Canadian alpine skier Manny Osborne-Paradis has launched an appeal on behalf of the national ski team to raise $400,000 over the next few months.
The three-time Olympian was en route to Val Gardena, Italy, on Monday when he issued a statement saying the team needs money to prepare for next year's world alpine championship and the 2018 Winter Olympics.
"Our team relies upon the generosity of Canadians to donate and support our programs," Osborne-Paradis said in the statement.
"We must raise $400,000 over the next few months, to ensure that our athletic programs are properly funded, as we prepare for next year's world championships and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."
Alpine Canada's funding from Own The Podium, which distributes taxpayer dollars to sport federations based on medal potential, nearly halved this season.
But Osborne-Paradis's pitch was aimed at private and corporate donors who make up the majority of Alpine Canada's revenue, according to the organization's president and chief executive officer.
"What really precipitated it was trying to make sure that especially for potential new donors, the connection was made between the athlete and the donation," Mark Rubinstein said Monday in Calgary. "I think it's perfectly appropriate from time to time for athletes to talk about the need.
"The only business we're in is making sure our athletes have everything they require to win. We are in no other business. When we talk to corporate partners or donors, if we can't articulate that connection, then it's going to be difficult to establish a value proposition which people want to support."
Alpine Canada oversees 56 athletes and 19 coaches on the alpine, para-alpine and ski cross teams. The organization's OTP funding fell from $2,670,000 in 2014-15 to $1,365,000 this winter.
Ski racing is an expensive sport. Alpine Canada spends about $240,000 per season on each alpine athlete. Rubinstein said Osborne-Paradis's plea shouldn't be interpreted as financial panic.
"It's simply a different way and an authentic way of communicating to existing and new donors on the ongoing need for private-sector support for our teams," Rubinstein said.
"It may seem rather distant to talk about the 2018 Winter Olympics, but from an athletic perspective and from a fundraising perspective, our success in 2018 is entirely dependent upon our ability to execute our programs at the highest level this year because we're really just starting that ramp."
Alpine Canada's total fundraising goal for 2015-16 is $1.5 million. Eight ski resorts across Canada are getting involved by donating the proceeds from national ski day Jan. 9 to Alpine Canada's national teams. Skiers can pre-buy lift tickets at the resorts for $15.
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