PARK CITY, Utah (December 1, 2021) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard today announced its continued partnership with HKD Snowmakers as the Official Snowmaking Supplier of the organization.

HKD Snowmakers has served as the Official Snowmaking Supplier of the U.S. Ski Team since 2011, responsible for all snowmaking at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center and Alpine Tech Center at Copper Mountain, Colorado. HKD snowguns cover the world-class training venue with early season snow, which allows alpine athletes to train on a full-length course in early November before conquering the demanding terrain featured on the World Cup circuit. 

“HKD Snowmakers has made a major impact on all levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes around the United States,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue Officer Michael O’Conor. “Our elite athletes access pre-season training thanks to the HKD snowguns putting down reliable early season snow at Copper Mountain. And HKD helps competitive skiers and snowboarders throughout the country gain access to terrain through its White to Gold program.”

As part of the partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, HKD Snowmakers created the White to Gold Program to help member clubs improve the reliability of their race venue through improved snowmaking. HKD understands that snowmaking is a significant investment and developed this program to alleviate the capital cost of snowmaking. The program includes discounts on snowmaking products to participating U.S. Ski & Snowboard member clubs and technical support from HKD. Clubs that have benefitted from the program include Burke Mountain Academy and Cochran’s Ski Area, which have produced U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team stars such as Mikaela Shiffrin and Ryan Cochran-Siegle.

“We’re excited to kick off our 10th year as the Official Snowmaking Supplier to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, especially with the Winter Olympics just around the corner,” says Charles Santry of HKD Snowmakers. “It’s always satisfying to work with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and help member clubs access affordable snowmaking through our White to Gold Program. Early season snow is always a game-changer for clubs and their aspiring athletes.”

For more information on HKD, please visit www.hkdsnowmakers.com.

CREATIVE ASSETS

Photos of U.S. Ski & Snowboard/HKD Snowmakers co-branded snowmakers for editorial use can be found here.

ABOUT HKD SNOWMAKERS  
HKD Snowmakers, founded in 1991, is a North American-based manufacturer that makes snowmaking simple, effective, and efficient. HKD products include air/water snowguns, fan guns, KLiK hydrants, and snowmaking controls, and automation software. The HKD team loves the outdoors, and champion the success of its mountain partners with affordable and dependable snow.

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 2021, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to 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 the team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Courtney Harkins, Elevate Communications/U.S. Ski & Snowboard, charkins@elevatecom.com

Mark Horton, HKD Snowmakers, mark@hkdsnowmakers.com

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named Staples Promotional Products (SPP), a division of Staples, Inc., as the official licensee managing its new line of branded merchandise, e-commerce website and its partners’ and affiliates’ promotional merchandise programs.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with SPP to bring U.S. Ski & Snowboard consumer merchandise to the next level,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue Officer Michael O’Conor. “The company’s industry-leading promotional products are creative and exciting, and this is the next step in branded merchandising and e-commerce for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. We’re also excited to offer an enhanced consumer shopping experience that will inspire fans to support the team with branded gear throughout the Olympic season and beyond.”

SPP has worked with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for nearly 30 years on sponsorship merchandise programs. Its experienced Olympic merchandising team will continue to work closely with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to expand their curated seasonal retail collections enabling fans to proudly show their support for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team as the athletes go for gold at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.

“Staples is thrilled to be part of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard family,” said Donna Armstrong, Director of Olympic Partnerships at SPP. “As we lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games, SPP looks forward to supporting the fans with exciting U.S. Ski & Snowboard merchandise. I have been a part of the Olympic and Paralympic movement since 1999 and I couldn’t be more delighted to partner with one of the premier U.S. National Governing Bodies.”

Hosted on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s website, the e-commerce microsite will include branded retail collections of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, and a branded accessory line.

To see the new offering from the cooperative, please visit shop.usskiandsnowboard.org.

About Staples Promo
Staples Promotional Products designs custom merchandise experiences that help businesses project their brands into minds and marketplaces around the world. Their online platforms improve business, brand, and engagement outcomes for small and large businesses alike; including over 300 Fortune-ranked enterprises. Clients depend on them to protect and enhance their powerful brands while lowering the total cost of branded merchandise and increasing supply chain compliance and transparency. Staples Promotional Products is a wholly-owned division of Staples Inc.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the U.S.A, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2021, competing in seven teams; Alpine, Cross-Country, Freeski, Freestyle, Snowboard, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the U.S.A, 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:
Courtney Harkins, Elevate Communications/U.S. Ski & Snowboard – charkins@elevatecom.com, 978-314-1019

U.S. Ski & Snowboard today announced a multi-year sponsorship with Textron Aviation Inc., the world’s leading general aviation company, as an official General Aviation Aircraft and Aviation Products Sponsor.

With today’s announcement during the 2021 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada, Textron Aviation also revealed a special way to commemorate the sponsorship and an opportunity for customers to engage in the support of these elite winter athletes. The company unveiled a special-edition U.S. Ski & Snowboard interior and exterior design available for new Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft. A portion of the proceeds from every U.S. Ski & Snowboard-inspired aircraft sold will go directly to the organization to support athletic programs.

“We are so excited to welcome Textron Aviation as a sponsor,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue Officer Michael O’Conor. “Their support will touch every aspect of our organization, from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation to supporting our athletics, to professional aviation career advancement for a number of our athletes.”

This sponsorship connects two organizations, both known for their passion and leadership within their respective fields. Among the sponsorship package elements are providing transportation for athletes during training and competition and supporting the mission of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its foundation through multiple events and programs

In addition, Textron Aviation’s sponsorship includes supporting the aviation careers of four U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team athletes as Textron Aviation Ambassadors, including U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes Jackie Wiles and Luke Winters; U.S. Cross Country Team athlete Logan Hanneman; and U.S. Freestyle Team aerials athlete Justin Schoenefeld. Winters, Schoenefeld, and Hanneman currently hold Private Pilot certificates, and Wiles currently holds a Student Pilot Certificate. Textron Aviation will provide resources for all four and others to achieve additional pilot certificates and ratings as they each further their aviation careers. 

“We are thrilled to support athletes of all ages across the country, many of whom have already discovered the benefits of private aviation in reaching mountainous training destinations,” said Christi Tannahill, the company’s senior vice president, customer experience. “We’re proud to offer a visibly stunning reminder of our sponsorship through a special U.S. Ski & Snowboard design is worthy of a medal.”

Textron Aviation will also sponsor the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation, including the New York Gold Medal Gala, which is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. In addition, Textron Aviation’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Flight Operations, Lannie O’Bannion, will join the Foundation’s Ambassador Program. O’Bannion will offer his professional and technical experience to the organization while engaging with the organization’s leadership, athletes and board of directors.

About Textron Aviation 

We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 90 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

For more information, visit www.txtav.com  |  www.defense.txtav.com  |  www.scorpionjet.com. 

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 2021, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined and ski jumping. In addition to 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

Images featuring U.S.  Ski & Snowboard athletes Luke Winters, Logan Hanneman, Jackie Wiles and Justin Schoenfeld.

For more information contact:
Tom Horrocks
Marketing/Communications, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
tom.horrocks@usskiandsnowboard.org
(802) 770-8985

Kate Flavin
Communications Specialist, Textron Aviation
kflavin@txtav.com
(316) 517-1419