Ski the Whites rebrands as ‘White Mountain Ski Company’ amid trademark clash

The New Hampshire outfit formerly known as Ski the Whites has a new name.

Ski the Whites’ Andrew Drummond announced earlier this month that he was changing the name of his business to “White Mountain Ski Company,” due to a trademark conflict with Ski The East. 

“This wasn’t the path we planned but it’s an opportunity to move forward and continue serving our community as experts in our region, our categories, and provide the best service possible,” Drummond wrote in an email. “We want to make it clear that, while we thought we could co-exist with Ski The East, this was purely a business issue and we do not harbor ill will towards the owners or their brand.” 

Ski the Whites was created in 2016 out of Drummond’s need for backcountry gear and has resulted in partnerships with over 30 outdoor brands in skiing, biking, and trail running. Ski the East was born from Meathead Films in 2005, and has become one of the most recognizable apparel brands in the Northeast. 

In a statement to New England Ski Journal, a spokesperson from Ski the East wrote: “We have no desire whatsoever to hinder Andrew’s business. He’s a solid guy and we both share a passion for skiing and promoting the East Coast. There was never a lawsuit or cease-and-desist. We reached out to him directly several years ago and we’ve been super accommodating with giving him a large amount of time to accomplish this name change.

“The main issue was that Ski The East was forced to play defense and protect our longstanding trademark when Andrew attempted to file for his own trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We are required to defend our name against other similar sounding brand names, or we risk losing our rights over time. This is especially true when there is actual confusion in the marketplace.

“The White Mountain Ski Company stands to gain from the differentiation as neither of us wants to be confused for the other. We hope you can understand this mutually beneficial solution to a difficult situation. We are both small companies that depend on seasonal business to support our families and teams. Both brands can now look and sound distinct, and we wish Andrew and his crew a prosperous future and deep snow.”