The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, has extended its partnership with SmartWool, as its official sock provider. As a part of the partnership SmartWool PhD Ski, Nordic and Snowboard socks will don the feet of U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes in alpine, freestyle, nordic and snowboarding sports programs. SmartWool has been a USSA partner since 1996.
“SmartWool has always been proud to partner with and support the USSA, as well as its athletes,” said Laura Sankey, SmartWool marketing director. “We look forward to extending our relationship with the organization, providing top performing technically designed sport specific socks for which we’re known to skiers and snowboarders around the world. It’s the perfect platform for us to display our commitment to athletes at the Olympic level as well as to up and coming junior competitors.”
The longstanding partnership extension calls for SmartWool to continue to supply athletes with PhD® performance socks through the 2018-19 winter season. Additionally SmartWool will have sampling rights, event presence, use of the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding logos, as well as the associate event sponsorship for the USSA Marriott Junior Nationals, a series of events nationwide for future national team stars.
“SmartWool is not only a great brand partner, but provides a technically superior product to our athletes,” said the USSA's Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Andrew Judelson. “One of the key aspects we look for in our suppliers is the ability to enhance athlete performance as well as help to take our brand to the millions of skiers and snowboarders nationwide.”
