Suzuki Teams with Ski & Snowboard Australia for Another Winter Championships

LAVERTON, AUSTRALIA – June 12, 2012: Suzuki Australia has continued its support of winter sport, partnering for another year with Ski & Snowboard Australia (SSA) for the upcoming Suzuki National Snowsport Championships.

The winter series represents the highest level of competition in Australia and aims to foster new snowsport talent in the country. It comes as Australia’s winter elite start building for success at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The championships will take place in August among the Victorian and New South Wales alpine resorts of Mt Hotham, Mt Buller, 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.

Suzuki Australia continues to build a strong relationship with Ski & Snowboard Australia as well as two of its finest exponents; world champions Lydia Lassila and Alex Chumpy Pullin.

In announcing the continuation of the partnership, Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers said he was proud to be associated with the sport in 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, which builds on the relationship with our ambassadors Lydia and Chumpy,” said Devers.

“Research 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 snow athletes competing in this competition and so the competition is 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. They make an ideal choice for snow-going motorists.”

Ski & Snowboard Australia CEO Michael Kennedy said the company was delighted to extend the partnership with Suzuki which now enters its third season.

"We are thrilled to have Suzuki on board once again as a major partner of SSA."

"Snow sport is going from strength to strength in Australia right now. It is one of Australia's largest participation sports and we are looking forward to partnering with Suzuki in the lead up to the next Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014."

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 snowsports in Australia, from grassroots to the elite level.