for the extreme lazy
Cross Sportswear of Sweden and superstar free skier Jon Olsson have agreed on a long term deal making Jon the company's poster skier and a member of the company's development team.
In competition with several well known international ski wear brands, Cross in July 2007 clenched the deal with Jon Olsson, arguably the World's most well known and respected new school free skier. Jon will ski in Cross products and Cross will later also introduce a limited Jon Olsson signature line for future seasons.
"Naturally we are very happy to work with Jon," says Cross creative director Peter Blom. "Not only will he be a great ambassador for Cross, but more importantly; his personal interest and sense for sports and fashion will be of great importance for us in the development of new garments in the future. Jon will not only be involved in his own limited signature line, but will also take part in the overall
work with the design team."
Cross has since the take over by Peak Performance founder Peter Blom in 2003, invested heavily in upgrading style and functionality in its products. Combining highest functionality with modern fashion style influences, based on Scandinavian simplicity and heritage, is the brand's motto.
The deal with Jon Olsson manifests the rapid rise of the brand to a leading international ski wear brand. Cross already has distribution in 15 countries in Europe, North America and Australia/New Zealand and
looks to add more countries in the near future.
For Jon the deal makes it possible to continue to ski and compete on the top level and combine it with his interest in fashion and style. "I have been following the rise of Cross for some time and I am impressed by the work of the design team," says Jon Olsson. “I had a lot of options on where to go but the fact that Cross is based out of Sweden and represents a style that I feel is a perfect fit, and also that I would be able to work with the brand and not just be a sponsored rider, were two of the deciding factors. Working with the design team and with my own signature line will also be a very exciting challenge. Clothes and fashion has been a great interest since I was very young."
Jon Olsson - A short biography
Jon Olsson, born 1982 in Mora, Sweden, is arguably the best all around new school free skier in the world. He is a trained ski racer, former member of the Swedish Jr. National alpine race team, and since the age of 16 a professional free skier.
In addition to appearing regularly in international ski magazines and the most prestigious ski films, Jon has racked up numerous wins in all disciplines the world over. His accolades include a nomination for Male Skier of the Year at the ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards (2002) and was the winner of the Powder Magazine Reader Poll and Video Awards (2003).
At the most prestigious Action Sports Event in the World, The World X Games, Jon double medaled in both Slopestyle and SuperPipe, making him one of two athletes at the to double medal four years in a row ( 2002-2005). This also makes him tied with Tanner Hall for the most skiing medals at WX (8).
Not only is he a new school freerider, Jon is also recognized as one of the best all around skiers in the world, something he confirmed once again when he won the prestigious Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships in Riksgränsen, Sweden in May 2004. In addition to spending ample time in front of the camera for productions such as Poor Boyz and Matchstick Productions, Olsson hit the regular competition circuit and won the Slopestyle at the US Open in Copper Mountain 2007
Jon Olsson is one of the best all-around skiers--and one of the hardest working--in the industry. This Swede continues to show that hard work does pay off, and his own event, the Jon Olsson Invitational, is one of the most coveted in the world.
Jon is a true superstar, and his interest in fashion and style has made him an icon on and off the hill. Jon has been featured in ads in fashion magazines and in 2005, he walked the catwalk alongside supermodel Helena Christensen. Jon was also named one of Sweden's sexiest men by Elle magazine.
But it is his signature, super smooth skiing style that will make him a legend.
