Liberty University to sponsor professional skier Jay Panther

Professional skier Jay Panther will be in Lynchburg, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 10, to announce Liberty University as his title sponsor.

Panther, 27, from Louisville, Ky., is returning to the university after winning 2012 World Cup starts at the U.S. Freestyle Selections Event in Steamboat Springs, Colo., on Dec. 19, 2011, which earned him the right to compete in the Freestyle World Cup moguls event Jan. 19-21 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Panther trained at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre on the Liberty University campus last fall. The centre is the only year-round ski slope of its kind in North America. Panther also spoke to more than 8,000 students at one of the university’s weekly Convocations and offered free lessons to students.

“Jay is one of the top professionals in the sport of skiing and there is a very realistic possibility he will be in the 2014 Olympics representing the U.S.,” said Lee Beaumont, Liberty’s Director of Auxiliary Services. “He holds Christian values in line with (the) LU mission, and we believe partnering with him will increase the visibility of both Liberty and Snowflex.”

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Panther will represent Liberty at the World Cup events, as well as in his upcoming tour to churches, schools and businesses. He will provide coaching for Liberty’s ski team and general instruction at the Snowflex Centre.

“I think that part of the reason that God has me here is to give this place the national and international exposure it deserves, and you know, I travel all over the world,” Panther said at Liberty in November. “… I’m in love with this place, I feel the love that everyone on this campus has; I feed off that.”

>> Read more about Panther and view a video during his training at Liberty University here.

>> NOTE: Panther will be available for interviews from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre. Members of the media may request an interview through noon on Monday, Jan. 9.