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Message from Peter Judge Since assuming the position of CEO on May 1st, my belief in a bright future for the sport of freestyle skiing in Canada has only grown. This is an organization with an incredible legacy to believe in, and an amazing present to admire. Since the birth of the sport in 1980, Canadian athletes have won almost exactly 1000 World Cup medals, have won 27 individual World Cup titles, 42 World Championship medals, and nine Olympic medals. In the 2003/2004 season the team won 35 World Cup medals … by 12 different athletes. Jennifer Heil became the World Cup Mogul Champion and Steve Omischl not only won the World Cup Aerials title but was also crowned the Overall FIS Freestyle World Cup Champion... Incredible. Our grassroots program is growing and we have a passionate, dedicated and active group of club level volunteers. This is the breeding ground for the next generation of World and Olympic Champions. With a new sponsor for our entry level program, RBC Financial Group, we expect to grow participation at a great rate. With passion and hard work a new water ramp training facility has been built at Le Relais near Quebec City. This will become the training centre for our national team and should serve as the impetus to rebuild the programs that generated the fabled Quebec Air Force. New sponsors have come onboard, and traditional supporters continue to provide us with both financial and moral support. In the last 12 months we have signed two new team sponsors … RBC Financial Group and Bell Canada. Our long-time sponsor Canada Post continues to provide incredible backing. Spyder, Auclair/Paris Glove, Ericsson and others also continue to provide great support. As we move into a World Championship year, and approach the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, and of course to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, we are not without challenges. Our ability to continue to develop World and Olympic Champions, and to provide the opportunities for our athletes to compete here in Canada, will be dependent on our ability to attract more financial resources. Not only from the private sector but from all sectors of government. We need to build the infrastructure to develop athletes in the new World Cup disciplines of Skicross and Half-pipe. We need to attract and train new officials and coaches. We need to continue to build interest and enthusiasm for our sport with young Canadians. We need to build on our already strong relationship with the Canadian media to ensure our sport and athletes get the coverage they deserve. We need to continue to be inclusive of all stakeholders in our Association. But most of all we have to focus on the athletes in our program. They are an incredible group of young people who represent their sport, their sponsors, their country, and themselves with grace and passion...and who win. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure that this keeps happening. Sincerely, Peter Judge
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Canadian Freestyle
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