Canadian Pacific and Alpine Canada Alpin announced Monday that Canadian Pacific has significantly boosted its financial support for the country’s national ski racing teams, moving up to become a Summit Level Partner as part of a new two-year agreement.

Canadian Pacific, which has been moving Canada’s commerce over the past 126 years, also continues as the title sponsor of the awards ceremonies during the season-opening World Cup speed races at Lake Louise.

“Canadian Pacific strives for excellence,” said Canadian Pacific’s General Manager, Corporate Communications Mark Seland. “Our 16,000 employees are proud to strengthen our support to Canada’s ski racers and help them reach the podium at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

Surrounded by CP employees and many national team racers, the announcement was made at a news conference outside Alpine Canada Alpin’s expanded new offices in the building which houses CP’s national offices. The space is being provided as part of the Summit Level partnership.

“Canadian Pacific’s additional support for alpine ski racing as demonstrated through this new partnership will help provide resources Canada’s athletes need to win,” said  Max Gartner, Chief Athletics Officer, noting dramatic currency fluctuations and increased travel costs are having a huge impact on team and program costs this season. “Our new offices are ideal for our organization as we expand support and services necessary to build on our teams’ momentum and steady improvement in recent years.”

Canada’s Alpine Ski Teams earned a total of 74 World Cup podiums last season, with the para-alpine ski team finishing a best-ever second place in the Nation’s Cup standings.

Canada’s able-bodied team finished the 2007/08 season sixth in Nation’s Cup standings with 3637 points and has moved from 12th to sixth in the standings since 2003. The three World Cup victories achieved last season were the most in a season since 2003.