As the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia creep closer, U.S. Halfpipe and Slopestyle athletes seem to be taking advantage of their sports’ Olympic debuts by attracting sponsorship deals from companies that haven’t entered the snowsports or freeskiing market before. Exhibit A: U.S. Halfpipe team member Tucker Perkins recently signed a deal with designer giant Ralph Lauren, making him the company’s first sponsored freeskier.
Previously, Perkins was sponsored by Sessions outerwear. “Everyone at Sessions has been super great to work with over the past few years but I feel as though I have a really good opportunity to grow with Polo leading up to the 2014 Games in Sochi,” said Perkins, who’s training at Copper Mountain, Colo., this week in preparation for the U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix, which takes place later this week. “I have always admired the company and line they have created and am thrilled to be a part of it.”
Added Perkins: “Polo was looking to use me and [U.S. mogul skier] Hannah Kearney to showcase their winter outerwear RLX line for the upcoming season and it turned into a relationship where they wanted to become my official outerwear sponsor for this upcoming season.”
Ralph Lauren provided the official U.S. Olympic uniforms for the 2008, 2010 and the upcoming 2012 summer Olympic Games — but outfitting freeskiers? This is a first.
“Ralph Lauren is proud to be the apparel sponsor for Tucker Perkins and will be providing Tucker with the RLX ski apparel that he will wear during the 2011/2012 competition season,” said Ralph Lauren’s vice president of marketing Talbot Logan. “This is part of our ongoing support of select U.S. Olympians and Olympic hopefuls.”