When it comes to ski resort and ski marketing, there’s nothing more rewarding than introducing new people to the sport of skiing or snowboarding, especially when you’re an advertising agency that believes the mountains can change lives. Around the Origin offices we know how important mountain sports are to our lifestyle, so when Salomon approached us about helping with their Free 2 Ski program we jumped at the chance. Free 2 Ski brings kids from the city and puts them on the slopes, complete with rental gear, lessons and lift tickets. It’s an inspiring program and one that we are honoured to be part of. Thanks to Salomon, Ski Snow Valley Barrie and the Shops at Don Mills for letting us be involved. Most of all, thanks to the participating kids for reminding us why we love what we do. Hopefully we’ll share some turns next winter. – MB
PRESS RELEASE BELOW:
Salomon’s Free2Ski program is officially here to stay, and looking for willing sponsorship partners to help introduce kids to the sport of skiing. Salomon launched the program with a focus on positivity and mentoring. After the past eight weeks of ski trips to Barrie’s Snow Valley ski resort with dozens of happy kids along for the ride, the program has become a resounding success.
Program Founder and Vice President of Salomon Canada, Laurence Applebaum, had this to say about the foundation, “We wanted everyone to have a chance to ski. We love the sport, many people around the world love the sport, and we just wanted to grow skiing as a whole. We created this program with the aim of creating an opportunity for a group of kids that might never have had the chance to ski and we’d love to do it again.”
First imagined in 2008 and launched this past January, the program has wrapped up for 2010. The participating kids picked up the sport quickly and have been enjoying it immensely. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm from people who are new to the sport,” says Kristi Smith, Free2Ski program coordinator. “The kids can’t wait to get on the hill every week—their excitement is contagious.”
Every Wednesday evening after school, the kids arrive at the Salomon store at Shops at Don Mills and are given a complete outfit package including jackets and pants on loan and free hats and gloves as gifts of the program. Free2Ski partner Cadillac Fairview has generously provided the transportation to and from Barrie’s Snow Valley resort as well as meals for the kids. Once there, participants will enjoy a night of free skiing, including lift ticket, ski lesson and a full Salomon set-up including boots, skis and poles. The program then returns the kids to the Community Centre that night.
While only the first year of Salomon Free2Ski, Salomon plans on bringing the program back next year with help from partners. Smith explains the future plans for Free2Ski, “Not only are we excited to run this program again, we are looking forward to seeing it grow. We want to give more kids the opportunity to ski next year and would like to hear from partners who want to be a part of this exciting program.”
If you are interested in helping introduce kids to skiing with the Free2Ski program, please contact Kristi Smith at Kristi.Smith@salomon.com.
Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and has grown over the past 60 years to become a global mountain sports brand sold in over 160 countries. Through performance-driven design, Salomon delivers innovation and progression, converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility. Salomon is part of the Amer Sports family of brands, the world’s leading sports equipment company. Amer Sports’ major brands include Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Suunto, and Precor. For more information, please visit Salomon.com.
