-members draw, free issues of
Ontario Water Skier, and free issues of WaterSki to members joining at
the show. And we tried brand new things, like an Internet hook up to
water ski web sites which you could play with at the booth (thanks to
Terry Jones, who went above and beyond by even loaning us his own
computer for the week). But there just didn't seem to be water skiers
in the aisles.  By the end of the nine days, OWSA membership sales were
down 25% from 1995, our previous worst-ever year. Free draw ballots
were down an amazing 53%, proof that we couldn't give things away.

It wasn't all bad. The Toronto International Boat Show remains a great
opportunity to talk water skiing with a lot of people, and to make and
renew contacts with potential sponsors. Our volunteers pulled through
again, twenty-three of them putting in over 100  hours at the booth.
Special thanks to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, who
reported a big increase in attendance, for the booth; to Craig
Rutherford for again assisting with set-up and tear- down; and to all
the sponsors who donated prizes for our draw (look for the results in
the Summer issue). Better luck next year?

Thanks to OWSA volunteers helping at the show:

Cam McArthur, Andy Gardner, Laura Hunter, Mike Spence, Brock Cromwell,
Nicole Maurer, Dave Ellis, Gary Lehmann, Jim Stan, Ken Thompson, Bill
Mason, Andy Thompson, Brian White, Bill Reeves, John Woodley, Kevin
Smith, Greg Whilsmith, Steve Thompson, Katie Mills, Alex Dorevich,
Trish Kaliciak, Tim Mills and M. Gryniswski.

Thanks, too, to sponsors HO Sports Canada, Connelly Canada, Western
Watersports, McClintocks Ski School, MICA Sportswear, Nautic
Distributors, E-Z Group, Hobies, WaterSki Magazine and LA Ski
Connection.