Mayor Matthew Godfrey will head a city delegation that will have a booth in the entryway of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, close to the show's organizers. He also will be talking to several companies that Ogden is hoping to lure to the city.

"We'll be creating an awareness that we have had five companies move here in the past year," said Godfrey, referring to Descente North America, Goode Ski Technologies, Kahuna, Scott USA and Snowsports Interactive."

He said another company also has committed to move to Ogden, but declined to identify the firm. "It's a name everybody knows," Godfrey said.

The city's prime pitch is simple, he added. "It's cost-effective to do business here and only 20 minutes from skiing" at Snowbasin, the 2002 Olympic Alpine skiing venue, and just a bit farther to Powder Mountain and Wolf Mountain resorts.

In its 35th year, the SIA SnowSports Trade Show is the largest winter sports gathering in North America. More than 18,000 people are expected to attend the show, which runs Monday through Thursday, with 450 exhibitors, 3,400 booths and 900 brands featuring Alpine, Nordic, snowboard, telemark and backcountry gear and clothing.

As part of this year's festivities at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the U.S. Olympic Alpine ski team will be named there on Wednesday. "The support we have from our official suppliers is critical to achieving our goal of being best in the world in [Turin]," said U.S. Ski and Snowboard President Bill Marolt.

SIA spokeswoman Alicia Allen said Ogden is wise to aggressively establish a presence at the trade show.

"Everybody in the industry comes to the SIA show. If you want to boost business, network with the industry, if you're not at SIA, you're missing it," she said. "We as an association are excited the city is coming and we understand why it's important for them to have a presence here."

mikeg@sltrib.com