Equipment manufacturer Head yesterday said that it has been sued by Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier Bode Miller, who "wants to resume World Cup racing with a different equipment supplier," according to Eric Willemsen of AP. Head maintained that when Miller ended their nearly 10-year-long partnership last year, he "signed an agreement not to wear a different ski brand in World Cup or world championship races for the following two years." Miller now "plans to return" for this year's FIS World Cup on skis from N.Y.-based Bomber, which he "helped develop." Head CEO Johan Eliasch said, "Head would welcome Bode's return to World Cup racing, but it has to be on Head equipment." Miller never "formally retired but hinted several times he was not planning to return to competitive skiing." Miller has been "using Head skis, boots and bindings" since '06 (AP, 9/19). OUTSIDE MAGAZINE's Axie Navas noted Miller filed the lawsuit in federal court in L.A. His legal team is "arguing that Head is preventing the ski racer from doing his job by restricting what equipment he can use." Miller became a brand ambassador for Bomber after sustaining an injury in '15, and he has since "assisted with product development, according to the lawsuit" (OUTSIDEONLINE.com, 9/16).
