USSA honors entire supplier pool with Doc desRoches Award

USSA honors entire supplier pool with Doc desRoches Award{mosimage}LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding and SnowSports Industries America have recognized USSA’s entire supplier pool with the Doc desRoches Award. The annual award was presented Wednesday (Jan. 25) at the SIA.06 Snowsports Trade Show in Las Vegas.

The Doc desRoches Award is presented annually to an SIA member and U.S. Ski Team or U.S. Snowboarding official supplier for its support and integration of team and athletes into its marketing campaigns. The award is named in honor of the late desRoches, who was a pioneer in the early formation of SIA and was instrumental in the development of the ski team’s early national fundraising efforts. It was presented to Rossignol in 2004 and Atomic in 2005.

‘We have a goal of being Best in the World in 2006’ said U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding President and CEO Bill Marolt. ‘One of the most important elements in our athletes’ achieving that success is the support we have from our official industry suppliers. And while this is unusual to present the Doc desRoches Award to an entire group, we feel strongly that without the financial, technical and marketing support of this group, it would not be possible to achieve our goal!’

The nearly 50 suppliers to U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding provide valuable cutting-edge technology in supplying athletes, as well as service and support. Retail product from suppliers carries the U.S. Ski Team or U.S. Snowboarding brand, with athletes and the team’s brands often featured in advertising and other marketing materials.

“We are very proud to be suppliers to the team, especially in an Olympic year’ said David Auer, president of Fischer Sports USA, one of the team’s suppliers. ‘We all recognize the importance competition has in the development of products for the non-competitive participants in snowsports.

“For the team and SIA to recognize all of us with the Doc desRoches Award is a terrific gesture acknowledging all the work done in non Olympic years to make the United States Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding the best team in the world at the Olympics.”

‘SIA is proud to recognize these members who have played a significant role in supporting the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams,” said SIA President David Ingemie. “We are very excited to couple this announcement along with that of the official U.S. Olympic alpine team at our show and acknowledge those athletes and suppliers in their quest to be the ‘Best in the World.'”

U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes are enjoying strong seasons going into the Feb. 10-26 Olympic Winter Games in Torino. 78 skiers and snowboarders will represent the USA in Torino, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the medal events in the Games. Nearly 200 million individual Americans are expected to watch skiing and snowboarding on NBC and its affiliated networks.

Doc desRoches Award winners
Alpina International
Atomic
Barry *
Bolle
Briko (Type 20)
Burton
DeWalt *
Dominator
DW Fitness *
Dynastar
Elan
Exel Sports
Finn-sisu Marwe *
Fischer
Giro Sport
Head USA
Homenkol
K2
Lange
LISKI
Look
Madshus
Marker
Nordica
One-way *
Ortema *
POC
Reliable Racing Supply
Reusch
Rossignol
Rudy Project *
Salomon
Scott
Select Licensing Group
Ski Metrix *
Skiers Edge *
Spyder
Sun Valley Ski Tools
Swix Sport
Tecnica
Toko AG
Tommy Hilfiger *
Tryolia
UVEX
Volkl
Wintersteiger
World Cup Supply *

* Suppliers who are not SIA members