Picabo Street featured on Nikewomen.com

Former U.S. Ski Team member Picabo Street and U.S. Snowboarding rider Gretchen Bleiler have teamed with Nike, the official glove provider of U.S. Snowboarding, to collaborate with pro athletes from across women's athletics. The result is a television ad campaign with the simple message "Judge me as an athlete."

FORMER U.S. ALPINE SKI TEAM member Picabo Street and U.S. Snowboarding rider Gretchen Bleiler have teamed with Nike, the official glove provider of U.S. Snowboarding, to collaborate with pro athletes from across women's athletics. The result is a television ad campaign with the simple message "Judge me as an athlete."
    Street, who battled with weight and depression throughout her successful career, openly addressed her body image in the advertisement. Speaking into a huge microphone and dressed in Nike warm-ups, she said: “I started building this body when I was 13. I did it on purpose. Mass times velocity equals momentum. When I look in the mirror I see an athlete. Mass is an advantage and I’m proud of that athlete. Picabo Street, Olympic skier.”
    Street earned two medals in the Olympic Games and was a two-time World Cup downhill champion during her career, and now lives in Park City, Utah.
    Bleiler's line: "The halfpipe thrashes the girls just as hard as the boys. I respect that."
    The Aspen, Colorado, based snowboarder said the ad evolved into itself.
    "There was a big room with a giant megaphone and two stairs leading up to it,” said Bleiler, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix overall champion. “We just walked up to it and freestyled for bit, then came up with the theme 'It doesn't matter if I'm a guy or a girl' and it evolved from there."
    The two women were joined by beach volleyball pro and model Gabrielle Reese and former national team soccer star Mia Hamm, among others.
    To check out the ad, log on to www.nikewomen.com. Also available are tips on requesting funding for women's athletics, raising awareness in your community and even organizing a local event.