Vancouver (BC), Canada – Canada Snowboard announced this week a new partnership with Sport Chek, Sports Experts, S3, Atmosphere, National Sports, Intersport, Canadian Tire and Mark’s that will help promote and celebrate the country’s passion for snowboarding. The partnership, which is effective through 2018, includes the title of Canada Snowboard’s National Snowboard Championships for all disciplines, key partnerships at each of Canada Snowboard’s Canadian FIS World Cups and a tier one National Team sponsorship.

“Canadian Tire’s investment in Canada Snowboard strengthens our product offering at domestic events for National Team and Development Team snowboard athletes across Canada,” said Steven Hills, executive director of Canada Snowboard. “This significant long-term investment will help ensure we can develop the next generation of champions that are currently well supported by Own the Podium and Sport Canada.”

The partnership kicked off last week at the Mazda Snowboard FIS World Championships in Quebec City. S3, a division of FGL Sports, Ltd will be the title sponsor of the Snowboardcross event, which takes place this weekend at Stoneham resort. S3 is also the presenting sponsor of all of the grassroots events surrounding the World Championships. Next month at Blue Mountain in Ontario, Sport Chek will be the presenting sponsor of the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup as well as the presenting sponsor of the FIS Lake Louise World Cup in December 2013.

As well, Sport Chek and S3 will be the title of all three Canada Snowboard National Championships events.

“We are very excited about our investment in Canada Snowboard,” said Landon French, Vice President of Sport Partnerships for the Canadian Tire family of companies. “Canadians have a passion for snowboarding and this partnership allows us to further engage with customers, employees and fans of the sport to help develop more athletes from playground to podium.”

“Canada Snowboard continues to look for innovative ways to work with partners that want to engage with a youthful, active and exciting demographic in Canada,” said Hills, adding, “ At the same time, we know these investments are helping put athletes on the podium and we are grateful for their willingness to be part of our team’s success going forward.”