The Pathway

Youth Development

Athlete Development

Competition Support

Advanced Athlete Development (3–5 year horizon)

Alpine ski athletes incur significant costs beyond equipment, driven by the sport's intense regional travel and support requirements. The funding shortages critically impair Alpine athletes' capacity to train, compete and reach new levels, and build sustainable careers, compelling them to depend on personal funding and personal sacrifices to follow their dreams.

BGSF Statement of Activities — Why • How • What

The Bob Gilmour Ski Foundation is a national not-for-profit foundation created in memory of Bob Gilmour, a Canadian Olympian, coach and legend of our sport. We help young Canadian alpine racers, and the coaches who guide them, chase their dreams. From their first club race to national teams and beyond, money shouldn’t decide how far they can go.

Mission: Break financial barriers to help athletes reach their full potential.
Our purpose

  • Raise funds so young skiers can afford the training, development, travel, and mental preparation needed to reach the highest levels of the sport.

  • Focus on helping athletes build a clear path from club racing toward national teams, and beyond.

WHY — Why BGSF exists

  • To remove financial and other barriers that prevent Canadian amateur alpine ski athletes from participating, developing and progressing in the sport of alpine skiing.

    BGSF seeks to create opportunities so that an athlete's financial circumstances do not determine how far they can go in the sport

HOW — How BGSF will achieve this

BGSF will:

  • Build partnerships with ski clubs, coaches, sport organizations, schools, corporations and community organizations.

  • Raise funds through donors, corporations, grants, sponsorships and dedicated funds.

  • Provide financial and other appropriate assistance for athlete development, training, equipment and competition.

  • Support youth participation and coach development.

  • Develop a national network and pathway for Canadian alpine athletes.

  • Measure and report on the impact of its programs.

WHAT — What BGSF will actually do

BGSF will deliver five core areas of activity:

  1. Youth Development — introduce and retain young people in alpine skiing.

  2. Athlete Development — support training, coaching, equipment and athlete progression.

  3. Competition Support — help athletes participate in appropriate competitive opportunities.

  4. Coach Development — develop the coaches who develop the athletes.

  5. National Athlete Development Fund — build dedicated resources to support Canadian amateur alpine athletes.

Future: BGSF may introduce an Advanced Athlete Development Program as its national activities and resources grow.

In one sentence

BGSF exists to remove financial barriers, uses partnerships and fundraising to create opportunities, and delivers programs that develop Canadian amateur alpine ski athletes and coaches while supporting their progression in alpine skiing.

THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Many young amateur alpine skiers face significant costs associated with participating in organized skiing.

Costs may include:

  • Ski access

  • Club membership

  • Coaching

  • Training

  • Camps

  • Equipment

  • Transportation

  • Competition participation

For families experiencing financial difficulty, these costs can restrict or prevent participation.

BGSF's purpose is to reduce these barriers so that financial circumstances do not unnecessarily determine whether an athlete can participate and develop in amateur alpine skiing.BGSF needs the community to stand up and support the future and help us meet the challenges of raising cost to amateur alpine skiers.—