Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM) a global leader in active
outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, unveiled today the
2014 Olympic uniforms for the U.S., Canadian and Russian Freestyle Ski
teams. Custom designed for each country from the ground up, the uniforms
deliver warmth, protection and performance with fresh aesthetics and new
technologies developed specifically for the unique needs of these elite
athletes.
USA Moguls Uniform (Photo: Business Wire)
After a successful sponsorship of the powerhouse Canadian freestyle ski
team during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, expanding Columbia’s support
to include the equally formidable U.S. and Russian teams was a natural
evolution for the global brand.
“We applaud the dedication and talent of all athletes who have trained
for years in preparation to deliver their best performances when it
matters most,” said Columbia’s President and Chief Executive Officer,
Tim Boyle. “Our design teams drew inspiration directly from the U.S.,
Canadian and Russian athletes and their diverse national cultures in
designing these competitive team uniforms, incorporating everything
we’ve learned in our first 75 years of trying stuff in an effort to
enhance their performance. We wish each of them great success in Sochi.”
At the heart of the uniforms, Columbia’s patented Omni-Heat Thermal
Reflective technology delivers more warmth with less bulk, providing
athletes critical mobility and unrestricted movement without
compromising comfort.
Columbia’s design team engaged directly with the athletes to gain
insight into how the uniforms could enhance performance. “We were
incredibly impressed with the level of interaction we had with
Columbia’s design team,” said U.S. freestyle mogul skier Heather McPhie.
“They met with us several times and genuinely wanted to learn about what
we needed. To be included in the design process like that was
fantastic—that is exactly what it takes to create world-class uniforms
like these.”
Based on extensive athlete input, Columbia’s design team integrated a
slew of innovative details such as a unique snow camouflage pattern to
help mask body movement—a key judging component—for moguls skiers. The
uniforms also feature a patent-pending Columbia-designed
ultra-lightweight and low-profile LightRail™ Zipper which is bonded
directly onto laser-cut fabric, completely eliminating the need for
zipper tape and resulting in the lightest-weight waterproof zipper in
the world.
But technology is only part of the story—fresh graphics and prints
reflect unexpected and inspiring energy while honoring each country’s
distinct iconography. Customizable components like interchangeable
shoulder patches, custom nameplates, and removable pockets allow the
athletes to make the uniform their own without compromising the cohesive
look of the team.
Columbia’s uniforms will be worn by national athletes competing in the
following events:
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United States: Moguls and Aerials
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Canada: Moguls, Aerials, Slopestyle and Half Pipe
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Russia: Moguls, Aerials, Slopestyle, Half Pipe, and Skicross
About Columbia
Columbia, the flagship brand of Portland, Oregon-based Columbia
Sportswear Company, has been creating innovative apparel, footwear,
accessories and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938. Columbia
has become a leading global brand by channeling the company’s passion
for the outdoors, and an innovative spirit of “trying stuff”, into
technologies and performance products that keep people warm, dry, cool
and protected year-round. To learn more, please visit the company's
website at www.columbia.com.
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