Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association (CFSA) is proud to announce a new corporate partnership with Difference Capital worth $2 million over the course of four years.

The deal comes as a result of a Dragons’ Den appearance where CFSA Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Robinson, pitched the funding opportunity to the Dragons with the help of freestyle skiers Mikaël Kingsbury, Mike Riddle, Travis Gerrits, Dara Howell and the Dufour-Lapointe sisters – Maxime, Chloé and Justine.

Dragon Michael Wekerle and his company Difference Capital agreed to a deal with the team on the show and made it official in December 2014 – making Difference Capital a premier partner of the CFSA.

Notable benefits of the agreement will include branding on team uniforms, title sponsorship of the Canada Cup Series, branding and hosting opportunities at domestic World Cups, among other things.

The new funding will help provide the best resources to CFSA’s high performance athletes so they can continue succeed on the international stage. The partnership with Difference Capital will also assist the next generation of Olympic athletes that will compete at the 2022 and 2026 Olympic Winter Games, as well as the current ones aiming for a berth in 2018.

The appearance on the highly popular CBC show was an effort to improve awareness of the commitment and dedication that Canadian freestyle skiers put into their sport. Dragons’ Den was an innovative approach in potentially connecting with new corporate sponsors.

Quotes

“We are excited to announce a new corporate sponsor in Difference Capital. We went into our appearance on Dragons’ Den with a specific goal and we are very proud that Michael Wekerle saw an opportunity to connect his brand with the best freestyle skiing team in the world. This partnership will not only allow us to continue to keep our athletes on the podium, but it will help us develop and nurture new talent for future Olympic Games. We welcome and thank Difference Capital for believing in our program and wanting to see us grow.”
– Bruce Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association

“We at Difference Capital strive for excellence, a trait we share with the CFSA’s athletes, who measure success by reaching their goals and winning medals at Olympics Games, World Championships and World Cups. Difference Capital has similar values, using a business model that revolves around building success through training, providing a healthy work environment and encouraging our team members to excel, on and off the slopes. Good luck to all Canadian Freestyle Ski Association team members and I wish you continued success!”
– Michael Wekerle, Chief Executive Officer, Difference Capital

“I was thrilled that our team got the opportunity to explain to the Dragons why we needed more corporate support in Canada. We were the most successful federation at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and we want to keep excelling. We can only do this with the proper funding behind us. As athletes, knowing that this money is coming in helps us focus more on training for our competitions. It’s an exciting day for freestyle skiing in Canada and I hope to see the support continue.”
– Mikaël Kingsbury, 2014 Olympic silver medallist, Freestyle Mogul Skiing

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when we entered the Den, but I knew we had prepared a great argument as to why we needed the funding from the Dragons. We dedicate our lives to our sport and representing our country. As athletes, we depend on and appreciate, the corporate side of Canada investing in us. Being a part of this process and helping land Difference Capital, as a partner, has been one of the highlights of my career, to date. I’m proud to say, this deal, will certainly make a difference to the current athletes and the future of freestyle through our grassroots programs across the country.”
– Travis Gerrits, 2014 Olympian, Freestyle Aerial Skiing