Update to Team, Stakeholders, Partners, and Canada Snowboard Family
Good Day Team, Stakeholders, Partners, and Canadian Snowboard Family,
As we know, so much has evolved in the last week, days, hours, as we all manage the challenges together as Canadians, as a Snowboard Community, we know there will be some tough times in front of us and we will overcome these challenges and use this as an opportunity to learn and propel ourselves to become an even stronger community and snowboard nation.
A few key updates, and we will continue to monitor and evolve these updates weekly and as necessary.
High Performance National Team and Next Gen:
Slopestyle/Big Air - Teams are home, currently healthy and safe - no formally planned activities until mid-May.
Half Pipe - Athletes are home, currently healthy and safe - no formally planned activities until mid-May.
Snowboard Alpine - Athletes are home, 1 athlete and 1 coach en route to arrive tonight, 1 Coach is European based currently, are healthy and safe - no formally planned activities until mid-May.
Snowboard Cross - Athletes are home, currently healthy and safe - no formally planned activities until mid-May.
Para - Snowboard - Athletes are home, currently healthy and safe - no formally planned activities until mid-May.
All athletes have been advised of necessary precautions and preventative measures whether having traveled internationally or otherwise. Further, all athletes have been given ongoing updates from our sport partners as well as key updates from our Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as well as having access to direct email and telephone communication to our CMO and High Performance management.
We’d like to thank all athletes, coaches, support staff, and this snowboard community at large for their support and understanding during these challenging times as we have had to make difficult decisions. Please be assured that we are continuing to work diligently and forward focused on our OTP submission, as we will continue as scheduled with VIRTUAL meetings on April 3, 2020.
Sport and System Development
We would like to thank everyone for a great 2019/20 season, we have accomplished so much together as a snowboard community within each stage of our LTAD. We had record breaking success with each of our programs and events, and while we had to make difficult decisions in recent cancellations - we appreciate the support and aligned decision making with all of our 12 PTSA partners in full alignment.
As of today, all PTSA’s have ceased formal activity, we are seeing multiple resort closures across the country and anticipate more, and ultimately the potential of all resorts closing for a period of time and possible suspension for the 2020 winter season. As we hear more from both the medical community, and our partners, we will advise on next steps for on snow training activities and their appropriate commencement.
Business Development
We are working closely with our current domestic partners, who know we are ready to meet with as soon as they are able. Our International partner, Li Ning, whose business operations are ramping back up in China, since their successful containment of the virus, is back working in close partnership with our Business Development staff on product design.
Our teams are working hard to ensure our marketing and communication campaigns are being built for 2020/2021, while ensuring the economic impact and data from all of the great work this past season, is clearly leveraged to demonstrate what a great opportunity Canada Snowboard and our athletes are to associate your brand with.
Business Operations
Canada Snowboard Staff, IST (where possible), contractors have been formally requested to work from home until further notice. Please be advised that Cyber Attacks are increasing, and Security monitoring will be increased.
Our Risk Management and Business Continuity plans are being enhanced and detailed to ensure we keep operations at the high-performance pace we expect and need from ourselves.
We are here for you as members of our community, we will meet often by phone and visually on our computer screens, we need to stay stoked and be ready for an even better 2020/2021 as we continue to take Snowboarding to the next level in Canada and across the globe.
Thank you,
Other Resources:
USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
