686 Signs First Ski Athlete Parker White

Outerwear brand 686 has announced the addition of its first freeski athlete, 25-year-old Parker White. This move marks a new era for the brand, which has one of the largest market shares in the snowboarding industry, and is now looking to expand into the freeskiing world after 24 years of being “snowboard only.”

“The decision to work with Parker is an easy one, he is a natural extension of the brand here and was brought to us by one of our top snowboarders, Forest Bailey,” says 686’s Brent Sandor. “However, the decision for a brand with 24 years of anti-ski history to make the move into skiing, is a unique one and a story we would like to tell.”

The friendship between Bailey and White, who have ridden and skated together for years, sparked an interest for the brand to break the barriers they admit to setting up themselves.

“After 24 years as an independent snowboard only brand with literally zero imagery ever of anyone on ski’s during that time, Parker will make company history by breaking down the barrier that was set up so long ago at this brand,” says Sandor.

White is a member of Rossignol’s freeski team, and has won numerous awards including X-Games 2015 Real Backcountry Silver and Best Male Performance at the International Freeski Film Festival for his segment in Level 1’s Sunny. His most recent segment is Rossignol's The Big Picture.

Congratulations Parker!