SKLZ to Sponsor Final Day of The 2011 Challenged Athletes Foundation Million Dollar Challenge

Final day ride-in celebration ceremony will be held at La Jolla Shores Park

CARLSBAD, CA - The Challenged Athletes Foundation Million Dollar Challenge (MDC) ride is an unforgettable seven-day, 620-mile journey down the breathtaking California coastline. The ride begins on Saturday, October 15 in San Francisco and ends in San Diego at La Jolla Shores Park on Friday, October 21, 2011.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which is expected to commence shortly after 12PM.

As sponsor of the final day, Carlsbad-based SKLZ, is promising the physically challenged athletes in attendance, MDC riders, and their friends and families a fun day complete with interactive games and competitions utilizing the same sports training equipment the company manufactures for athletes around the world.

"Every athlete deserves the ability to take part in the sports they love," said SKLZ CEO, John Sarkisian. "The Challenged Athletes Foundation provides athletes with physical challenges the opportunity to participate and we are proud to support such a cause." 

Sarkisian will be participating in his third straight MDC ride. Over the years he has recruited fellow SKLZ Team Members along the way including SKLZ Vice President of Sales, Mike Carlson, who will be participating in his first ride this year. In order for CAF to reach their $1 million goal, each participating rider in the MDC must "give or get" $10,000.

"After sponsoring last year's final day ride-in, witnessing the humble gratitude from those in attendance, and being moved by their stories, we were compelled to participate again," Sarkisian added. "I'm sure all the SKLZ team members volunteering for the afternoon will do their best to make this event even more memorable than last year's."

Money raised from the Million Dollar Challenge will go towards the payment of handcycles, racing chairs, sports chairs and sports prosthetics for challenged athletes, as well as help to subsidize their competition and training expenses. A single handcycle runs upwards of $2,500 and a prosthetic running foot can average between $10,000 and $15,000.

About CAF:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges get involved, and stay involved, in sports. Headquartered in San Diego with regional chapters, CAF provides unparalleled sports opportunities, hope, education, and inspiration enabling physically challenged individuals to live active lifestyles.

About SKLZ:
SKLZ is the innovator in athletic training, and is the premier developer and marketer of athletic performance and skill development training products for serious athletes of all ages. The flagship brand of Pro Performance Sports, SKLZ delivers broad lines of training products across a variety of sports, including baseball, fastpitch, golf, football, basketball, soccer and more. SKLZ focuses on transforming innovative concepts into effective sports training products that help athletes reach their full potential. With international headquarters in San Diego, California, the company delivers durable, high-performance trainers that can be found internationally at major sporting goods retailers, specialty shops, and mass merchants, as well as on the SKLZ web site at www.SKLZ.com.