Red Gerard Joins Dakine Athlete Team
Olympic Gold Medalist Red Gerard will be decked out head-to-toe in Dakine essentials moving forward
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 2, 2024) — Dakine, a trusted apparel and accessory company
in the snow-sports industry for over two decades, welcomes Red Gerard to the
Professional Athlete Team. Red Gerard is known for his smooth style even on the most
technical of tricks, whether he is representing the United States on the Olympic slopestyle
course, where he won a gold medal in the PyeongChang Winter Games in 2018 at age 17,
or in the backcountry detonating pillow lines.
“He’s the real deal. Red threads the needle between exuding contagious joy when he rides
while also displaying a competitive edge that turns on with just a flip of a switch,” says
Dakine Vice President of Global Marketing Nick Meistrell. “We’re thrilled for him to join the
Dakine ohana and usher the brand into an exciting new zone. Even without Red’s medals
and championships, his video segments and ability in the backcountry make him one of
the best to ever do it.”
Gerard added to his hardware collection this past season by earning an X Games gold
medal in slopestyle to complement his Olympic Championship and numerous World cup and Dew Tour wins. This summer Gerard will log time on the golf course or in the lineup at a
handful of southern California surf spots.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Silverton, Colorado, Gerard has seven siblings.
His family prioritized time in the mountains and challenging comfort zones. The entire
Gerard clan is often found at competitions ringing cowbells in full support of the
snowboard champion.
“Put all the accomplishments and accolades aside,” says Executive Vice President and
General Manager of Sports and Active at Marquee Brands, Dakine’s parent company, Peter
Maule, “Red’s incredibly well respected throughout the industry for his integrity, passion,
and work ethic. Having him part of our team and helping continue our product
development is going to be amazing.”
From a launch standpoint, Gerard is rocking Dakine’s Poacher R.A.S. Vest. This go-to piece
has been an essential part of the pro rider’s kit as he has been scouring backcountry
terrain that requires avalanche safety gear. Trusted and worn by every athlete during
Natural Selection, a booming annual snowboarding competition that attracts the best
riders in the world, the Poacher R.A.S Vest has been one of the first things Gerard packs
when headed on a snowboard trip.
Additionally, Dakine travel gear has already earned Gerard’s stamp of approval in the early
days of this burgeoning partnership. As he travels around the globe to cities and mountain
towns searching for surf breaks and golf courses, and running through airports, Gerard has
been sporting Dakine’s top-of-the-line Low Roller Snowboard Bag and Boot Pack DLX 75.
“Getting to know the team behind such quality products and being a part of the process to
see what works and what doesn’t have always been interesting to me,” says Red Gerard.
“That gets me really excited.”
Gerard is not joining just any team. Dakine boasts a stacked roster of riders ranging from
snowboard legend Jamie Anderson and TGR wunderkind Kai Jones to one of the world’s top
ranked surfers Jack Robinson and mountain bike icon Graham Agassiz. Gerard brings a
fresh flare to the rider team as the youngest male U.S. Olympian to capture gold in 90
years.
“I grew up watching so much surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, biking, and anything
action sport related so to be a part of a company that has their hands in all of it is just like a
dream,” says Gerard. “I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.”