This season Nina is very excited to be selected for the United States Ski Mountaineering Team and will be competing at the ski mountaineering world championships in Switzerland in the end of February. http://www.smwc2008.ch/ .
She is proud to be a USA woman athlete promoting the sport of ski mountaineering, particularly as a woman and mother of 2 young boys. She will be competing in the European circuit throughout 2008 winter preparing for the World Championships and the famous long distance race in Switzerland – The Patrouille des Glaciers. http://www.pdg.ch/
Nina has been in the field of education, sports and mountains since graduating from University.
She is proud to help promote women in mountain sports. She hopes that through her efforts in ski mountaineering she will help encourage other women and mothers to get out and enjoy the mountains and in doing so help raise awareness for good health through philanthropy. She lives in Chamonix, France with her husband and UIAGM mountain guide, Michael Silitch of http://www.high-alpine.com/ and their two sons, 4 and 2 years old.
The European teams are heavily endorsed by sponsors for equipment, skis, boots, clothing, avi gear and funds to cover race entry and travel expenses. This is not the case in the United States. The US Alpine ski team is heavily sponsored and endorsed by companies. The sport of ski mountaineering in at a grassroots level and the US ski mountaineering team is still seeking sponsors to help their athletes cover costs for gear, clothing, race entries and travel. Athletes are responsible for raising their own funds to cover these expenses.To be competing at a world cup level it is essential to have the best and lightest equipment and this is a heavy price.
Just a few figures for cost:
Skis w/ bindings cost 1500 US dollars
lightweight boots- 1500 dollars as well
poles- 150 dollars
helmet- 100
race suit-150
jacket-150
pants 100
race entry/lodging for World Champs- 550 euros – aprox 750 USD
Other race entries for 2008 aprox 1000 USD
travel expenses- 700 USD
So in a nutshell, it is not cheap and to cover this on one’s own budget and train efficiently is no easy feat.
I am actively looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of equipment, race entries and travel. In sponsoring me, you will help promote the sport of ski mountaineering throughout the world and also encourage and empower women of all ages to take part in sports, look after their health and well being.
Thank you for taking the time to read and if you are interested in a partnership or can help in any way please contact Nina at ninasilitch@gmail.com