Manifesto Sport Management 220-10 Street NE Calgary, Alberta Canada T2E 4M1

Ben Saxton and Chaim Schalk, Beach Volleyball

Targeting: Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, FIVB World Tour Title and Rio 2016 Olympics Event: Beach Volleyball Twitter: @chaimschalk Instagram: @chaimer Travel from: Vancouver

Athletic Highlights: • 2013 World Championships – 5th • 2013 FIVB World Tour – 5 top 10 finishes • 2011 Canadian Champion (Saxton) • 2010 Canadian Champion (Schalk) Background: After a breakout season on the FIVB World Tour in 2013 including an impressive 5th place finish at the World Championships – the best result ever for Canada – the beach volleyball team of Ben Saxton and Chaim Schalk have moved from young upstarts to legitimate contenders. With a rare combination of size and speed, Saxton and Schalk added 5 top 10 finishes in the FIVB World Tour and began to focus on more ambitious goals as team – winning the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and a place on the podium at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Since the sport’s debut in Atlanta 1996, beach volleyball has delivered good times and great moments at the Olympic Games becoming the most popular live venue spectators and among the most watched sports in the world. In Toronto 2015, the party will be coming to the beach and Canadian fans will get

to know the young and talented team of Saxton and Schalk. And, when the sport returns to its birthplace in Copacabana Beach for Rio 2016, the whole world will be watching. Ben Saxton – Born into Volleyball Royalty Ben is the son of indoor volleyball Olympian Don Saxton, and National Team member Mylène Camu-Saxton. He grew up around both the indoor and beach disciplines and excelled at both on a national scale, winning back-to-back CIS National Championships with the University of Alberta Golden Bears as well as being named to the Team Canada for beach volleyball when he was 18 years old. He branched off from indoor to pursue beach full-time in 2009 and by 2011, he and then partner, Christian Redmann, were Canada’s top performing team internationally. In the summer of 2012, Ben and Christian were a major factor in qualifying a men’s beach volleyball berth into the Olympic Games in London, but lost a single, winner takes all, Olympic Trials match to the then 2nd ranked Canadian team which ended the hopes of attending the games that year. Frustrated and doubly motivated, Ben paired up with Chaim Schalk, a fellow Albertan with a similar work ethic and mindset. In search of the best competition in the world, the new pair moved to California. And it paid off with one of the best seasons in Canada’s beach volleyball history. Chaim Schalk – Late Start, Quick Study Chaim grew up in Red Deer, where he began his volleyball career as an indoor player. He competed under team Alberta for 4 summers, and then played his post secondary ball at Trinity Western University, where he developed into a CIS All Canadian. In 2009 he transferred his skills to the beach making his debut with the National Team as a rare 6-foot-5 defender. One year later he won the Canadian National Championships with partner Martin Reader. Sponsorship Inquiries: Whether you’re looking to build your corporate culture or develop enduring relationships with consumers, flexible corporate sponsorship opportunities are available that directly connect Canada’s athletes with your marketing objectives. For promotional appearances and sponsorship inquiries, please contact russell@manifestosport.com. Image: Courtesy of Ahren Cadieux