Mizu, producer of reusable stainless-steel products for an adventure-rich lifestyle — announced the signing of snowboard industry icon Russell Winfield to its global ambassador team.
Winfield started his professional career as a grassroots team rider with Burton snowboards in 1991 and shot into industry superstardom in 1992 after signing on with Ride Snowboards as the company’s first team rider in history. He recently re-signed with Ride Snowboards and launched a collaboration snowboard with a graphic designed by Virgil Abloh (RIP) that sold out in less than an hour.
Most veterans of the snowboarding industry know that Winfield was the first African American professional snowboarder thanks to Snowboarder Magazine’s final printed issue where he donned the cover.
“Russell and I go way back”, said Mizu’s CEO Tim Pogue. “I’m so happy he’s finally getting the credit and respect he’s earned over the years. Yes, he’s a talented rider, he’s smart as hell and has always had his finger on the pulse of trends in action sports and fashion, but mostly, he’s just so damn fun to work with!”
Winfield met Pogue at Stratton (Vermont) when Pogue was the Burton Team Manager in the early 1990s. They hit it off as Winfield was signed to the Burton grassroots team. When Pogue left Burton to start Ride Snowboards, Winfield became the first team rider to join the team and helped to assemble the now-legendary original Ride Team.
“I’ve been helping out Mizu on a project basis since they partnered up with Jussi, but with my snowboarding career kicking back into high gear, it just made sense for us to formalize things,” said Winfield. “I have always totally supported Mizu’s mission to help reduce pollution, and since its owned and run by a bunch of snowboarders, I fit in like a glove!”
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