U.S. Ski & Snowboard revealed the official Olympic and Paralympic uniform in partnership with Kappa, the team's official technical apparel partner, ahead of final preparations for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
For the first time since the 1980s, all athletes on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, which includes Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, aerials, moguls, freeski, ski jumping, nordic combined, and para Alpine, as well as athletes on the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team and Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team, will be outfitted in the same uniform. The collection invokes American identity through the traditional red, white and blue color palette with symbolic detailing like American flag patches and white stars embedded throughout each piece.
The collection takes cues from the memorable uniforms American athletes wore at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Bands of white stars run up and down the arms and legs of each uniform, similar to the blue and red stripes running along the arms of the 1984 Alpine skiing uniforms, while bold "USA" lettering is featured on each garment, echoing the maximalist aesthetic of the 1980s.
“This uniform represents everything we want our teams to feel as they arrive in Milano Cortina: united, confident and ready to perform at the highest level,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, in a statement. “Working closely with Kappa, we were able to create a collection that delivers world-class technical performance while celebrating the pride, history and identity of our team. For the first time since the 1980s, every Olympic and Paralympic athlete under U.S. Ski & Snowboard will wear the same uniform, and that shared look reflects the strength of our athletes, our partnership and our collective pursuit of excellence on the world’s biggest stage.”
Each piece adheres to the technical necessities and design details suited to each sport, although the collection reflects a cohesive team through a shared color scheme and coordinated graphic designs. Kappa, an Italian sportswear brand known for combining retro style with technical sportswear heritage, played a creative role in developing key performance requirements for each competitive discipline to ensure peak comfort and execution.
"This partnership represents a defining moment in Kappa’s journey, firmly grounded in our heritage in winter sports," said Lorenzo Boglione, Vice President of Kappa owner Basic Net. "It reflects decades of research, technical expertise and design culture developed within the world of skiing."
The overall collection is an amalgam of sport-specific race suits, a technical anorak, a long color blocked jacket, and a jacket and pants set. Skiers will wear traditional race suits while snowboarders will wear a classic set consisting of a thick jacket and baggy snow pants. Lifestyle apparel and accessories such as shirts, pants, and winter gear accompany the collection.