October 17, 2006 (McLean, VA) – Five new brands – Grabber, Granger, Kahtoola, Panoptx and PEPSICO – have signed on to sponsor Winter Trails, 2007. The international program, now entering its 12th year, offers those new to snow sports an opportunity to try snowshoeing and cross country skiing FREE on January 6, 2007. The five brands join 21 returning from last year.

“The success of Winter Trails always has resulted from the commitment of companies and organizations involved in the snow sports industry and our new sponsor group is no exception,” said David Ingemie, president of SnowSports Industries America.  SIA organizes Winter Trails in cooperation with the Cross Country Ski Areas Association and the American Hiking Society.

“Our new sponsors join an impressive line up of companies that are leaders in developing creative ways to get children and adults active in snow sports,” Ingemie stated. “Winter Trails is now one of the largest introduction to snow sports programs in North America.”

Winter Trails organizers anticipate more than 100 locations for Winter Trails Day events in the U.S. and Canada. Last year, the program generated 12,000 participants, double the number of participants from the prior year.    

Returning sponsor companies for Winter Trails include” founding companies Atlas Snowshoes, Redfeather Snowshoes, Mountain Safety Research (MSR), and Tubbs Snowshoes. Additional sponsors are Alpina, Atomic, Erik Sports – WhiteWoods, Exel, Karhu, Nature Valley, Rossignol, Salomon, Swix, and W.L. Gore and Associates. Media sponsors are Cross Country Skier magazine, SkiTrax magazine, Snowshoe magazine and XCResorts.com.