We are excited to announce the official launch of this year's SYNC Athlete Fund. Check out the press release here, we are looking forward to another great season!
SYNC Performance launches second annual $50,000 SYNC Athlete Fund grant program taking aim at the funding gap for US Ski Racers
Colorado ski apparel company increases commitment to support performance athletes and help them reach their goals.
VAIL, Colo.—June 17, 2020—SYNC Performance, the ski apparel, and race equipment company based in Vail, Colorado, recently launched for the second year, a $50,000 grant program to help fill the funding gap for ski racing athletes representing the United States in their quest for the highest levels of competition. The SYNC Athlete Fund makes grants to offset training and competition costs for the most promising and deserving athletes in the sport.
“The SYNC Athlete Fund’s mission is to build a better future for the sport of ski racing by inspiring, empowering, and supporting the next generation of racers. With the number of applications received last season, it is clearly a widespread challenge faced in our sport. We are excited to launch another round of direct funding to athletes in need, as we feel it is the most effective way we can help remove financial obstacles in their journey to the top,” said Kris Ochs, SYNC Performance CFO, and former NCAA ski racer. “It’s about challenging the status quo and channeling resources to support a wider, stronger base of skiers, something we hope inspires others to do the same.”
SYNC’s direct athlete funding is an extension of it’s ongoing grassroots support of clubs, athletes, independent race teams, and non-profit partners. With the national team only funding a select few athletes who meet criteria, SYNC will support athletes as they train and compete outside fully funded programs and fight to earn World Cup spots as proven in past success stories of athletes like Brian McLaughlin, Robby Kelley, Wiley Maple, and Foreste Peterson.
In the 2019-20 season, the SYNC Athlete Fund awarded 26 grants to athletes ranging from $500-5,000, across all regions of the US from age groups U16 and up. From summer training camps to mid-season racing, all athletes reported putting the funds toward opportunities that they would otherwise not have had.
“Life as an athlete is a constant balancing act of competing demands, juggling training schedules, travel, equipment, and education,'' continued Ochs. “At SYNC, we strive to create a future where the strength of the sport allows promising talent to cross off ‘full-time fundraising’ from those variables and refocus that effort on delivering their best performances.”
Application window for athlete funding for the 2020/2021 season now open; applications due August 31st and grant awards announced on October 1st.
Learn more at https://www.syncperformance.com/pages/sync-athletes
About SYNC Performance
Founded in 2014, SYNC Performance is an independent company with a mission to fulfill the needs of performance athletes. Using technical knowledge and expertise from independent ski racers and teams as well as feedback from hard-charging former racers turned big mountain and backcountry skiers, SYNC’s apparel is developed and designed for performance, durability, functionality, and style that appeals to the year-round lifestyle of mountain athletes. Learn more at www.syncperformance.com