Sperry® And The America's Cup Announce New Partnership

The American Lifestyle Brand Becomes Official Footwear Partner for 35th America's Cup

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Sperry

Dec 09, 2015, 09:00 ET

ORACLE TEAM USA athletes put their Sperry performance shoes to the test

ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill and his teammate Joey Newton check out their new Sperry shoes

ORACLE TEAM USA athletes try on their new high-performance Sperry shoes

LEXINGTON, Mass., Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sperry, the creator of the world's first boat shoe, proudly announces a new partnership with the 35th America's Cup, the most prestigious and technologically demanding sailing competition in the world. Effective immediately, Sperry is the official footwear partner of the America's Cup and the official footwear supplier for ORACLE TEAM USA.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7700251-sperry-america-s-cup-partnership/

"Partnering with the America's Cup is our boldest adventure yet. Sperry is built for the sea, and in our 80 years we've continually provided tools for nautical adventure and created advanced performance technology for the world's best watermen," said Rick Blackshaw, President of Sperry. "This game-changing partnership underscores our commitment to intrepid athletes all over the world and we're thrilled to support this exhilarating and progressive sport."

In seeking a competitive advantage, America's Cup athletes look to footwear that will help them maintain agility and mobility on the high-performance catamarans used in competition. Sperry will work together with ORACLE TEAM USA to support and improve performance by developing a special shoe for use during training and racing.

"Until you experience it yourself, there's no way to describe the importance of the right shoe on your feet during the most intense moments of competition," said ORACLE TEAM USA skipper and helmsman Jimmy Spithill. "Sperry is listening to our candid input in real-time and customizing the ultimate performance shoe that will hopefully lead us to another victory in 2017. Sperry's support of our sport, along with giving us the tools for success, allows us to be the best athletes we can be."

In support of this partnership, Sperry will release a limited edition America's Cup Collection including specialty shoes, apparel and accessories.

"This race can be determined by the smallest advantages, including the right footwear to keep the sailors grounded when the boats are going three times the wind speed," added America's Cup Chief Marketing Officer Antonio Bertone. "It is partnerships like this that make the race better and we're very happy to have them on board as we embark on future odysseys."

ABOUT SPERRY
Sperry^® was founded in 1935 by avid sailor, inventor and intrepid explorer Paul Sperry. From the invention of the world's first boat shoe to a full collection of sea-tested lifestyle products, Sperry offers the tools for life's adventures. Sperry is distributed around the world at independent and department stores in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America, Sperry specialty retail stores and online. Sperry is a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel. To learn more, visit Sperry.com.

ABOUT THE AMERICA'S CUP
The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport, dating back to 1851, when the yacht America, after which the trophy is named, beat the best of the British fleet in a race around the Isle of Wight, U.K. The trophy won on that day was donated in trust through a Deed of Gift and has since become a symbol of immense achievement. It is perhaps the hardest trophy in sport to win. In it's 165-year history, only four countries have managed to win the America's Cup. The America's Cup is currently held by the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco. To learn more visit AmericasCup.com.

SOURCE Sperry