-
For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.
KAPPA JOINS U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD AS OFFICIAL TECHNICAL APPAREL
- Thread starter Philpug
- Start date
Why not? Kappa do all that for the FISI too. Are they concerned they won't get the same focus from the supplier, or is it "just" about independence within the organisation?
Could it have as much to do with the European market? The US ski team is a brand in Europe. The US itself is a brand in Europe. Enough for Energiapura to do stars and stripes jackets without any official connection. The US skiers themselves are media savvy, and they've had dominant individual athletes constantly in the European press for years now. Did the US as a whole team wearing Spyder shift the gear? Maybe not, never saw it advertised that way in Europe. But the media presence of Miller, Vonn, Shiffrin?
Another reason for this wild speculation - the US certainly has the largest number of skiers, but to what extent do they see skiing as a fashion show to the extent it is in Europe?
And to compare with individual sponsorships - how much pasta sauce does ski racing sell in the USA?
I think many US skiers see ski clothing as technical gear, like skis, not as fashion. (Obviously technical gear IS a fashion, so lots of gray area there.) They want to show off how ready they are for backcountry / bad weather / deep snow. It has less than nothing to do with racing or conventional notions of fashion.
You calling them boys out there posers?
That was my impression. Your idea of an accessory is duct tape. Europe is more fashion-oriented, particularly Italy. Not just thinking Bognor and Sportalm, but including club ski racing, from what I can see. Compare an Arctica catalogue with one by Energiapura or Vitalini.
If he's not, I will :-D
And ski racing is used to sell stuff in Europe. Never mind ski clothing - it's used in mainstream ads for noodles, frozen veg, chocolate, fruit juice, watches, beer, insurance. Okay, thinking more of Austria here, and can't think it shifts as much as the federations imagine, but there's people skiing bolt upright with their heels pressed together wearing full knuckle protection by LEKI.
Kappa are getting another slice of ski racing plus America and all that comes with it. In Europe, you can use that to sell all sorts. Rough trousers, crap food, even a European ski resort. Pre-Bond, Sölden sold themselves on the USST. Do you hear as much about partnerships with the Norwegians?
Pure speculation. But while you see Kappa gear in Italy, it's not like everyone's wearing it, despite the FISI contract. Haven't seen it in Austria, so that means Germans aren't buying it either. Maybe they want to change that. Have certainly seen it in other sports - big global company comes along to a sport they weren't involved in, lands national team contracts and suddenly it's stocked in all the shops.
Watch for a LOT more USST spyder gear appearing on Sideline swap. The team and all the associated hangers on always sold at least some of the gear but usually kept some previous season gear for early season training. Now of course they will need to be in the new Kappa branded gear
Last edited:
Rudi Riet
AKA songfta AKA randomduck - a USSS coach, as well
SkiTalk Tester
Contributor
SkiTalk Supporter
USSS has been unloading their Spyder stuff fairly quickly. They distributed a nice 6-panel baseball cap (full USST branding and the blue camo) to all attendees at my L200 clinic at Hood this July.
All the while Kappa has "lost" the honour to sponsor the national team in favour of Armani...
A bitter legal battle is being had...expect to see the italian athletes going around half dressed...tee hee!
A bitter legal battle is being had...expect to see the italian athletes going around half dressed...tee hee!
Is this really a bad thing, tho?
I personally preferred the Kappa uniforms, for general appearance and for the colour choices. Never completely liked the uniforms Armani EA7 has equipped the italian teams in the recent past (Olympics etc ).
But...this is a bu$in€$$ decision...
But...this is a bu$in€$$ decision...
Fair enough, some of those were *cringe*.
When the entire team looks like they're pregnant with flag babies, it's not good.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2015
- Posts
- 24,928
probably?
GB X KAPPA THE NEW 23 COLLECTION
Celebrating our first Gumball 3000 rally in the Middle East - the all new collection designed by Gumball 3000 Founder Maximillion Cooper collaborates once again with Kappa. This is the Italian sportswear brands fourth year as the Official Apparel Partner for the rally. SHOP THE COLLECTION
gumball3000.com
Coming in a bit late…I’ve had a season with Kappas kit, the 6cento 611 jacket and pants, and I even managed a few days in a USSS issue jacket. Well, I like them. The fit is perfect for me, not too long or bagged out, yet cut very nicely where needed. The quality of the build is excellent, with a strong feature set. I simply can’t find fault with this stuff and I’ve skied a lot of it over the years. US distribution is just about zero at the moment other than the US web site, maybe once he ball gets rolling who knows. For now my sourced in Italy 611 is my go-to when skiing the resort. Cheers all.
