Freestyle

Columbia Unveils 2014 Olympic Uniforms

by
USSA
2014-01-09 11:25
 

PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 9) – A packed house of media and VIPs were on hand to kickoff the Visa Freestyle International World Cup at Deer Valley Resort Wednesday as Columbia Sportswear Company, a global leader in active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, unveiled the 2014 Olympic uniforms for the USA, Canadian and Russian freestyle ski teams. U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes including aerialist Dylan Ferguson (Amesbury, MA) and moguls skier Heather McPhie (Bozeman, MT) modeled the uniforms, which were seen for the first time. Athletes played a vital role in the functional and creative design of the uniforms with Columbia.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Columbia Sportswear unveiled the 2014 Olympic uniforms for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, along with the Russian and Canadian teams, at a packed press conference opening up the Visa Freestyle International FIS World Cup at Deer Valley Resort.
  • Columbia’s design team engaged directly with the athletes to gain insight into how the uniforms could enhance performance.
  • Columbia has been a partner of the U.S. Ski Team since 2011, expanding after its sponsorship of the Canadian freestyle team at the 2010 Olympics.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

QUOTES
Heather McPhie
I’ve definitely loved working with Columbia. I’ve had uniforms in the past where I’ve been really cold or it just hasn’t quite felt right. These uniforms are really comfortable. They move with us. It’s really nice to have a sponsor that listens to our feedback and really is doing their best to provide us with the best uniforms so that we can go out there and do our best in judged sports.

Dylan Ferguson
Being in partnership with Columbia in this Olympic cycle has been awesome. In aerials you want to show off your bodyline and you want to be as straight as possible, but you’ve got to be comfortable while you’re doing it. So to build this Olympic uniform based around what we need, staying warm as well as showing off our bodylines, has been very important and Columbia has done a great job doing that. 

Tim Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer Columbia Sportswear Company
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. 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.

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