Industry News
Jones joins legends like Cody Townsend, Xavier De Le Rue, and Elyse Saugstead, who have crafted award-winning products with the brand.
LÉ BENT, makers of next-to-skin performance apparel, is proud to welcome freeskier Kai Jones to the brand’s pro team. The 17-year-old, known for his jaw-dropping film segments in Teton Gravity Research films, joins Cody Townsend, Xavier De Le Rue, Elyse Saugstead, and Sammy Carlson, who collaborate with LÉ BENT to design award-winning products that help skiers and snowboarders perform at the highest level.
Jackson Hole-based Jones has been a mainstay in ski films since his first segment for TGR went viral and racked up 6 million views – he was only 11 years old. That year, he also won the North American Junior Freeride Series. He was nominated for “Rider of the Year” at the IF3 Film Festival at 14 years old and again a year later at 15. Now, at age 17, Kai is pushing the boundaries of freeskiing. He is equally comfortable as a ski mountaineer (he has skied the Grand, Middle, and South Tetons and Mt. Moran) as he is in pillows and powder or riding his home resort of Jackson Hole.
“I’ve been a fanboy of Kai’s for years. I’m sure I’m no different to everyone else in the ski world, hanging out each year to see what wild video part he drops. Watching his progression from season to season has been super inspiring. For LÉ BENT, to be in a position to attract athletes like Kai and to build products for them speaks to the quality of the brand and the products we’re delivering.”
– LÉ BENT co-founder, Simon Blondel
Kai joins a handful of globally renowned athletes who design products in collaboration with the brand. He and the brand will release a pro model sock that includes padding for shin bang, a common complaint of backcountry freestylers who send big airs.
“I am super excited to be joining LÉ BENT. LÉ BENT makes the most comfortable and highest-performing socks in the industry. I can’t wait to drop my pro model sock with shin bang protection; it’s a must for all senders.”
– Kai Jones
Kai’s sock will be released next fall.
Sign up here to get early access to Kai’s promodel and read about his inspiration. You can also read his welcome interview with Le Bent here.
