US Olympic Snowboarder Hannah Teter Trades her Snowboard for a Surfboard in
Tofino

Canadian Tourism Commission's Connecting with Canadians Program

TOFINO, BC, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Where do you take an Olympic champion snowboarder who has seen it all? To Canada's surf capital to hang 10.

Hannah Teter , a 2006 Winter Games gold medalist and 2010 hopeful, is in Tofino, British Columbia, with her family to catch some waves and connect with locals before she returns to BC in February for another shot at gold.

Through the Connecting with Canadians program, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and its tourism partners are sending elite international athletes and their families to Canada . The families and athletes have the chance to meet locals, have adventures and make memories before the competitors return to make Olympic and Paralympic history. The CTC will share their experiences with key media markets to inspire the world to travel to Canada .

Coming from a family of snowboarders in Vermont, Hannah has been snowboarding since she was eight years old. In 2003, she became the youngest member of the US Snowboarding Team. At 19, she won gold in Torino in the halfpipe competition and is looking for more in 2010.

"We're excited to have Hannah and her family embracing the raw beauty of Tofino," says Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the CTC. "The 2010 Games are putting Canada in the spotlight and having Hannah here helps share Canada's amazing travel experiences with her fans in the United States and around the world."

"Tourism British Columbia is thrilled with the opportunity to welcome the Teter family to British Columbia and to the Tofino area in particular. We hope their experiences here will encourage other Americans to visit," says Carol Nelson , Director of North American Marketing, Tourism BC.

About the CTC

The CTC is Canada's national tourism marketing organization. Our vision is inspiring the world to explore Canada . With our partners in the tourism industry and the governments of Canada , the provinces and the territories, we advertise and market Canada in 12 countries around the world, conduct industry research and studies, and promote product and industry development. For daily updates on CTC initiatives, subscribe to CTC News, available through RSS feeds and by e-mail.

    
    Resources

    -   Biography of Hannah Teter

                                  BIOGRAPHY
    

Hannah Teter is an American snowboarder from Belmont, Vermont, known for her consistent and technical riding in the halfpipe. She won a gold medal in the women's halfpipe competition at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Teter hails from a famous snowboarding family. Her older brother Amen is her agent and manager, while her brothers Abe and Elijah are also competitive snowboarders. Teter started snowboarding at the age of eight.

In addition to her busy competition schedule, Teter has a charity called Hannah's Gold, which sells Vermont Maple Syrup. The proceeds go to World Vision to help feed hungry children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Teter has appeared on entertainment shows such as ManiaTV! and Late Show with David Letterman .

For further information: Jitka Licenik, Corporate Communications Advisor/Conseillère en communications, Canadian Tourism Commission/Commission canadienne du tourisme, Tel/Tél [phone], Fax/Téléc [phone], [email protected], www.mediacentre.canada.travel