Championing David’s Path to Success — An Elite Kiwi Athlete’s Winter Games Dream!
Help me represent Aotearoa, NZ on the world stage as I train toward the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships. Every bit of help will count!
Nationwide
I am an alpine skier who began with Special Olympics NZ and now represent New Zealand under Virtus International, the global governing body for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Paralympics NZ, the national member organisation for Virtus, responsible for elite athlete pathways, has endorsed and classified me to compete for New Zealand under Virtus, where I am the only athlete in my classification, as listed on the Virtus Eligibility Master List: https://virtus.sport/eligibility-master-list.
Notably, I am a Double Gold Medallist at the 2007 and 2011 Special Olympics National Winter Games and represented New Zealand at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, winning Bronze in Slalom and placing 6th in Super Giant Slalom and 7th in Giant Slalom. That said, I volunteered at major international events, including the Inaugural 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, and served on the 60th Committee for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Aotearoa New Zealand.
Due to funding constraints, I was unable to attend the most recent Virtus Championships, and it is vital that I raise the required amount to compete. I urgently need support to resume training for future Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, the NZ Para National Championships, and to progress toward funding opportunities with High Performance Sport New Zealand.
If you can support me financially as a partner in my athlete journey, I would be proud to display your company logo on my gear.
Use of funds
All money raised will comprehensively cover the costs, such as the training fees, travel expenses (such as flights and transportation), accommodation, competition entry fees, and any other relevant costs.
Other page links
Latest update
Latest and Final Update: Urgent Support Needed for this Year’s Winter Season and for Upcoming Championships! 11 March 2026
Due to the lack of financial support and backing from organisations and companies, they are turning my request down. As a result, I have unfortunately missed the deadlines to participate in the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, and in Kitzbühel, Austria, events for which I was hoping to represent our country.
Regardless of this, due to the fact that I have now missed the deadline for the final European Winter event held in Gourette, France, for the Virtus International Alpine Skiing event schedule, and due to the fact that I haven’t fulfilled the financial requirement to compete in Gourette, France.
Consequently, I have failed to meet the requirements to compete at the Virtus FIS-sanctioned Alpine Ski Championships in Gourette, France. That said, I have decided to save the current amount raised and am still seeking to raise the remaining amount required to put towards my participation in the upcoming NZ Nationals, which could be the same situation as last year, when the year was so unpredictable. Notably, it is of great disappointment that I cannot participate internationally this year, due to the fact that I have failed to secure the said amount to do so, and it has pushed back my schedule of securing full funding from HPSNZ, as it is vitally required for me to participate internationally and to bring back a medal as such.
Finally, I would be grateful if you could provide any information as to where I could make further approaches for funding.
Latest donations
Thank - you for your kind donation in support of my efforts to pursue my pathway as an elite athlete; it is greatly appreciated. Thus, it will help me with my intensive training regimen, enabling me to reach my peak performance in the lead-up to the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, which are scheduled to take place early next year. Thanks once again for your support.
Thank - you for your kind donation in support of my efforts to pursue my pathway as an elite athlete; it is greatly appreciated. Thus, it will help me with my intensive training regimen, enabling me to reach my peak performance in the lead-up to the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, which are scheduled to take place early next year. Thanks once again for your support.
Thank - you for your kind donation in support of my efforts to pursue my pathway as an elite athlete; it is greatly appreciated. Thus, it will help me with my intensive training regimen, enabling me to reach my peak performance in the lead-up to the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, which are scheduled to take place early next year. Thanks once again for your support.
Thank - you for your kind donation in support of my efforts to pursue my pathway as an elite athlete; it is greatly appreciated. Thus, it will help me with my intensive training regimen, enabling me to reach my peak performance in the lead-up to the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, which are scheduled to take place early next year. Thanks once again for your support.
Thank - you for your kind donation in support of my efforts to pursue my pathway as an elite athlete; it is greatly appreciated. Thus, it will help me with my intensive training regimen, enabling me to reach my peak performance in the lead-up to the Virtus Open Alpine Ski Championships, which are scheduled to take place early next year. Thanks once again for your support.
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