NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH, OCTOBER 2011 – The Friends of New Hampshire Skiing grant program helps New Hampshire’s young competitive skiers and snowboarders become Olympians and international champions. Operated by Ski NH member resorts, the program offers financial assistance to individual skiers and snowboarders to help offset the costs of race training and traveling. College athletes and post-graduate athletes training for international competition are eligible. Interested athletes must have a New Hampshire affiliation either through residence, college or ski club. The deadline for submitting a grant application to Ski NH is November 30, 2011. The grants are awarded based on need and an athlete’s past performance and his or her ability to be in serious contention for a national team or the equivalent.

To receive a grant application, contact Ski NH at (800) 887-5464 or email Ski NH at [email]media@skinh.com[/email]. The grant application can also be downloaded from the media center at Ski NH’s website, www.SkiNH.com .

Last season’s recipients included alpine racers Trevor Leafe of Monroe, Warner Nickerson of Gilford, and Devin Delaney of North Conway. Other recipients competed in several different alpine and Nordic events. Angela Mercieri of Littleton competes in alpine snowboarding. Katrina Howe of Gilford competes in biathlon. Dylan McGuffin is attending the University of New Hampshire and competes in cross country skiing. Cory Snyder of Franconia is a telemark ski racer. Max Garneau of Twin Mountain competes in skiercross.

Friends of NH Skiing also contributed $20,000 to support the UNH Ski Team and $7,000 to support the Plymouth State University Ski Team last season.

Friends of New Hampshire Skiing is the only program of its kind in the United States. Since its inception as Friends of UNH Skiing in 1978, the program has raised more than $850,000. This past season, $37,000 was raised through ticket sales. The tickets, donated by Ski NH member resorts, are packaged and sold to the public with all proceeds dedicated to supporting the training of these athletes.

Ski NH is the statewide association representing 38 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, lodging packages, and winter events at Ski NH resorts, call Ski NH at (800) 88-SKI-NH ( 800-887-5464 ) or visit the Ski NH website at www.SkiNH.com . For statewide media relations assistance, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism’s media room at http://visitnh.gov/media/ or contact Mr. Tai Freligh at 603-271-2343 , option #2.