CALGARY – Canada’s cross-country ski team will continue to be sponsored the energy company AltaGas, who have extended their financial support to 2015.
AltaGas has sponsored the skiers since 1997 and their extension is valued at over $1 million.
The money supports the ski team, their training centre and a coaching program, as well as provides money to host World Cup events in Canada.
The national and para-nordic skiers will continue to wear the AltaGas logo on their toques, race suits and training clothing.
“It is no coincidence that Canada’s men’s cross-country athletes have rewritten the history books since AltaGas’ injection of over half-a-million dollars into our programs in 2007,” Cross-Country Canada executive director Davin McIntosh said in a statement.
Over the last four years, the Canadian team has won 22 World Cup and world championship medals, including the country’s first world championship gold medal.
Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., and Alex Harvey of St.-Ferreol, Que., won the team sprint at last year’s world championship.
Canada has also earned 24 Paralympic and world para-nordic medals in the last four years. Calgary’s Brian McKeever was a three-time champion at the 2010 Paralympic Games.
