October 30, 2006 (Canmore, AB.) – Less than a week after major upgrades were announced for their home training base at the Bill Warren Training Centre in Canmore, Alta., Canada’s elite cross-country ski athletes received more good news with a new sponsorship agreement that will see Halti OY, a leading-edge Finland-based clothing manufacturer, assume the role as their official outerwear and competition clothing supplier, Cross Country Canada announced on Monday.

Halti, who has developed and produced high-quality outdoor outfits and equipment for three decades, cemented this new relationship with Cross Country Canada for the next five years. As a result, Halti will supply all warm-up gear, race suites and outerwear including parka and rain clothing for the national teams. Over the term of the sponsorship, Halti will also provide backpacks, tailoured racing gear and an assortment of product designed to ensure the Canadian team has the perfect fit to win.

With a contract value of more than $700,000, this new partnership represents a significant financial benefit for both elite and up-and-coming cross-country ski athletes in Canada.

“We are extremely pleased to have Halti commit to our program for the next five years,” said Al Maddox, executive director, Cross Country Canada. “Our preparation for, and our performance in 2010, will definitely be enhanced by Halti’s expertise in high tech apparel. This deal represents a collaborative and innovative partnership, and it extends support beyond our senior team into our junior national team and national training centre programs across the country.”

Halti designs and manufactures clothing collections for various outdoor pursuits, including hiking, climbing, alpine and cross-country skiing, golf and snowboarding. Halti is currently the Finnish market’s leading outdoor clothing brand. The company’s exports sales of cutting-edge, technical outdoor clothing have grown markedly in recent years. International sales accounted for 20 per cent of Halti’s turnover in 2006.

Halti’s products, which earned profits of 25-million Euros this past fiscal year, are ehELdistributed in Canada by Diamond Head Sports, based in Whistler, B.C.

“We are excited to merge the strong Finnish tradition in the nordic sports with the rising success of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team in the international arena,” said Risto Salo, president, Halti OY. “This partnership will enable Cross Country Canada and Halti to continue to strive for excellence. Cooperation in development of the latest technologies will assist Cross Country Canada, and its programs, in the quest for podium performances and preparation over the next five years.”

In teaming up with Halti, Cross Country Canada has aligned itself with an enthusiastic booster of high-performance winter sport, both in its long-running relationship with the Finnish alpine ski team and involvement in international sport events. In its own commitment to excellence, Halti has greatly increased its brand visibility by assuming the roles of partner and official clothing supplier for the 2007 and 2009 World Alpine Ski Championships. Halti is also on board as a major sponsor and official clothing supplier for the 2007 World Nordic Ski Championships in Sapporo, Japan.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Para-Nordic Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan, Director of Communications, CODA
403-247-5423, cdornan@coda.ca

OR

Joze Sparovec, Halti OY – Diamond Head Sports
604-905-8599, joze@diamondheadsports.com