An Icon of American Ski Culture Is Making a Comeback

Written By: CB Sports

Today’s skiing headlines are dominated by the likes of Mikaela Shiffrin, Breezy Johnson, and Tricia Mangan, but in the late 1960s, Charles Bird (CB) Vaughan Jr. was the era’s household skiing name. A legendary ski racer and one-time speed-skiing world-record holder, Vaughan pushed the limits of what was possible on skis and inspired a new generation of skiers. But he left his most indelible mark on the ski industry after his days of podium finishes were over, with his brand: CB Sports. What began as a single offering—the CB Sports Super Pant—evolved into a full line of colorful, awesome eighties performance-ski apparel that shaped what it meant to look like a skier. The distinctive “CB” logo on the back of the jacket’s stand-up collar became a point of pride for many skiers as CB Sports ushered in a coming-of-age for American ski culture.

Don’t be surprised if you see that same iconic logo in lift lines this season. Vertical Brands—one of the leading brand builders in outdoor and performance apparel—is bringing CB Sports back. The new line of CB Sports apparel includes classic looks from the brand’s heyday, but the pieces aren’t just a symbol of nostalgia for the good old days of skiing. Under the leadership of Christopher Neary, who has more than 20 years of experience producing apparel for big names in the ski industry, Vertical Brands aims to elevate the CB Sports brand with new styles and cutting-edge materials. They say what’s old becomes new again, but that’s only partly true in this case because you can guarantee they didn’t have this kind of performance tech in the eighties

The following information was originally published in “Outside”