Top fitness events in 2012

For fitness pros, FIBO, ISPO, and IDEA offer some of the biggest industry events of the coming year. Also the SIA Snow Show expects its largest crowd ever in 2012 in Denver, while the Reebok CrossFit Games aim to grow bigger, stronger in 2012.

40th Ski Industries of America (SIA) Snow Show
January 27-30
Denver, Colorado

The SIA Snow Show, January 27-30, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is the largest, most concentrated trade event in the snow sports industry, attracting more than 20,000 industry professionals and unveiling new products and gear. More than 1,000 brands will be on display, representing an industry that is $3 billion strong. After the show, attendees will head up to the mountains for the On-Snow Demo/Free Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil's Thumb Ranch, where the industry will get together to demo the gear they've just seen at the show.
http://siasnowshow.snowsports.org
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72nd ISPO
February 2-4
Munich, Germany

ISPO is one of the biggest events in the world for sports goods manufacturers and suppliers. Over 2,000 exhibitors are participating in 2012, and the event expects to draw more than 80,000 visitors from over 100 countries. ISPO will focus on eco-friendly products with a special section called Eco Village. An interdisciplinary segment called Freeriding will be organized for products dealing with snow sports. Industry pros pay €19 for a one-day pass if purchased by December 15/prices at the door are €37. Sister events happens in Beijing, February 22-25.
http://www.ispo.com
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31st IHRSA Convention
March 14-17
Los Angeles, California, US

A rival to the IDEA World Fitness Convention and FIBO, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association annual convention is another top, long-standing fitness trade show held in Los Angeles, drawing a crowd of some 7,000 industry pros every year to swap ideas and flaunt new techniques and products. Four-day passes for nonmembers are $795/$595 for members. Two-day passes are priced at $559 (nonmembers)/$395 (members) and a one-day pass costs $450 (nonmembers)/$250 (members).
http://www.ihrsa.org
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See new products and techniques on display in 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-LqigGusyg


8th International Fitness Showcase (IFS)
March 23-25
Winter Gardens
Blackpool, UK

The 8th annual program packs more 200 different fitness sessions into three days, designed for fitness instructors, trainers, and the public. Comparable to Inner IDEA in the US, IFS is one of Europe's biggest fitness conventions and expects around 6,000 participants from Asia and Europe with fitness and health champions leading classes on The Fit Zone, Gravity, Modern Pilates, and much more. Early registration tickets available now: a three-day is priced at £99.
http://www.chrysalispromotions.com
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5th BaliSpirit Festival
March 28 - April 1
The Purnati Center for the Arts, Batuan, Bali, Indonesia

BaliSpirit Festival is an annual four-day event that celebrates global yoga, dance, and music with more than 95 workshops (including yoga trance dance, African drumming, traditional Balinese dance, and hip-hop), nightly world music concerts, and The Dharma Fair, an eco-bazaar including massage, healing, health food, and much more for the entire family. While yogis have a variety of far-flung locales and events to choose from, BaliSpirit attracts a devoted crowd of more than 4,500 to one of the trendiest yoga spots on the planet. Early tickets are now available via the event website. Full event passes, which allows entrance into all workshops, classes, and concerts are $425. VIP passes, which include transportation shuttles to and from festival venues and a goody bag, are $575.
http://balispiritfestival.com
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27th FIBO
April 14-17
Essen, Germany

FIBO celebrates its 27th anniversary as Europe's key health, fitness, and wellness trade event. Essen will welcome over 30,000 health industry professionals and an additional 20,000 individuals interested in overall health from 100 countries including health specialists (physiotherapists, orthopedists, cardiologists, internists) for the FIBOmed section. This expo brings together the latest in training equipment, intelligent health promotion concepts, nutrition, fashion, cutting-edge sessions, and events focused around a variety of fitness and health trends. Advance online day tickets are €15; to purchase tickets and learn more about FIBO and the FIBOmed section visit:
http://www.fibo.de
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6th Evolution Asia Yoga Conference
June 7-10
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

Evolution Asia brings together yoga enthusiasts and masters worldwide to explore the world of yoga through practice with a range of beginning and intense classes, plus the yoga bazaar offers discounts on cutting-edge yoga wear and gear. While not as large as the US-based Yoga Journal conference held every year in four US cities, the concept is similar and is the largest of its kind in Asia, and will likely expand in coming years as Westernized yoga, and major yoga brands such as Lululemon, continue to expand. Four-day passes in 2011 were priced at HK$4,999 (€441) or onsite at the event for HK$5,999 (€529). Stay tuned for more details; registration begins January 19.
http://www.asiayogaconference.com
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4th Wanderlust
late June (dates not yet announced)
Bondville, Vermont, US
Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, California, US

Wanderlust is one of the biggest yoga parties on the planet and aims to provide stiff competition to the plethora of summer music festivals in the area. The fourth annual festival held at the peaks of Squaw Valley is all about yoga, music, and nature. This year it is expected to draw more than 5,000 yogi partiers, and the event has expanded again to include a two-day retreat in Vermont, US. Days are for downward dog with 40+ yoga instructors including the Village Anusara with YogaSlackers, a play lounge, hoop dance and meditation. Other similar yoga/party events include Ojai Yoga Crib, Bhakti Fest, and Evolve Music and Yoga Festival, but Wanderlust reportedly attracts the largest, most hedonistic crowds. Dates and ticket prices are not yet announced but in 2011 a full four-day pass, called "Sage," was $450 and a three-day pass (or "Seeker") was $375.
http://www.wanderlustfestival.com
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28th IDEA World Fitness Convention
July 5-8
San Diego, California, US

The 28th annual IDEA World Fitness Convention is one of the largest and oldest trade events for fitness professionals. More than 5,000 influential fitness and wellness professionals from 65 nations will participate in hundreds of sessions devoted to new fitness trends. After this event, fitness centers globally will be introducing new classes, techniques and products. A pass for the entire event in 2011 was $499 for IDEA members/$589 for nonmembers. Two-day package: $329 for members/$359 nonmembers. One-day package: $249 for members/$279 nonmembers. Rival tradeshows include Germany's FIBO and LA's IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show.
http://www.ideafit.com/conference/idea-world-fitness-convention-2012
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6th Reebok CrossFit Games 2011
July 13-15
Carson, California, USA

The CrossFit Games event is the final competition in a series in which the world's fittest, who have triumphed in regionals and sectionals around the world, come together to compete for the grand prize. The first place male and female individual winners will each receive $250,000. CrossFit is about metabolic conditioning and combines a series of intense, fast workouts without machines for core strengthening and conditioning including weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics. While a new technique compared to say, triathlons and marathons, Crossfit is enjoying a burgeoning success, and its drills are expected to make their way into more fitness classes in 2012.
http://games.crossfit.com
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20th Canfitpro International Trade Show
August (dates to be announced)
Toronto, Canada

Some 10,000 fitness enthusiasts are expected to attend Toronto's fitness blowout trade event, Canfitpro, one of the largest fitness events of its kind. Similar to Los Angeles's IDEA World Fitness Convention, the event offers up-and-coming techniques a chance to gain wider appeal in the Canadian market. Dates have yet to announced but a smaller fitness showcase will be held in Montreal February 3-5, with hundreds of classes demonstrating new techniques to be offered.
http://www.canfitpro.com/en/toronto
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11th Zumba Convention
August 9-12
Orlando, Florida, US

Not surprisingly, 2012 will be another hot year for Zumba, a global fitness craze that combines a variety of dance and cardio elements. Zumba oganizers are holding its biggest members-only party to help fitness professionals share new spinoff Zumba techniques , fashion, foods, and music. The four-day festival is described as a "Zumba playground" with over 3,500 Zumba network professionals in attendance. Registration opens in early 2012.
http://convention.zumba.com
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