Shouldice "Airs" his Support for Athlete Fund

Calgary, Alta, January 28, 2011—Veteran Canadian aerialist Warren Shouldice will use his skis to raise awareness of the CAN Fund, an organization that provides direct financial support to Canada’s elite athletes, this weekend at the Canada Post Freestyle Grand Prix at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

An agreement with the International Ski Federation (FIS) permits aerialists to display their personal sponsor’s logo on their skis.  Shouldice, who has no corporate sponsor, will sport the CAN Fund logo on his skis instead.

CAN Fund is a not-for-profit organization that raises direct funding and awareness for Canada's elite level athletes.  The fund has raised more than $13 million dollars to date and directly supported hundreds of athletes across Canada, including 80 per cent of the athletes who represented Canada at the Vancouver Games.  Eligible athletes can receive up to $12,000 per year, which they use to offset costs not covered by National Sport Organizations, such as equipment and basic living expenses.

Shouldice is a past recipient of the CAN Fund and sees this as an opportunity to give back to the Canadian sports community.

“I decided to put CAN fund on my skis because I’m without a personal sponsor this year and I wanted to raise awareness of the fund and pay it forward to other athletes by donating the available advertising space on my skis,” said Shouldice.

“They’ve been so good to me in the past.  In 2009, I suffered a compression fracture in my back six weeks before World Championships.  Were it not for the support of the CAN Fund, I would have never been able to pay for the treatments that allowed me to return to competition in time to compete and win a bronze medal at World Championships.”

Shouldice encourages anyone who would like to make a donation or is interested in learning more about the CAN Fund, to visit their website at  <http://www.canadianathletesnow.ca/> .

To follow Warren’s high-flying exploits on the web, visit <http://www.facebook.com/warrenshouldice> .

The Canada Post Freestyle Grand Prix kicks off today at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, AB, with mogul qualifications.  Aerial qualifications run January 28 and finals for both disciplines at this free event take place on Saturday, January 29, from 10 a.m. to 3p.m.  The events are free to the public. For more information, visit  <http://www.freestyleski.com/page.php?la=en&amp;pa=events&amp;id=cop_index>

Saturday’s finals will be Live-Streamed on the web at: <http://www.sportsnet.ca/more/freestylegrandprix/>

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association is the governing body in Canada for the sport of Freestyle Skiing. Our mission is to develop, in a safe, fun and ethical manner, Olympic and World Champions in all disciplines of the sport of Freestyle Skiing.