Suzuki And Ski & Snowboard Australia Team Up For Another Snow Season

LAVERTON, AUSTRALIA – April 1, 2011: Suzuki Australia has continued its support of winter sport, partnering with Ski & Snowboard Australia for the upcoming Suzuki National Snow Sport Championships.

The winter series represents the highest level of competition in Australia and aims to foster new snow sport talent in the country. It comes on the back of Australia’s most successful twelve months in Australian winter sport history with four Aussies being crowned World Champions last year and multiple gold medals at the Vancouver Olympics.

The Suzuki National Snow Sport Championships will take place from 6 – 27 August amongst the Victorian and New South Wales alpine resorts of Mt Hotham, Perisher, Thredbo and Falls Creek.

Athletes will compete across the four disciplines of alpine skiing, snowboarding, freestyle and cross-country skiing with the series featuring many of Australia’s national and Olympic Team athletes together with international competitors from over 20 nations.

The winter partnership will also see Suzuki become major sponsors of the 2011 Australian Ski & Snowboard Awards on April 28, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Australia's snowsport athletes and coaches over the past twelve months.

Hosted by Ski & Snowboard Australia, the awards bring together many prominent members of the snow sport industry including Australia's best winter athletes and coaches, resorts, media and the retail sector.

The renewing of the partnership with Ski & Snowboard Australia comes hot-on-the-heels on the announcement by Suzuki of world-champion aerialist Lydia Lassila as its first brand ambassador.

In announcing the partnership, Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers said he was proud to be associated with the sport and developing the future snow stars of Australia.

“Worldwide, Suzuki has a long association with winter sports so we’re delighted to continue our relationship with Ski & Snowboard Australia, particularly now that Lydia has joined the team too,” said Devers.

“Research already proves that snow sport is one of Australia’s largest participation sports and these championships represent the definitive level of competition for such enthusiasts.

“We have some red-hot athletes competing in this competition and it’s the perfect opportunity for us to show off our brand of go-anywhere 4x4 champions – the all-conquering Grand Vitara and the compact crossover SX4. The ideal car choice for snow-going motorists plus all the comfort and versatility for the urban jungle.

CEO of Ski & Snowboard Australia, Michael Kennedy, said of the continued association with Suzuki, “we are delighted to welcome Suzuki back as our major partner for 2011.”

“Australian snow sport is in the midst of our most successful period ever, and we look forward to working together to promote and encourage as many athletes of the future to explore the opportunities of winter sport competition.”

In addition to financial support, Suzuki will also provide Ski & Snowboard Australia with support vehicles for use across the organisation’s business development program.

Ski & Snowboard Australia is the internationally recognised authority responsible for the management of competitive snow sports in Australia, from grassroots to the elite level. Athletes such as Torah Bright, Lydia Lassila, Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin and Dale Begg-Smith represent the new wave of successful athletes, sitting alongside other legends of the sport such as Jacqui Cooper, Alisa Camplin, Kirstie Marshall and Zali Steggall.