Head moves winter division to Colorado

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Courtesy of Boulder Convention and Visitors BureauWelcome to Boulder, Colo.

Head USA announced Monday that it will be moving the sports equipment manufacturer's winter division from Norwalk, Conn., to Boulder, Colo., later this year.

"The move to Colorado will help us build on our recent sales growth. At the same time, we are returning to our former home and it feels great. This will allow us to focus on more U.S.-based product development and to hone in on the ideal pricing, performance, and design for the birth country of our brand," Kevin Kempin, president and CEO of Head U.S., said in a news release. "The line is now largely designed here in the U.S., and with the support of our world class American athletes Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller, Ted Ligety, and Simon Dumont, we're poised for aggressive growth. This move to Colorado allows us to expand our offices and puts us back in the middle of snow country."

The company said it will relocate the winter sales and marketing staffs in the summer, followed by the finance and logistics team later in the year with the move due to be completed by January 2013.

"Choosing Boulder as our new home simply made sense. For over a year, we toured numerous potential locales, but kept coming back to Boulder," Jon Rucker, Vice President Sales & Marketing/Wintersports said in a release. "Colorado boasts 20 percent of all U.S. skier visits and with the presence of major resorts and retailers in the state, we knew it was the place to be. Additionally, our ability to be on snow virtually year round testing and refining product, along with the chance to host our retail partners in our new location will prove invaluable. The move from sea level to over a mile high is symbolic of our future growth."

Rucker said that Ogden, Utah, which had attracted more than a dozen snow-sports brands, had been in the running along with other locales.

"Boulder kept rising to the top for us," Rucker said via e-mail. "This positions us as the only major ski brand in the state with the most skier days, most resorts and most retail outlets. We also 'grew up' in Boulder and have a wonderful heritage with the city … it's really a perfect fit."

Head also made news in November by signing its first halfpipe skier, Dumont, to a three-year deal. The company's pro team of skiers had primarily been racers.

Head manufactures and markets Alpine skis, ski bindings, ski boots, snowboards, snowboard bindings and snowboard boots. Besides the winter sports group, Head has three other divisions -- racquet sports, diving and licensing. HEAD's product range includes tennis, squash, paddle and racquetball racquets, tennis balls, tennis footwear, badminton products, alpine skis, ski bindings and ski boots, snowboards, snowboard bindings and boots.

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