July 7, 2009 (Canmore, Alberta) – Fast and Female presented by Best Buy, a highly dynamic not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering female youth through sports is seeking to partner with local cross-country ski clubs interested in hosting new regional programming for the remainder of 2009 and 2010. The deadline for application is August 15, 2009.

Founded in 2005 by Olympic Gold Medal cross-country skier, Chandra Crawford, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy has traditionally focused its efforts on hosting a single, annual ski festival in the winter. With its National Annual Ski Festival, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy has reached in excess of 1,500 participants over the course of the last five years in various locations including Canmore, (AB), Mont Ste-Anne (QC), Thunder Bay (ON), Callaghan Valley (BC), Calgary (AB) and Anchorage (AK, USA).

“Fast and Female presented by Best Buy has evolved so much since its inception,” admitted Crawford, who started the organization with her teammates in the hope of growing her network of female cross-country skiers and training partners. “In the past year, we’ve received an overwhelming number of requests to host more events,” she added. “This interest has prompted us to find a creative way to expand our reach and to get more girls hooked on active and healthy living.”

“By partnering with clubs who will host condensed half-day events, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy can get a step closer to its goal of empowering every single female youth involved in cross-country skiing over the next three years,” concluded the enthusiastic athlete who is presently training full time for the 2010 Winter Olympics set to take place in Vancouver/Whistler next February.

Fast and Female presented by Best Buy, which will continue to grow its signature Annual National Ski Festival, intends to provide part of the financial resources as well as the operational support to local clubs for the successful hosting of Winter Ski & Chat Events and Summer/Fall Fit & Fun Series. The financial support offered to clubs will help to ensure that all Fast and Female youth events remain free of charge and void of any economic participation hurdles.

As part of these new regional initiatives, clubs will host girls between 9 and 19 years old for half-day group activities featuring stimulating physical activity, healthy eating and inspirational presentations. In parallel, clubs will also be able to receive funding to host “Amazing Tips Seminars” intended for parents, coaches, and sports leaders working with young female athletes.

Fast and Female presented by Best Buy is presently accepting applications from clubs interested in hosting regional Ski and Chat Events, Fit and Fun Series as well as select sites for National events. In the first year of this new program, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy intends to select a minimum of four sites in different Canadian provinces for the Fit and Fun Series as well as a minimum of four sites in different provinces for the Winter Ski and Chat Events.

Interested clubs can request an application by contacting info@fastandfemale.com. Applications should be submitted by August 15, 2009. Fast and Female hopes to have a complete schedule of events for the remainder of 2009 and 2010 by September 15, 2009. Funding remains available for Fall 2009 events, so applicant clubs may submit their candidatures for this period before July 30, 2009.

Fast and Female presented by Best Buy is a not-for-profit organization started in 2005 by Olympic Gold Medal cross-country skier Chandra Crawford. The organization s mission of “Empowerment Through Sport” is accomplished through fun-filled initiatives. Fast and Female is about more than a great time on skis; it’s about building confidence and leadership skills in girls and young women while showing them how much they have to gain from an active lifestyle. The young girls who attend Fast and Female events today will lead it in the future. For more information about Fast and Female, visit www.fastandfemale.com.