World-Class Skier Lindsey Vonn Chooses Oakley Goggles and Sunglasses

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakley, Inc. today announced that Lindsey Vonn, the most dominant female skier in the world, has chosen to rely on the premium technologies of Oakley goggles and sunglasses to further her extraordinary skiing career. A devotee of Oakley performance and style, Vonn will be joining the company's global women's eyewear team. With Lindsey's World Championship titles, World Cup victories and Olympic gold, the partnership pairs the best in women's alpine skiing with the best in optics.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101026/LA89173)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101026/LA89173)

"I am thrilled to be with a brand so passionate about optics and protection," said Lindsey Vonn. "Oakley meets all my needs with a range of lens tints, and so much more. Medals are decided by hundredths of a second, so I need assurance that my vision is perfect every time I compete, no matter what the conditions. That's why Oakley was the obvious choice, and I wouldn't think of entering a competition with anything less."

"We are excited to have Lindsey join a team of world-class athletes that depend on our optics to compete at their best," said Scott Bowers, Oakley Senior VP of Marketing. "She represents unrivaled skill and unique style, and that combination makes her a perfect fit for the Oakley brand."

Bowers added, "Lindsey has chosen to rely on Oakley optical technology, and this aligns with our recent agreement with the U.S. Ski Team and our association with the U.S. Olympic Committee. We are thrilled to rejoin the U.S. Alpine pool as a supplier of premium performance products. Being involved once again with alpine ski racing and the World Cup adds to an already deep Oakley legacy in the many disciplines of skiing."

Oakley High Definition Optics® (HDO®) is a collection of optical technologies engineered with the demands of athletes like Lindsey in mind. HDO provides superior clarity, unrivaled impact protection and 100% UV filtering on and off the hill. Oakley offers a full spectrum of lens tints that allow athletes to precisely match optical performance with environmental conditions, and Lindsey will take full advantage of these innovations in World Cup competition and beyond.

Lindsey's talent was apparent at an early age and she began skiing competitively before she was 10 years old. Today she competes in five alpine ski disciplines including downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super G and women's super combined. In doing so, she has earned two Olympic medals and achieved 33 International Skiing Federation (FIS) World Cup victories including three consecutive titles (2008, 2009 and 2010). Most recently, Lindsey was awarded two 2010 ESPYs for "Best Female Olympic Athlete" and "Best Female Athlete."

As an elite athlete, Lindsey relies on Oakley products, and this further underscores the superiority of unparalleled innovations that have rewarded the company's decades in optical research and development. With her choice of Oakley for performance goggles and sunglasses, Lindsey has made a commitment to be part of the Oakley family through the next Winter Olympics and beyond.

Visit Oakley.com to learn more about the company's performance innovations and to view updates on Lindsey's career including competition results, a dedicated profile and more.

About Oakley, Inc.

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is continually seeking problems, solving them with inventions and wrapping those inventions in art. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with innovations that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is famed for its insuperable lens technologies such as High Definition Optics® (HDO®) which is incorporated into all Oakley sun and prescription eyewear, and goggles. Oakley has extended its leadership position as the world's leading sports eyewear brand into apparel, footwear and accessories collections. Laser focused on the consumer, Oakley has both men's and women's product lines that target Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX). Additional information is available at Oakley.com.

SOURCE Oakley, Inc.