Hublot - The "Bode Bang", created for Bode Miller
The bad boy of skiing, and world champion in all disciplines in 2008, now has a Big Bang named after him! The partnership between the watchmaking brand and Bode Miller came about when the skier visited the manufacture's workshops for a photo shoot for the Kjus catalogue.
Fascinated by the know-how and meticulousness of the watchmakers, he set out to craft his own watch. His meeting with Jean-Claude Biver, the CEO of Hublot, led to an immediate mutual understanding. Both passionate, direct men with an expressive and unconventional manner of speech, they quickly found a host of shared values.
The talented, feisty and determined skier, and the inventive, exceptionally energetic boss both demonstrate great generosity through their involvement in supporting humanitarian causes. The creation of the Bode Bang presented today is the fruit of this bond: together, they decided to divert some of the watch's royalties to the Turtle Ridge Foundation, founded by Bode Miller and his family in 2005 (www.turtleridgefoundation.org) to share his success with those less fortunate in life, an ambition equally dear to Jean-Claude Biver and Bode Miller.
Bode Miller & Celebrity Friends Participate in Hublot "Tennis Fusion" Celebrity Challenge to support Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.
On Monday, December 7th 4-time World Champion skier Bode Miller launched the new Hublot limited edition Bode Bang watch through a celebrity tennis match at Sutton East Tennis Club in New York City.
The Hublot "Tennis Fusion" Celebrity Challenge featured Bode Miller, 2-time tennis Grand Slam winner Justin Gimelstob, actor Sebastian Stan of TV's Gossip Girl and Olympic fencing silver medalist Tim Morehouse in a doubles tennis match, with Hublot Managing Director Ricardo Guadalupe as umpire. The crowd was impressed with Bode's well-honed tennis skills and when asked how he got so good he responded, "My family played a lot when I was growing up. If I wasn't skiing professionally I think I'd be playing tennis." The Gimelstob-Morehouse team won the match.
The players gathered to support Bode's relationship with the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program. Following the Hublot "Tennis Fusion" Celebrity Challenge, Bode led a basic tennis clinic with 50+ kids and then, on behalf of Hublot and The Turtle Ridge Foundation, donated $10,000 to the organization.
Bode Miller and his family started The Turtle Ridge Foundation in 2005. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting health, diversity, and sustainable living through sports. In February 2009 Bode joined forces with Hublot to collaborate on design and development of the new Hublot Bode Bang limited edition watch. A portion of sales from the watch will go to The Turtle Ridge Foundation.