June 29, 2008 – The National Cross-Country Ski Development Society recently approved a substantive contribution of close to $250,000 aimed at sharpening the high performance delivery of several clubs and club coaches in western Canada for the 2008-09 season. This Foundation, created through the foresight and donation by Bob Disbrow, has been established to assist cross-country ski clubs in western Canada to enhance their athlete development and competitive racing programs; the longer term goal of this investment is to help Canada be competitive at the international level. The focus of the 2008-09 disbursement is to strengthen the full-time professional coaching capacity of clubs in western Canada.

Clubs Selected for Funding based on submissions
– Alberta World Cup Academy/Foothills Nordic/Canmore Nordic
– Banff Ski Runners
– Bulkley Valley Ski Club
– Cross Country Yukon
– Edmonton Nordic
– Hollyburn Jackrabbits Ski Club
– Sovereign Lake Nordic
– Strathcona Nordic

Coaches Selected for Funding based on pursuit of their Level 4 coaching certification:

– Dave Battison (Strathcona Nordic)
– Amy Caldwell (Callaghan Valley Training Centre)
– James Cunningham (CCC’s High Performance System Coordinator CCC – west)

Announcement of funding details: Official notification of funding support to these clubs and coaches will be forwarded by The National Cross-Country Ski Development Society principals: Kim Kawaguchi, Fei Disbrow and Don Willoughby.

Management of the fund: James Cunningham, CCC’s High Performance System Coordinator – west will mange the accountability and administrative aspects of the funding disbursements.