January 2010 Industry News
Industry
New Tourism Appointments In Kentucky
LOUISVILLE—Elaine Wilson has been named executive director of the Kentucky Office of Adventure Tourism, a division of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet for the State of Kentucky.
As executive director of the Kentucky Office of Adventure Tourism, Wilson will help promote adventure tourism activities, such as hiking, cycling, caving, paddling and horseback riding.
In addition, Henry A. “Hank” Phillips was named deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism. His duties include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department, including the state’s $11 billion tourism industry.
Sanders has been affiliated with ISA since the early 1980s and was integral to the organization’s expansion and development in the Southeast. He has more than 30 years’ experience in sports and events; in his current position at Panama City Beach CVB, Sanders is responsible for recruiting sports business to the area.
In addition to being inducted into the ISA Hall of Fame, Sanders was inducted into the Georgia State USSSA Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
FLW Outdoors Increases Payout For Walleye Tour
MINNEAPOLIS—FLW Outdoors has announced an optional payout for the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour. The new payout option would award an additional $17,000 to the winning professional angler and $3,000 to the winning co-angler, based on 150 professional and 150 co-anglers and through 30th place. The participation fee for the optional payout is $400 for pros and $100 for co-anglers.
In addition, an optional payout for the FLW Walleye Tour Championship would award an additional $10,000 to the winning pro and $2,500 to the winning co-angler, based on 50 pros and 50 co-anglers and through 50th place. The participation fee is $750 for pros and $250 for co-anglers.
The optional payouts are in addition to the regular payouts and are available only to participating pros and co-anglers. Complete payback tables are available at FLWOutdoors.com.
FLW Outdoors also announced new and renewed partnerships, including Ranger Boats, US Bank, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., Rapala, The Bass Federation and Cabela’s.
Events
Grand Prix Series Continues Into 2010
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The USA Swimming Grand Prix Series that began Nov. 13, 2009, in Minneapolis continues with seven remaining events in 2010. The first event of 2010 will be the Southern California Grand Prix Jan. 15-18 in Long Beach, Calif. The final event will be the Janet Evans Invitational Grand Prix July 8-11 in Los Angeles.
The swimmer who accumulates the most points from all events combined will win the $20,000 prize money. Points are awarded based on gold (five points), silver (three points) and bronze-medal (one point) performances at each event. The prize money will be awarded at the final event in Los Angeles in July.
The USA Swimming Grand Prix Series can be watched online at Swimnetwork.com.
ING Extends Sponsorship Of NYC Marathon
NEW YORK—ING has announced the extension of its title sponsorship of the New York City Marathon. ING will continue to sponsor the race through 2013.
The original agreement was signed in 2003 and was previously renewed twice.
In the last two years, more than 100,000 runners applied for the race; approximately half of the field comes from outside the United States and about half of American racers are from outside New York.
Resort Hosts Winter FlowRider Competition
LAKE HARMONY, Pa.—Split Rock Resort hosted the inaugural Winter FLOW Competition, “Flow ‘n Snow in the Poconos,” Jan. 9 at the resort’s 53,000-square-foot H2Oooohh indoor waterpark.
The waterpark, which opened in October 2008, features the Komodo Dragon FlowRider, an indoor surf simulator for boogie boarding and board surfing.
Split Rock Resort also will an event on the 2010 Wave Loch FLOW Series Tour this summer. A date has not been announced.
Sunburst Races Partners With Anthony Travel
DALLAS—Anthony Travel has been chosen as the official travel partner for Sunburst Races, based in South Bend, Ind. Anthony Travel will provide travel options and arrangements—including travel packages, air travel, and hotel and ground transportation services—for athletes.
Sunburst Races will be held June 4-6. The races will include 5K and 10K runs and a 5K walk, all beginning at the Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend.
Frisco Hosts 5th Anniversary Winter Games
FRISCO, Texas—The fifth-annual Winter Games of Texas will be played in Frisco Jan. 15-17. The event will include competitions in 14 sports: basketball, Miracle League bowling, dance, fencing, figure skating, flag football, gymnastics, ice hockey, karate, soccer, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling. Events will be held at venues throughout Frisco, including Fieldhouse USA, the ICE at Stonebriar, the Frisco Athletic Center, Dr Pepper Arena, Pizza Hut Park and Frisco ISD Natatorium.
The Winter Games of Texas are produced by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation. Texas Winter Games photos, credit Frisco CVB
Morgantown To Host Basketball Tournament
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—One of four PrimeTime Shootout basketball tournaments will be held in Morgantown Jan. 22-24 at WVU Coliseum and Morgantown High School.
The tournaments showcase top high school basketball teams from across the country. More than 75 Division I top prospects and 40 All-Americans from 24 high schools will participate in the Morgantown tournament. PrimeTime Shootout photos, credit PrimeTime Shootout/The Mega Group
GOVERNING BODIES
Women’s Rugby To Host Canada In Atlantic Cup
BOULDER, Colo.—The USA Rugby Women’s National Team (WNT) will host a two-match Atlantic Cup series against Canada this month. The two events will be held Jan. 12 and Jan. 16 at Tigertown Athletic Complex in Lakeland, Fla.
Both matches will be webcast live via UStream at www.ustream.tv/channel/usa-rugby
The Atlantic Cup is the WNT’s first stop on the road to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England on Aug. 20-Sept. 5.
USOC Names Official Medical Services Provider
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) has announced a strategic partnership with D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center, making it the USOC’s official medical services provider through the 2012 Olympic Games.
D.I.S.C. will collaborate with the USOC sports medicine team to develop and implement a comprehensive sports medicine program that will offer U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls access to D.I.S.C.’s wide array of sports medicine specialists and outpatient care. D.I.S.C. will administer USOC medical records and streamline medical care so that athletes, physicians and USOC medical personnel can track care and records in real time from anywhere in the world.
Make-A-Splash Programs Receive Grants
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—USA Swimming has awarded a total of $50,000 in grant monies to 12 “Make-A-Splash” local partners. The grants were disbursed in late December 2009.
The 12 programs, selected from 50 program applicants, received up to $5,000 each. The grants will help “Make A Splash” local partners expand free or low-cost swimming lessons and other water safety education programs to kids in need.
For the list of local programs receiving grants or to learn more about the “Make A Splash” program, visit www.swimfoundation.org.
Film Project To Celebrate American Skating
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A documentary film project celebrating American figure skating is expected to be released in 2011, U.S. Figure Skating announced. Research and planning are already under way.
The film will also honor the 1961 World Team, which died in a plane crash en route to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. U.S. Figure Skating established the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund in honor of those who died, to provide financial assistance to qualified U.S. Figure Skating skaters. In marking the 50th anniversary of the plane crash, the film will also be used to help further the Memorial Fund’s mission.
Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern’s Lookalike Productions will produce the film. The production company has earned 16 Emmy Awards for television and film projects.
LockerBlogger Partners With USA Powerlifting
NEW YORK—LockerBlogger has been selected by USA Powerlifting as its official social platform to connect athletes and fans. LockerBlogger integrates blogging and social networking to provide fans exclusive inside access to athletes.
Through LockerBlogger, USA Powerlifting members can create their own personal “lockers,” or pages, for blogging, posting videos and photos, and communicating directly with powerlifting fans. In addition, USA Powerlifting will have its own official page on LockerBlogger.
24 Hour Fitness Announced As Official Fitness Partner
SALT LAKE CITY—US Speedskating has named 24 Hour Fitness as its official health and fitness club. In addition, 24 Hour Fitness is a Proud Partner of US Speedskating through the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
Under the partnership, 24 Hour Fitness obtains rights to use US Speedskating marks and logos and receives banner placement at American Cup and championship events. In exchange, 24 Hour Fitness provides US Speedskating athletes with discounted memberships to 24 Hour Fitness Clubs across the country.
MasterCraft Signs Six-Year Agreement With IWWF
UNTERAEGEN, Switzerland—The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) has entered into a six-year agreement with MasterCraft. The agreement designates MasterCraft as the official tow-boat provider for IWWF World Championships and Tournament, Disabled Waterskiing, Wakeboard, and the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup series.
