Canada’s best ski racers were the big beneficiaries of the day as the 2009 ski season got underway raising over $50,000 to benefit the “Quest for Gold.”
Silvertip Golf Resort hosted over 150 golfers at the 14th annual Quest for Gold golf tournament presented by COLD-FX, in an outstanding day for golfing that translated into crucial funding to kick-start this Olympic season. Funding from the tournament is shared between Alberta Alpine and Alpine Canada Alpin, to support the Alberta Ski Team athletes as they aim for the 2010 World Junior Championships and the Canadian Alpine Ski Team en route to Vancouver.
“This year’s golf tournament is a kick off event as we plan to announce innovative partnerships over the next few weeks helping us raise the funds required to win,” said Alberta Alpine President Ken Read. “Our athletes, whether aiming for the Games or the World Championships, need to fight for every last hundredth of a second. So to start the season with such a successful day and raise these extra dollars is a real boost for our athletes and coaches. We wish to recognize the generosity of Silvertip in hosting the event and also our sponsors whose support makes the cheque even larger,” Read added.
Leading names from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team included World Cup winner Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) and GMC Canadian champion Shona Rubens (Canmore, AB), along with Development Team athletes Stephanie Irwin (Calgary, AB), Travis Dawson (Calgary, AB) and Erik Read (Calgary/Canmore, AB). They were joined by the Alberta Ski Team, including Tatum Monod (Banff Alpine Racers), Jennifer Saunders (NATC), Victoria Michalik (Banff Alpine Racers), Madison McLeish (Alberta Ski Academy), Tristan Tafel (Banff Alpine Racers), Trevor Philp (Banff Alpine Racers), Cody Pedersen (Banff Alpine Racers), Sean Alexander (Calgary Alpine Racers), Andy Trow (Sunshine) and Morgan Waldo of the Saskatchewan Provincial Team, who trains with the Alberta Ski Team.
The golf tournament also enjoys tremendous corporate support from partners such as GMC, who contributed the opportunity to win a GMC Terrain, Raymond James who announced renewal of their long-standing support of the Alberta Ski Team, CresaPartners who has become title sponsor of the K2 Provincial Series and Husky Energy whose grassroots support to Canadian ski racing is ensuring there will be champions after 2010.
Inspirational speeches from Emily Brydon, Sean Alexander and Canadian ski racing icon Thomas Grandi wrapped up an incredible day. Brydon thanked all participants for their support in helping Canada’s best realize their dreams, telling the crowd “you are now all part of our team that has helped us get to the starting gate for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games”.
The World Cup ski season will open in late October with the traditional glacier races in Soelden, Austria. Canada hosts the first speed events of the winter at the classic Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, November 28-29 and December 4-6, followed by the annual Northwest Funds Nor-Am Cup events at Lake Louise December 7-11.
ABOUT ALBERTA ALPINE
Alberta Alpine is the sport governing body for athlete development in alpine ski racing for athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials members and over 25,000 supporting members. Alberta Alpine manages programs from introductory levels to masters including the athletes of the Raymond James Alberta Ski Team.
For more information on Alberta Alpine visit www.albertaalpine.ca
ABOUT ALPINE CANADA ALPIN
Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada with more than 50,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteer members and over 200,000 supporting members. ACA manages the high performance programs for the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team who represent Canada throughout the world. For more information on Alpine Canada Alpin, visit www.canski.org.
