Spyder’s 33 Year Partnership Comes to an End

Photo: US Ski Team

The US Ski Team and Spyder have enjoyed one of the most enduring commercial partnerships in sports history. The 33-year alliance between the US Ski Team and Spyder started in 1989. Together, the two organizations have collaborated to produce years of outstanding results. Decade after decade, each participant contributed their best. The medals, globes, and victories they partnered to create are historic.

As they say, however, all good things must end. Spyder’s Brady Collings, Global Brand General Manager, comments, “Believe me when I say this is hard for me. I grew up a ski racer, and our association with the US Ski Team put us on the map. Now, I’ll run the company when the relationship ends. It is a bit sad.”

Introspection Brings Change

For a while, Spyder has been asking itself hard questions. Spyder’s introspection has compelled them to move in a new direction.

Collings remarks, “How do we best support the sport of skiing? Other than our commitment to the US team, we realized we had stopped listening and supporting our customers. Our goal, now, is to invest in the grassroots and cause-related initiatives that support the sport.”

Engaging With the Grassroots

Drew Roberts, Spyder’s Sports Marketing Manager, clarifies they are not reducing their commitment to ski racing but shifting priorities towards the grassroots.

Spyder has numerous initiatives to again engage with multiple levels of competitors. The Spyder Factory Team for junior athletes and a renewed commitment to the university teams, both NCAA and the 180 teams of the USCSSA are just two programs designed to support grassroots racers.

Cause-Related Issues

Spyder is also determined to align with the values of the younger consumer and believes it is the right thing to do.

Spyder has made choices concerning its cause-related initiative.

In an effort to bring diversity to the sport, Spyder has partnered with the National Brotherhood of Skiers. They will annually provide three additional multi-year scholarships to brotherhood skiers, supporting each athlete through high school. Spyder hopes to see more diversity someday on the national team, collegiate teams, and team staff.

Spyder is the first sports specialty brand to partner with Protect Our Winters. They believe they need to walk their talk and use environmentally sustainable materials in their entire line of new products.  

Spyder has committed to SOS Outreach, which “helps underserved youth gear up for life.” They help by donating their samples, returned items, and items they can’t sell.

Spyder’s 33-year relationship with the US Ski Team may have come to a close, but Collings says, “Spyder is excited about the future. We look to support all aspects of skiing. We are talking freeskiing, Alpine, and backcountry. We look to celebrate the sport, and we do it because, for many people, it’s not just a sport; it’s a lifestyle.”

Spyder’s official release to follow shortly.