AKRON—The U.S. Ski & Snowboarding Association has named Goodyear the "official tire" of the U.S. ski, snowboarding and freeskiing teams.
The partnership includes team athletes' traveling to their training destinations on top performing tires, Goodyear said, such as the Goodyear Ultra Grip winter tires and Goodyear Assurance tires.
Gary Melliere, general manager of sponsorships at Goodyear North America, said the relationship is natural fit because the associations' members strive to be the best in their sport.
A Goodyear spokesman explained that the company is not equipping team vehicles or athletes with its tires—unless they choose to use Goodyear tires. As for the designation "official tire" of the teams, the spokesman said Goodyear will reference this in marketing/advertising materials and will be featured at some upcoming ski/snowboard events.
The tire maker did not divulge any financial value or contract details of the deal.
The USSSA is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. It is the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing.