Jamaica Ski Team to Wear Spyder Race Apparel
Boulder, CO - November 13, 2008
BOULDER, Colo., November 11, 2008 -- Spyder Active Sports, the world's leading ski apparel brand, now supports the world's newest national ski program, the Jamaica Ski Team. Errol Kerr is currently the sole member of the Jamaica Ski Team, but the small roster doesn't limit Jamaica's chances of medals at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Kerr has incredibly diverse talent on the slopes; he's competitive at an almost unheard-of discipline range including Giant Slalom, Downhill, Slalom, Super-G, Combined, and Skiercross. That's analogous to Michael Phelps' swimming multiple stroke races, sometimes competing in several individual events within the same day. Not only does Kerr have the athleticism to race in such a wide variety of disciplines, his talent is such that he has a real shot of medaling in skiercross. He is one to watch on the road to Vancouver.
Born of a Jamaican father and American mother, Kerr was groomed for competition on the Squaw Valley race program. Since his childhood, his love of the Caribbean island spawned dreams of representing Jamaica in international competition. As Kerr's alpine race skills grew, he realized the sport may be the avenue to fulfill his dreams. An invitation from the US Ski and Snowboard Association helped make his decision and chart his Jamaican journey.
In the winter of 2007-2008, he was the youngest of four athletes invited on the first U.S. Skiercross Team that includes ex-World Cup skiers like Casey Pucket, Jake Fiala and Spyder-sponsored Daron Rahlves. After considering the US call, he ultimately declined, opting instead to place his focus on Jamaica, and set out to make reality happen. Kerr, his coach Raul Guisado, ski technician Eric Holmer, operations director Pat Andrews and mother Catherine Kerr constructed the team under the direction of the Jamaican Ski Federation. The US Skiercross invitation upped the ante of his competitiveness, and instead of solely focusing on alpine events, Kerr decided to throw skiercross into his repetoire. Now, not only had he made the decision to carry the weight of a national team, he increased his competitive breadth beyond most athlete's simple consideration.
Recognizing Kerr's talent and legitimate medal threat for skiercross at the 2010 Olympics, Spyder signed on to the Jamaican Ski Team without hesitation. Phil Shettig, Spyder's Director of Product, spearheaded the relationship with Kerr. "The opportunity for Spyder to work with Errol Kerr and the Jamaica Ski Team is awesome," Shettig said. "Errol's drive to make his dream reality fits in perfectly with Spyder and our Speedfreaks team grass roots ski racing initiative. Errol is a unique athletic talent and will no doubt blow minds inside and out of the ski racing establishment. We are excited to support him as he breaks new ground in winter sports."
Kerr will begin wearing Spyder product in the 2008-2009 race season. Boldly-designed Jamaican-flag graphics and coloration, along with Kerr's style input, convey an amicable, nationalistic vibe, similar to the ubiquitous mood on the laid-back island. The collection includes performance-driven race suits proven in World Cup and Olympic venues, freeski-inspired outerwear, and lifestyle souvenir products that will appeal to Jamaican culture and ski race fans around the world.
About Spyder Active Sports
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary year, Spyder revolutionized ski apparel in 1978 with a padded slalom sweater designed "for racing, by racers." Renown for integration of high-tech fabrication, function and fashion, Spyder is a worldwide leader of four season, mountain-based apparel and related accessories, and is the choice of the US Alpine and Canadian Alpine World Cup Ski Teams. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Spyder is distributed in over 50 countries worldwide.
In 2008 Spyder acquired Cloudveil Mountain Works, credited as starting the modern day soft shell revolution. Cloudveil draws inspiration from its home base of Jackson, Wyoming, building innovative and functional apparel for the outdoor, snow sports, fly fishing and casual apparel markets. For more information, visit www.spyder.com and www.cloudveil.com
BOULDER, Colo., November 11, 2008 -- Spyder Active Sports, the world's leading ski apparel brand, now supports the world's newest national ski program, the Jamaica Ski Team. Errol Kerr is currently the sole member of the Jamaica Ski Team, but the small roster doesn't limit Jamaica's chances of medals at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Kerr has incredibly diverse talent on the slopes; he's competitive at an almost unheard-of discipline range including Giant Slalom, Downhill, Slalom, Super-G, Combined, and Skiercross. That's analogous to Michael Phelps' swimming multiple stroke races, sometimes competing in several individual events within the same day. Not only does Kerr have the athleticism to race in such a wide variety of disciplines, his talent is such that he has a real shot of medaling in skiercross. He is one to watch on the road to Vancouver.
Born of a Jamaican father and American mother, Kerr was groomed for competition on the Squaw Valley race program. Since his childhood, his love of the Caribbean island spawned dreams of representing Jamaica in international competition. As Kerr's alpine race skills grew, he realized the sport may be the avenue to fulfill his dreams. An invitation from the US Ski and Snowboard Association helped make his decision and chart his Jamaican journey.
In the winter of 2007-2008, he was the youngest of four athletes invited on the first U.S. Skiercross Team that includes ex-World Cup skiers like Casey Pucket, Jake Fiala and Spyder-sponsored Daron Rahlves. After considering the US call, he ultimately declined, opting instead to place his focus on Jamaica, and set out to make reality happen. Kerr, his coach Raul Guisado, ski technician Eric Holmer, operations director Pat Andrews and mother Catherine Kerr constructed the team under the direction of the Jamaican Ski Federation. The US Skiercross invitation upped the ante of his competitiveness, and instead of solely focusing on alpine events, Kerr decided to throw skiercross into his repetoire. Now, not only had he made the decision to carry the weight of a national team, he increased his competitive breadth beyond most athlete's simple consideration.
Recognizing Kerr's talent and legitimate medal threat for skiercross at the 2010 Olympics, Spyder signed on to the Jamaican Ski Team without hesitation. Phil Shettig, Spyder's Director of Product, spearheaded the relationship with Kerr. "The opportunity for Spyder to work with Errol Kerr and the Jamaica Ski Team is awesome," Shettig said. "Errol's drive to make his dream reality fits in perfectly with Spyder and our Speedfreaks team grass roots ski racing initiative. Errol is a unique athletic talent and will no doubt blow minds inside and out of the ski racing establishment. We are excited to support him as he breaks new ground in winter sports."
Kerr will begin wearing Spyder product in the 2008-2009 race season. Boldly-designed Jamaican-flag graphics and coloration, along with Kerr's style input, convey an amicable, nationalistic vibe, similar to the ubiquitous mood on the laid-back island. The collection includes performance-driven race suits proven in World Cup and Olympic venues, freeski-inspired outerwear, and lifestyle souvenir products that will appeal to Jamaican culture and ski race fans around the world.
About Spyder Active Sports
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary year, Spyder revolutionized ski apparel in 1978 with a padded slalom sweater designed "for racing, by racers." Renown for integration of high-tech fabrication, function and fashion, Spyder is a worldwide leader of four season, mountain-based apparel and related accessories, and is the choice of the US Alpine and Canadian Alpine World Cup Ski Teams. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Spyder is distributed in over 50 countries worldwide.
In 2008 Spyder acquired Cloudveil Mountain Works, credited as starting the modern day soft shell revolution. Cloudveil draws inspiration from its home base of Jackson, Wyoming, building innovative and functional apparel for the outdoor, snow sports, fly fishing and casual apparel markets. For more information, visit www.spyder.com and www.cloudveil.com
