North Woodstock, NH – The Friends of New Hampshire Skiing grant program helps New Hampshire’s young competitive skiers and snowboarders become Olympians and international champions. Operated by Ski NH member ski resorts, the program offers financial assistance to individual skiers and snowboarders to help offset the costs of race training and traveling.nCollege athletes and post-graduate athletes training for international competition are eligible. Interested athletes must have a New Hampshire affiliation either through residence, college or ski club. The deadline for submitting a grant application to Ski NH is Nov. 30, 2010. The grants are awarded based on need and an athlete’s past performance and his or her ability to be in serious contention for a national team or the equivalent.
Last season’s recipients included alpine racers Michael Cremano of Chichester, William Ford of Plymouth, Trevor Leafe of Monroe, Warner Nickerson of Gilford, and Devin Delaney of North Conway. Other recipients competed in several different alpine and Nordic events. Caitlin Ciccone of Littleton competes in ski cross. Dylan Ferguson, who attended New Hampton School as well as Waterville Valley Academy, competes in aerial freestyle skiing. Ted Broderick of Amherst competes in disabled alpine racing. Angela Mercieri of Littleton competes in alpine snowboarding. Katrina Howe of Gilford competes in biathlon and Carl Van Loan of Webster competes in nordic combined.
Friends of NH Skiing also contributed $20,000 to support the UNH Ski Team and $7,000 to support the Plymouth State University Ski Team.
Friends of New Hampshire Skiing is the only program of its kind in the United States. Since its inception as Friends of UNH Skiing in 1978, the program has raised more than $850,000. This past season, $35,000 was raised through ticket sales. The tickets, donated by Ski NH member resorts, are packaged and sold to the public with all proceeds dedicated to supporting the training of these athletes.
To receive a grant application, contact Ski NH at (800) 887-5464 or email Ski NH at media(at)skinh.com. The grant application can also be downloaded from Ski NH’s website, www.SkiNH.com.