The 2025 Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show at the Better Living Centre in Exhibition Place, ran from October 24 to 26 and attracted over twenty thousand people who came downtown to buy inexpensive ski equipment, and to meet tour operators and resort owners, and to see the latest gizmos and innovations on display.

Marketed as Canada’s premier winter outdoor recreation show, the event offers more than just skis, snowboards and outdoor clothing. There were merchants selling specialized gear for hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skating and cross-country skiing.  Among the diverse wares on offer were unique products like heated goggles, intelligent snowsuits and electric skis. There were contests, giveaways, and exclusive product reveals. At the back of the hall, where it is every year, attendees perused Canada’s largest ski and snowboard equipment swap where thousands of items are listed for sale for $100 or less, or free; they can be swapped, in exchange for whatever people bring them.

Opening the 2025 Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show

The event opened with Paul Pinchbeck of the Canada Ski Council addressing the crowd and introducing Canadian ski legend Nancy Greene Raine who cut the inaugural ribbon.

Paul Pinchbeck with the inaugural ribbon at the 2025 Toronto Ski & Snowboard Show

Other ski-celebrities on hand included Chris Robinson, Director of the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, and Joanne Hale, the executive director of the National Ski Academy.

Chris Robinson, and Joanne Hale.  Photo by Rob Campbell, 24Oct2025

These venerated skiers are familiar faces in this crowd, and their presence serves to remind folks of the show’s official status and importance, and how it’s an authentic bred-in-the-bone community gathering for the ski and snowboard industry, and a must-attend event for manufacturers, resort owners, and ski fashion retailers to connect with the public.

While the video above introduces a dozen interesting vendors, I’ve singled out a few truly unforgettable characters to detail more thoroughly because they have real passion. Last winter, Regarding Luxury published a travel piece on skiing in the Swiss Alps, which was very popular, but this exhibition serves to remind us that we have wonderfully exotic destinations right here in Canada.

First, the guides from Le Routes Blanche, a bespoke cross country ski experience in the Laurentians. These guys will take you on a three-day trip through the backcountry where your cell phone will have no service.

Edward and Will from Le Routes Blanche.  Photo by Rob Campbell

Le Routes Blanches (The White Roads) are multi-day Nordic ski excursions along near-forgotten trails in the Laurentians. The group was conceived by SOPAIR, a collaborative organization which aims to ensure the conservation, sustainability, access, and development of outdoor trails and other recreational spaces in the Pays-d’en-Haut MRC.  SOPAIR invites citizens, businesses, community organizations, municipal organizations, and others to join its ranks to support its mission, and this project like others aims to showcase the unique off-piste cross-country skiing heritage of the region. The guys do a great job explaining everything in the very short video below.

Club Med ski resorts are on the other end of the spectrum. Instead of roughing it in the bush, they offer all-inclusive mountain resorts which combine ski-in / ski-out access and lessons with accommodation, meals, drinks, and other activities. They cater to various skill levels, from beginners to experts, and often feature multiple resorts globally, from the Alps to Canada, with amenities like gourmet food, open bars, and kids’ clubs. The all-inclusive model aims to provide a hassle-free vacation, bundling everything from airfare to lift tickets into one package. The spokespeople do a wonderful job explaining everything, with sincere passion, in the short video below.

Teagan Boyle was at the show with his 3D printed mountains. He met Stuart Baker in winter 2022 at business school in Ontario and they bonded over how much they missed being surrounded by mountain peaks. They formed a company called Little Big Mountains which reduces the largest mountains in the world to paperweight you can hold in your hand. This is a product for mountain lovers, created by mountain lovers and it was getting a lot of attention at the show where many people had personal connections to the high-altitude geography.

Frigid Dynamics Unveils the World’s First Electric Skis

Frigid Dynamics exhibited electric skis at the 2025 Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show.

Frigid Dynamics exhibited the world’s first electric skis. Their Vipera product is essentially skis with belt drives. The propulsion system offers the freedom and thrill of a snowmobile but without the bulk, noise, or emissions. Simply stand, use the throttle, and glide smoothly with power under your feet, perfect for terrain where a traditional sled would be too loud and intrusive. Engineered to meet or exceed European, U.S., and Canadian safety standards, Vipera has been rigorously tested in simulations and harsh real-world conditions. Combining elements of Nordic skiing and snowmobiling, the Vipera creates a unique way to explore winter landscapes.

SportSimX with SkyTechSport BalancePlay Pro at Booth #104 – Photo by Rob Campbell

SportSimX, a Montreal based company, brought their SkyTechSport BalancePlay Pro, an interactive smart balance board designed for immersive training in action sports like snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, and surfing. The game features built-in sensors that track movement and provide real-time feedback to boost coordination, agility, and core strength. Suitable for users aged six and older, the BalancePlay Pro includes safety elements such as a floor mat and balance bar to support all skill levels during gameplay.

SportSimX gamifies the exercise of skiing down a slalom course.

The system connects via Bluetooth to a touchscreen control kiosk (TV/projector not included) and offers engaging sports-themed games that make fitness and rehabilitation fun and accessible for the entire family. SportSimX was one of several interactive experiences which involved balancing on a ball of some kind.

Norman from Ski Canada magazine is a fixture at the show, selling magazine subscriptions and advertising spots to the other businesses.  In addition to being the owner and editor of Canada’s oldest and most recognized ski mag, Norm is actually a new media expert and great at finding ways to impress the public on digital platforms.  Consequently, Ski Canada has expanded its readership while other magazines and enthusiast blogs are shrinking. Norm has the secret sauce, and it could be that he’s a sincerely nice guy, and someone who is very approachable and accommodating.

All the vendors were at their best. It’s common for business owners with retail stores to invite their top staff to work the show and give them a share of the profits. 

But it wasn’t just sales. There were free drinks from Steam Whistle and live panel talks. There were athlete inspiration sessions in the main gallery, and a ski hill fashion show. At the end of each day, Steam Whistle Brewery hosted après ski parties with DJs, and giveaways. Attendees can expect a premium experience, in addition to reduced prices. 

Why Attendees Pay Money to Shop at the Ski and Snowboard Show

From mid-afternoon Friday through to Sunday evening, the event is a comprehensive one-stop shop for gearing up for the winter season, planning ski trips, and celebrating Canada’s snow sports culture in a festive urban environment. Most attendees were on a mission to find something they’re missing in their outdoor adventure kit and everything needed or desired was on the shelves at discount prices.  There were at least four different Ontario ski hills offering a two-for-one lift ticket voucher valid at their resorts for the entire 2026 winter season, and it’s those kind of deals that keep people coming back and making the show a pre-season ritual.

Margaretta, a Ukraine emigree, buys her first snowboard at Skiis and Bikes.

Overall, the Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show does a good job fostering accessibility, inclusion, and community by bringing the mountains to the city. The event showcased a wide range of retail exhibitors offering deals on equipment, travel opportunities, and winter lifestyle products and is certainly worth the twenty dollar ticket price, especially because the money goes to support winter activities and help maintain some of Ontario’s lesser known but equally valued outdoor recreational resources.