Riddell and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Unveil Helmets for 2019 Polynesian Bowl in Hawai’i
Honolulu (January 8, 2019) – The leader in football head protection and innovation, Riddell, and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF), today unveiled the upcoming 2019 Polynesian Bowl Riddell SpeedFlex helmet design. Riddell serves as the official protective equipment partner of the Polynesian Bowl and worked closely with the PFHOF to develop the unique, custom-made designs that will be worn in the annual elite high school all-star game.
This year’s unique design was inspired by KAPA/TAPA – a barkcloth that is prepared and utilized by families throughout Polynesia. Each island nation has its own particular nuances in making tapa, which distinguishes it from others. The Tapa design in the Polynesian Bowl helmet takes elements from each of these various cultures and incorporates them into the overall design of the helmet. The 2019 helmet motif represents traditional Hawaiian belief in a natural balance between ocean and land. Mauka (mow-kah), meaning mountain, and Makai (mah-kigh), meaning ocean, are embodied in the designs using red to symbolize land and blue to symbolize the sea.
Riddell and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Unveil Helmets for 2019 Polynesian Bowl in Hawai’i
“The Polynesian people take a lot of pride in their heritage, and this design features important cultural significance for both the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and the players who will wear it this year,” said Jesse Sapolu, Chairman and Co-founder of the PFHOF. “We’re proud to partner with Riddell to come up with these one-of-a-kind designs that showcase our heritage while ensuring players have access to advanced protection as part of their participation.”
“Everyone who plays in this game is always excited about the helmet designs from Riddell. The symbolism and swag they get from it is found nowhere else,” said Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. “Being able to play in the Polynesian Bowl is a tremendous honor and the unique helmet design from Riddell makes it feel even that much more special.”
Each Polynesian Bowl participant will have the opportunity to wear the custom helmets in practices and the game. They also will be wearing Riddell’s SPK shoulder pads featuring Riddell RipKord. Both the helmets and pads will be professionally fit by Riddell representatives prior to the first practice. The roster of players will also learn more about Riddell Precision-Fit, which uses 3D scanning technology to craft a helmet personalized for the individual athlete. More than a thousand NFL and college players now wear the SpeedFlex Precision helmet, which first became available in 2017.
“Riddell is proud to continue our support of this unique and exciting all-star competition in partnership with the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as we pay tribute to the Polynesian culture and heritage through the helmet designs for the game,” said Dan Arment, President and CEO of Riddell. “The 2019 participants will have the opportunity to play in Riddell’s game-changing innovations, which delivers on-field protective performance for these elite athletes.”
The 2019 Polynesian Bowl will be played on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Aloha Stadium on O`ahu, Hawai`i as part of the PFHOF Enshrinement Weekend. One hundred players will participate in the annual game, including several of the top ranked high school football players in the country. The game will be broadcast Live on CBS Sports Network. For more information, please visit www.PolynesianBowl.com.
About the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame: The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. Its permanent home is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center and was established in 2013 by Super Bowl Champions Jesse Sapolu and Ma’a Tanuvasa. Other board members include Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, June Jones and Reno Mahe. www.PolynesianFootballHOF.org.
About the Polynesian Bowl: “Where the world’s top high school football players gather to celebrate culture and play the game they love.” The Polynesian Bowl is held annually during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week. NFL Ambassadors include Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Haloti Ngata, Ronnie Stanley, Michael Bennett, Danny Shelton and DeForest Buckner. www.PolynesianBowl.com.
About Riddell: Riddell is a premier designer and developer of football helmets, protective sports equipment, head impact monitoring technologies, apparel and related accessories. A recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets and shoulder pads, and a top provider of reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment). For more information, visit our website at www.riddell.com, like the Riddell Facebook page, or follow Riddell on Instagram and Twitter @RiddellSports.
For more information, please contact:
Phil Hetu, Media Relations, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
702.715.5355 | [email protected]
Justin Kenny, Communications Manager, Riddell
224.585.5253 | [email protected]