Multi-year sponsorship with Italian global lifestyle brand will mark the first time a single partner will outfit all U.S. teams.

PARK CITY, Utah (May 10, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today that Kappa, Italy’s leading sportswear brand, has signed a multi-year sponsorship as Official Technical Apparel Partner of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Freeski Team, and U.S. Snowboard Team. This is the first time a single outerwear and race suit provider has outfitted all the U.S. teams.

As a global lifestyle brand with a focus on athletics, fashion, innovative campaigns and collaborations, Kappa will outfit all teams with outerwear, speed and race suits beginning with the 2022-23 season and provide additional support for all U.S. domestic and FIS World Cup events through the 2032 season. The partnership also includes outfitting all U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes who will compete in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy and the 2030 Olympic Games. The partnership will include a fashion retail line helping to expand Kappa’s footprint across the U.S.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with such an iconic brand that will enhance our team’s performance and style,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “The opportunity to have a single outerwear and race suit provider for all teams will allow us to streamline every aspect of this partnership to reach its fullest potential. In addition, Kappa’s research and development will provide U.S. athletes with significant technical advantages as they focus on next season, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and beyond.”

Born in Turin, Italy in 1967, Kappa is the leading Italian sportswear brand that produces apparel, footwear and accessories for sport and leisure. Present in more than 130 countries and worn by professional athletes and style enthusiasts around the world, Kappa is recognized for its heritage of technical sportswear and a non-conformist blend of Italian technology and style. Recognized as The Champions Jersey, Kappa’s iconic Omini Logo is featured on many of the top teams in soccer and Formula 1, along with other sports teams and athletes worldwide.

“We’re truly honoured to start this long-term partnership with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said Lorenzo Boglione, Vice President Sales, BasicNet S.p.A. “For Kappa, this is a great opportunity as well as a wonderful comeback to sponsor an American national team, as we did from 1982 to 1988 with the USA Track and Field. We are very proud to dress these incredible athletes. Being together in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics here in Italy will be amazing.”

Throughout the partnership, Kappa will collaborate with U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and coaches on research and development aspects of athletic performance wear. For the alpine speed suits, the collaboration will include wind-tunnel testing and proprietary custom-tailored suit development.

The partnership also includes U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete activation and ambassador programs, broadcast, social media and digital promotion rights, custom competition content creation and email marketing campaigns with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard fan base. Kappa branding will also be seen on all athlete uniforms and team gear, as well as available to consumers through U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Kappa official branded merchandise.

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About Kappa
Kappa^® is one of the brands owned by BasicNet SpA, an Italian company that also owns Robe di Kappa^®, Jesus Jeans^®, K-Way^®, Superga^®, Sabelt^®, Briko^® and Sebago^®, leading clothing, footwear and accessories brands for sport and leisure. BasicNet operates worldwide through a network of entrepreneurs who, under license, produce or distribute products with the Group’s trademarks. BasicNet provides these companies with research and development, product industrialization and global marketing services. All business processes take place solely via the internet, which makes BasicNet a “fully web integrated company”. BasicNet, based in Turin, has been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 1999.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to fully funding the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success, and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org

For More Information Contact:

U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Guy Slattery
guy.slattery@usskiandsnowboard.org

Kappa
Filippo Maffiotti
maffiotti@basic.net