Fast Cash

By Published On: November 6th, 2014Comments Off on Fast Cash

Athletes faced with steep U.S. Ski Team fees find new help in crowdfunding

By the end of the 2013 season, alpine athlete Jackie Wiles had scored the best results of her career: national downhill champion, NorAm super G champion, ninth in downhill at the World Junior Championships and a nomination to the U.S. Ski Team’s C squad.

Then she was hit with the reality of having to come up with $25,000 in team fees in order to accept her nomination. The only way to keep her dream of racing in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games was to find the funds.

Wiles was not alone. Year after year, the majority of USSA’s 185 athletes are asked to pay thousands of dollars in fees to be part of the program. While those who make A-team criteria typically benefit from full funding, everyone else must pony up for access to USSA’s athletic infrastructure — coaches; camp and competition support staff; the Center of Excellence, on-snow training centers; sport science; sports medicine; strength coaches and career counseling.

Tom Kelly chats with Bill Kerig and Luke Bodensteiner at a recent USSA and RallyMe press conference. USSA/Sarah BrunsonTom Kelly chats with Bill Kerig and Luke Bodensteiner at a recent USSA and RallyMe press conference. USSA/Sarah Brunson

Faced with the addition of new teams and rising costs, USSA has been challenged in fundraising efforts, but new partnerships may offer relief for bill-burdened racers. Last year, USSA started a campaign with Salt Lake City-based crowdfunding website RallyMe to help athletes get to Sochi and other snowsports competitions.

In three months, Wiles was able to reach her goal of $12,500 through RallyMe, which was matched by a backer for a total of $25,000. The result? She was able to focus on training and racing without the stress having to plan a big fundraiser.

“RallyMe is a fantastic tool,” says Wiles. “I never realized how many people supported me and wanted to help.”

With 95 athletes raising more than $500,000 — and 28 of those athletes competing in the Sochi Olympics and five winning medals — USSA and RallyMe have just announced an expanded partnership with an exclusive, snowsports-based platform. It means that not only elite athletes, but also all racers at all levels can use RallyMe for fundraising.

AJ Ginnis used RallyMe to raise more than $25,000. GEPA

AJ Ginnis used RallyMe to raise more than $25,000. GEPA

“We know that sport in general — and skiing and snowboarding are no exception to this — is an expensive proposition for families,” says Luke Bodensteiner, the executive vice president of athletics for USSA. “We know the challenge is not limited to national team athletes — athletes at the club level absolutely have fees. This really provides the athletes with a simple solution, but a very effective solution, to reach out into their community of supporters.”

Thanks to social media, crowdfunding is clicking with fans. RallyMe was designed specifically for athletes by Bill Kerig, with the premise that potential superstars have missed out simply because they didn’t have enough money.

“My vision is to make sure that no athlete has to quit their sport for lack of funds when there is a lot of money out there and there is a lot of support,” says Kerig. “There wasn’t the interface between the people who could support the athletes and the athletes themselves. That’s why we created RallyMe. Our vision is that one day it is the standard by which every athlete, athletic organization, team, club, raises money, efficiently, effectively, with dignity and with success.”

"It’s not fun to ask for money," says ski jumper Lindsey Van, who turned to RallyMe for help. GEPA“It’s not fun to ask for money,” says ski jumper Lindsey Van, who turned to RallyMe for help. GEPA

Kerig says the rallies can be up and running within five minutes of making a login account, and donations can be contributed in as little as 20 seconds. There are currently close to 40 active accounts under the new platform, with monetary goals ranging from $4,000 to $30,000. Athletes and clubs make their campaigns personalized with “swag” offers such as a personal thank you note for a $25 donation, or a day of skiing with the athlete for $1000.

RallyMe charges athletes a five percent fee to launch a campaign, with an additional three percent PayPal. Each rally has a limited time frame, chosen by the athlete. Under the new parternship, USSA contributes swag — hats, T-shirts, speed suits and jackets — to national team athletes to use to raise funds.

Ski jumping world champion Lindsay Van says she raised more then $23,000 through RallyMe last season. “I was a little hesitant at first because it’s not fun to ask for money,” she says, “But it’s a lot easier to get $10 from 100 people then it is to get $100 from 10 people.”

AJ Ginnis, an up-and-comer on the men’s Europa Cup team, used RallyMe to generate more than $25,000 to cover his training and racing fees for the season. “I was definitely at a crossroads this year and I chose to do,” says Ginnis. “I’ve been to New Zealand and Chile and improved my world rank so I can’t wait for the season to start.”

ussa.rallyme.com

RallyMe by the Numbers

  • $121: average individual contribution amount for athletes on RallyMe
  • $74: average individual contribution amount for general crowdfunding population
  • 54: average number of boosters who donate per rally
  • 95-plus: number of USSA RallyMe campaigns in past year
  • $500,000-plus: amount raised by USSA on RallyMe in past year
  • $6,500: average raised by each USSA athlete on RallyMe
  • 15: number of USSA clubs that raised between $10,000 and $52,000
  • 28: number of Winter Olympic athletes who raised money for Sochi on RallyMe
  • 5: number of those athletes who won medals at the Sochi 2014 Games

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About the Author: Jessica Kelley

A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Ski Team, Kelley collected three NorAm titles, won GS silver at the 2002 World Junior Championships, and was a member of the 2007 World Championships team during her professional career. She resides in Park City, Utah, with her husband, Adam Cole.