It’s A Vuarnet Day For U.S. Ski & Snowboard As Iconic Eyewear Brand Becomes Official Supplier
Vuarnet, the iconic French eyewear brand, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Olympic national governing body of skiing and snowboarding in the United States, announced today a new agreement to become an Official Eyewear Supplier of the U.S. Ski Team.
Vuarnet’s alpine heritage and Olympic legacy run deep. Founded in 1957, Vuarnet’s Legend was born when French ski racer Jean Vuarnet won the Olympic downhill at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games wearing the original 02 model with SkilynxTM lenses, a disruptive new technology. Vuarnet has been crafting exceptional eyewear ever since then in its factory near Paris, France, which has received the prestigious Living Heritage Company (EPV) label. Vuarnet was also a sponsor of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
Offering the highest level of protection, Vuarnet mineral glass lenses provide absolute clarity in the intense alpine environment. Passionate about quality and innovation, Vuarnet is proud to protect athletes’ sight when it matters most. New for the brand since reentering the U.S. market in 2016 is the introduction of goggles and an entire sports collection, featuring bio-nylon lenses designed to meet the needs of the world’s best athletes and athletes at heart.
Vuarnet’s shared love of sport at all levels aligns with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s mission in developing the future of competitive skiing and snowboarding.
“We are proud to enter into this new partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and reintroduce ourselves to the competitive U.S. snowsports world,” said Vuarnet CEO David Belhassen. “The mountains are in our roots and DNA, and we look forward to supporting athletes as they pursue greatness on and off the slopes. Our founder, Jean, was all about innovation in style. We are happy to align in our shared values of hard work, perseverance and sheer love of snowsports and the mountains.”
“Vuarnet and skiing are synonymous. The brand enjoys a great history on the slopes, and we are thrilled to partner with them to introduce their world-class eyewear to a whole new generation of athletes and snowsports enthusiasts,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue Officer Michael O’Conor. “Vuarnet’s commitment to craftsmanship and innovation mirrors our athletes’ pursuit of excellence. We could not be more thrilled to welcome them to the U.S. Ski Team family.”
Vuarnet is proud to bring on athletes across disciplines as part of its roster and looks forward to building the relationship with U.S. Ski & Snowboard year over year.
###
About Vuarnet
Vuarnet is the iconic French eyewear mountaineering brand founded in France by Jean Vuarnet in 1957.
Jean Vuarnet, a talented French skier, won the Olympic downhill gold medal at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics. A great lover of mountains and nature, he notably created the Avoriaz ski resort in 1966, the first French resort without cars, with an avant-garde vision of eco-responsibility.
Today, Vuarnet produces its mineral glass lenses in its own French factory, using traditional manufacturing methods unchanged since its inception. Vuarnet mineral glasses, 100% natural and recyclable, provide the best protection against sunlight reflection thanks to LynxTM technology. Since 1957, the brand has offered timeless classic iconic frames that are still bestsellers. Vuarnet embraces its roots in 1960s skiing, nostalgia for craftsmanship, and the art of living in the French mountains.
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 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
Media Contacts
Vuarnet
Shannon Welch
Chapter 2 Agency
shannon@chapter2agency.com
U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Courtney Harkins
Elevate Communications
charkins@elevatecom.com