The Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) has awarded eight Vancouver Island athletes with travel grants for the 2014-15 winter season.
Alpine skiers Maja Nymann (Campbell River), Cole Anderson (Campbell River) and Clinton Wood along with cross-country skiers Ross Lamon (Comox), Alec Stapff (Campbell River), Connor McGrady (Comox), Madeleine Guimond (Courtenay) and Tallon Noble (Courtenay) are the recipients.
These grants help young athletes to offset the costs associated with traveling off-island for advanced training and competition. In this way, VIMSS seeks to nurture local emerging athletes and help prepare them for provincial, national and international competition.
VIMSS alumni are enjoying great success in a variety of mountain sports. Darcy Sharpe (funded in 2011) just won gold at the Quebec Big Air World Cup and silver at the World championships; Braydon Luscombe (funded in 2010) competed in the Sochi Paralympic Games and is on the World Cup circuit; Carle Brenneman (funded in 2009) was just at the X Games in Vail; Cassie Sharpe (funded in 2010) won silver at the World championships and Teal Harle (funded in 2014) just won double gold at the Canada Winter Games.
“These grants come at a time when our Island athletes find themselves travelling farther to find snow to train and compete on,” said VIMSS cair Karen Bonell. “With less than ideal conditions it’s even more critical that we continue to help our young athletes with these types of grants.
"The annual fundraising Gala event at Raven Lodge is scheduled for April 4 and our goal is to raise $15,000 this year,” continues Bonell. Tickets for the fundraising event can be purchased by emailing events@vimountaincentre.com
Vancouver Island alpine athletes can apply for a grant from VIMSS each year through the online applications form found at vimountaincentre.com. There are many alpine sports that qualify for VIMSS grants including alpine ski/snowboard racing, freestyle skiing/boarding, biathlon, cross-country skiing and downhill mountain biking.
VIMSS owns and operates the non-profit Vancouver Island Mountain Centre (VIMC) which offers a community venue for meetings, programming, team building, along with group accommodations for up to 40 people, full kitchen and dining facilities, amazing views of Mt. Albert Edward, plus the VI Mountain Fitness Centre.
The mountain centre is open year round and is located at Mount Washington at the end of Nordic Road across from Raven Lodge and Strathcona Park’s Paradise Meadows. Visit vimountaincentre.com for additional information.
– Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society