vancouver olympics -team usa

Burton Snowboards are partnering with Gore-Tex to provide Team USA (expl/del-YEAH) snowboard uniforms in 2010. Burton designed the 2006 uniform too, a pinstripe (as in baseball) design. Greg Dacyshyn, Senior Vice President of Creative at Burton, quoted below on the 2010 outerwear design, which will be revealed once the U.S. Snowboarding Team is officially announced. [Team USA roster set as of 9/15/09 pressy, team will be announced January]

"The inspiration behind the U.S. Snowboarding Team outerwear for the 2010 Olympics is classic Americana," says Dacyshyn. "Although we are creating a uniform, our first objective is to express the individuality of snowboarding. As such, we are taking vintage American looks and interpreting them in a very unique and unexpected fashion. Finally, we will ensure that all of the highest technical attributes are maintained in the pieces, so that performance and function are not jeopardized. The result will be a progressive and fresh look that challenges the former conservatism of the Olympics."

An Americana mix of denim, plaid, leather (cowhide elbow patches... ok too much) and treated-wool would be great to see. Slightly underwhelmed by the BurtonxCarhartt offerings last year have to say, but getting that oh-so-recognizable brown duck material on the goggles or gloves would be icing... Something like below?? [In reality goggles and gloves are rider choice.] All items below from the Burton family except the (killer-never-saw-before) Kinco gloves. Add a lined chamois or flannel shirt, pocket bandana, make them logger-style pants and done. Bosh. [Reminder; Ralph Lauren is the official outfitter of the 2010 US Olympic Team, responsible for opening ceremony garb, press junkets etc.]


Pants: The Shark Denim Pant.
GORE-TEX® Performance Shell 3-Layer Denim with DRYRIDE Fabrication
Fully Taped Seams with GORE-SEAM® Tape
Link ZIP™ Jacket-to-Pant Interface
Boot Gaiter with Cuff-to-Boot Interface, Articulated Knees
Leg Lifts™ to protect your pants from Parking Lot Carnage

Jacket: 3L Gore-Tex Commissary Denim
Fully Taped Seams with GORE-SEAM® Tape
GORE-TEX® Performance Shell [3-Layer]
Removable Contour™ Hood

or

Jacket: White Collection Division (Factory Plaid)
DRYRIDE Durashell™ 2-Layer Coated Fabric [10,000MM, 10,000G]
Fully Taped Seams, Mesh-Lined Pit Zips™
Thermacore™ Insulation [60G Throughout]
Fulltime Hood

All snowboard events for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be held at Cypress Mountain, 30ish minutes from downtown Vancouver, Canada. For a bunch of reasons I am looking forward to watching the (official name) snowboardcross (but still call it ) boardercross. To recap the Olympic rules on this one; four racers start down a course of jumps, ramps and obstacles. The fastest two racers from each heat move on to the next round. Set the dvr now.

February 15, 2010
10:30 - Men's Snowboard Cross Qualification
14:00 - Men's Snowboard Cross 1/8 Finals
14:26 - Men's Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
14:42 - Men's Snowboard Cross Semifinals
Medal Event 14:53 - Men's Snowboard Cross Finals

February 16, 2010
10:00 - Ladies' Snowboard Cross Qualification
12:15 - Ladies' Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
12:29 - Ladies' Snowboard Cross Semifinals
Medal Event 12:40 - Ladies' Snowboard Cross Finals