Canadian Ski Racer Michael Janyk Using Summer Training to Raise Funds for KidSport

Calgary, Canada – In the spirit of the Calgary Stampede, Canadian Alpine Ski Team (CAST) racer Michael Janyk is auctioning off the opportunity to be his dance partner to raise funds for KidSport during his two-step dance class lesson this Wednesday at the DancEnergy Premier Centre of Dance in Calgary.nAs the Calgary Stampede is unfolding, seven athletes of the CAST men’s team will be taking a two-step dance class as part of their last dryland camp before going on-snow in New Zealand end of July.

The ski racers had the opportunity to bring their wives and girlfriends to attend the class with them, but Janyk, slalom bronze medalist at the 2009 FIS Alpine World Championships, decided that it would be a great opportunity for him to raise funds for an organization that means a lot to him.

“Growing up skiing and being as active as my family and I were I know how important sport is for kids. Obviously, being active is a healthy way of living but it also gives kids a structure and a discipline that you can’t get anywhere else. I truly believe that what KidSport is doing is very important and I wanted to support their efforts,” said Janyk, who hails from Whistler, British Columbia.

KidSport provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport. Since it was established in 1993, KidSport has enabled over 250,000 Canadian children to participate in amateur sport and learn valuable life lessons and skills.

“I know how expensive practicing a sport can be, especially once we get to a high performance level. That is one if the reason why Manny (Osborne-Paradis) and I decided to create the Cowboys Camp three years ago. We are trying to give every kid the same opportunity, and KidSport believes in the same thing,” added Janyk.

This five-day training camp put together for the western based athletes includes three-hour gym sessions every morning as well as hockey sessions every afternoon at the Norma Bush arena in the Hockey Canada building in order to practice the skills they have acquired during their week-long hockey camp a few weeks ago in Magog, Quebec, with former NHL goaltender Felix Potvin and 2010 women’s national team Olympic gold medalist Sarah Vaillancourt.

To make a bid on Janyk’s dance partner position for the two hour two-step dance class visit www.ebay.ca. Bidding ends on Tuesday.

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