My 2015/16 Skimo Season- Travis Brown
"Travis is fast, organized, a viable trainer and coach, and can go faster and faster for a few years yet as leader of our national ski mountaineering team."
- David Dornian, Chair of Skimo Canada.
National Team, World Championships, Verbier CH February 2015.
Dear Friend of Winter Sports,
Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Travis Brown, and I am a member of the Canadian National Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) Team. I'm looking for support for my 2015/16 skimo race season. Skimo is a growing sport involving the technical elements of both cross country and downhill skiing. In the last two years that I have been competing I have represented Canada at the World Championships in Verbier Switzerland, and also won numerous races at home in North America. My goals this season are to increase my race experience through competition across North America, before returning to Europe to represent Canada at the 2017 World Championships.
Travis Brown, National Ski Mountaineering Competition – Men’s Champion, Winter 2015.
Skiing for Canada
Skimo is recognized by the IOC as a potential Olympic sport, but as it's not currently included in the Olympic Games, there is no national funding available to Canadians and athletes are required to cover their own costs of training and racing. The hard costs of one athlete taking part in the 2015-2016 season, including race fees, travel and training will easily run to over $5,000.
Fundraiser at Vert 180
To make my goals of competing for Canada a possibility, I will be raising funds to help support my 2015/16 race season at my first competition of the season, the Vert 180 on December 5th 2015. The competition is at COP in Calgary, and involves completing as many laps as possible (skiing both up and down the hill) in a 3-hour time limit. I am seeking sponsors to pledge per lap in an effort to help me compete for Canada this year. Last year I won in the Solo Male category of the Vert 180 competition by completing 16 laps. Assuming that I can do the same this year, a pledge of $10/lap would add up to a donation of $160.
Travis Brown on his way to winning the 2014 Vert 180.
Through this fundraiser I hope to allow myself to compete at the highest level throughout the season. All donors to this campaign will receive updates from me throughout my race season, as well as a signed photo of me from one of my upcoming competitions. If you are interested in supporting me in competing for Canada this season, please contact me by email or through my website. Also, if you are interested in coming out to cheer on all the racers at the Vert 180, we'd love to see you. The race will be taking place under the lights at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on December 5th from 6-9pm.
Thank you for your consideration,
Travis Brown