Skaters on crowd funding websites?

Discussion in 'Great Skate Debate' started by ross_hy, Jul 14, 2013.

  1. ross_hy

    ross_hy Active Member

    There's been a lot of talk in the media lately about Olympic hopefuls turning to crowd-funding websites to help offset higher costs of training and decreasing subsidies. However, I can't really find any skaters out there who are doing the same thing. It's mainly skiers, snowboarders, and speed skaters. There appears to be two major websites out there: and

    I did find one ice dancing team who has a page on They are Plutowska and Gerber of Poland. Here is their page.

    Anybody else see skaters out there on these sites? It would be a good way to have a direct impact on their training.
  2. overedge

    overedge Well-Known Member

    Sasha Cohen used Kickstarter for her Snoxx project, but that's not really to fund skating.

    I think it's difficult for athletes to use these sites, because most of the sites seem to be based on a model of a defined outcome, e.g. a completed product getting on the market. For athletes, the outcome is a little more uncertain - e.g. what happens if they ask for funding to train for the Olympics and then don't qualify or get hurt or something. I know there are skating fans who would support them regardless, but more casual funders might not understand the potential for things going sideways and get upset if the outcome they funded didn't happen.

    I think it might also be difficult for skaters to come up with incentives that would be meaningful for non-skating fans, or that would be easy to deliver. I.e. if I were interested in giving money to a skater training in a different region or country, an incentive like a skating lesson with that skater would be hard to arrange if we weren't both in the same place at the same time with ice time available.
  3. peibeck

    peibeck Letting Poje be on top

    One of the best outlets to help skaters (and take a tax deduction) is the New England Amateur Skating Foundation. They support skaters from all over, and 100% of donations are supposed to go to skaters, and you can ask that your donation be sent to a specific athlete. (The skater, or pair, has to have applied to get assistance from this fund to be eligible.)

    New England Amateur Skating Foundation
    P.O. BOX 6881
    Providence, RI. 02940

    Michael Weiss' foundation also help fund skaters.
  4. MountainTime

    MountainTime Member

    The U.S. Athletic Foundation is hosting An Evening On Ice this weekend in Los Angeles. The show is hosted by Tai and Randy.
    Several skaters have received funding from this generous charity founded by Tricia and Nicholas LaRoche. Alissa Czisny, Lindsay Davis, Joshua Farris, Agnes Zawadzki, Mark Ladwig, and Mirai Nagasu are just a few of the elite skaters who have benefited.
    For more information go to to see a list of the outstanding cast for this Saturday's stellar event.
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2013
  5. B.Cooper

    B.Cooper Active Member


    Info for Michael Weiss Foundation:
  6. Sylvia

    Sylvia On to Nationals!

    Bumping up this old thread (ETA that Plutowska/Gerber have split since the original post was made last year) and copying over relevant posts from the U.S. Pairs thread...

    Fellow Belgian skater Kaat Van Daele as well:
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2014
  7. Robin26

    Robin26 Active Member

    Thank you ! I feel for these skaters who have exhausted family funds , their own and due to unforeseen injury have had their dreams sidelined. They refuse to let that stop them. What a great lesson to teach our young people. Never give up. I admire them. :saint: we as fans should all try to help !!!