Ted on Head and Rosko Sunglasses
HEAD can officially announce the arrival of another brilliant character – American Ted Ligety who has decided to resume his superb career with the Austrian company.
As well as being a spectacular gate specialist on the World Cup tour, Ligety has also been one of the most consistent athletes of the US team. He has had a significant number of top-10 finishes in the past, in several disciplines – including Giant Slalom, Slalom and even Super G. He achieved a strong 7th in the 2010 Overall standings, following up on his 9th place in 2009 and 5th place in 2008. The 25-year-old skier from Park City, Utah, clinched the giant slalom globe in both 2008 and 2010, and won a total of five races in that discipline. He also celebrated a Bronze medal in giant slalom at the 2009 World Ski Championships at Val d’Isère and Olympic Gold in the combined event at Sestriere / Turin four years ago.
Even as a junior at the age of only 10 years old, Ligety became notorious for hitting jumps and skiing powder with fervor and was given the nickname ‘Ted Shred’ from a Park City Ski Team coach. It was only natural that the name would stick with him throughout his senior career. After the 2006 Winter Games Ted proved his determination as a business man when he and an Italian business partner decided to launch ‘SHRED’, their very own eyewear, goggle, and helmet company.
Ted Ligety is pretty excited to compete for more medals and crystal globes alongside his very successful HEAD colleagues: “For sure, it’s a very thrilling challenge for me, I’m very happy to be part of the HEAD group of top skiers who have done so well in major events.”
“The supplier change is definitely a no-brainer for me as HEAD has proven its potential in producing great skis and efficient boots in all events, both with the ladies’ and the men’s team. I hope to be able to contribute strongly to HEAD’s success in coming years. My main goal is to finally bring my slalom back to the level of my giant slalom,” Ligety added.
HEAD is delighted with the arrival of the colorful young American who brings a new momentum to the HEAD team. “Ted has loads of energy and is a great character, he perfectly fits in our group,” says Rainer Salzgeber, Director of the HEAD Race Department.
“We believe he has a great potential to develop himself into a strong all-rounder,” Salzgeber also added. “He will help us to prepare a bright future for HEAD. We think he will be a very appealing role model for the younger generation. Ted’s input should also be crucial in improving our technical skis. He is very motivated too and together we can strive towards some major goals.”
HEAD’s CEO Johan Eliasch is more than delighted with Ligety joining the HEAD Racing Team. “Ted Ligety is an extremely talented racer. His fighting attitude and his spectacular style is unique” Mr. Eliasch said. “It’s important for us to be working with racers with strong personality, and Ted is a natural born HEAD REBEL. He is very exciting to watch and he has great potential – the testing results were tremendous – so I expect extraordinary results from Ted next season”
