Athletes & Teams Collaboration Program – Overview

Our Athletes & Teams Program is a collaborative partnership designed to support Athletes & Teams while creating authentic, purpose-driven merchandise.

Athletes & Teams work directly with our brand to help design and promote custom merchandise such as t-shirts, apparel, and other products that are sold in our online shop. These designs are often inspired by the Athlete’s or Team's sport, lifestyle, values, or personal story, making each collaboration unique and meaningful.

Through this program:

Athletes or Teams collaborate on exclusive designs or specialty collections that reflect who they are and what they represent.
Merchandise sales help financially sponsor the Athletes or Teams, providing direct support for training, competition, travel, or other athletic needs.
Athletes & Ambassadors promote the products through their personal networks, events, and social platforms, helping authentically spread awareness.
Our brand handles production, fulfillment, and logistics, allowing athletes & Teams to focus on their sport while still benefiting from merchandise sales.

This program is built on mutual growth:

Athletes or Teams gain financial backing, brand exposure, and a way to connect with supporters.
Supporters get high-quality, meaningful products tied directly to the Athlete or Team they’re backing.
The brand builds genuine partnerships rather than traditional sponsorships.

Overall, it’s a modern sponsorship model that blends collaboration, creativity, and community support—turning merchandise into a way for fans to directly invest in the athletes they believe in.

Duranski Athletics is built around an athlete-first mission. Our pricing structure is intentionally designed so that athletes and teams receive above-average support compared to traditional merchandise programs.

Rather than maximizing brand-only profit, we prioritize:

Direct athlete funding
Team sustainability
Long-term development

Standard Athlete Profit Share

Option A – Percentage Model (Primary Model)

Athlete or team receives 20–35% of net profit per item sold

Option B – Hybrid Cash + Gear Model

Athlete receives:
- 15–25% cash profit share, plus
- 5–10% additional value in apparel credits

This ensures athletes have both financial support and reliable access to training and competition gear.

How Your Purchase Supports Athletes & Teams

Duranski Athletics uses a support-forward pricing model, meaning a meaningful portion of every sale goes directly toward funding Athletes & Teams.

Athlete & Team Support Per Item

Depending on the product and collaboration level, each purchase contributes the following support amounts:

These are price examples

T-Shirt ($25): $5–$8 supports the athlete or team
Performance Tee ($30–$35): $7–$10 supports the athlete or team
Hoodie ($60): $12–$18 supports the athlete or team
Hat ($25): $5–$7 supports the athlete or team
Jacket ($95): $18–$25 supports the athlete or team

Support amounts vary based on production volume and collaboration level.

Meet our Athletes & Teams

Ryan Durand

Ryan Durand is an American biathlete with a lifelong foundation in Nordic skiing, having first stepped onto skis at the age of eight. After more than a decade of developing endurance, technique, and resilience in Nordic racing, he transitioned into biathlon in 2021 and quickly committed himself to the sport’s unique blend of high-intensity skiing and precision shooting. Since then, Ryan has been training and competing with the long-term goal of racing at the Biathlon World Cup level, combining disciplined physical preparation with a constant drive to improve on the range and on snow. His athletic background, work ethic, and upward trajectory reflect a focused pursuit of excellence at the highest levels of international biathlon.

Ella Gaylord

Ella Gaylord is an accomplished endurance athlete and Nordic ski instructor with a background rooted in both competitive sport and athlete development. She competed in Nordic skiing for all four years of high school, earning a top-15 finish at the Michigan state finals, and has continued to challenge herself at the highest levels of endurance racing, including competing at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Spain.

Ella currently works as a Nordic Ski Instructor at Crystal Mountain, where she focuses on meeting skiers at their level and helping them build efficient technique, confidence, and enjoyment on snow. She is PSIA Level 1 certified and brings a strong understanding of movement and physiology through her studies in Exercise Science at Grand Valley State University. With experience as both a high-level competitor and an instructor, Ella values clear communication, thoughtful progression, and a positive learning environment. She is excited to share her enthusiasm for Nordic skiing while supporting athletes in reaching their personal goals.

How Athletes or Teams Can Apply

Athletes or Teams who are interested in joining the Athlete & Teams Collaboration Program can apply directly through Durandski Athletics.

To be considered, Athletes or Teams simply need to reach out and share:

A brief overview of their sport, athletic background, or Team
Their goals, values, and what they stand for as an Athlete or Team
Any ideas they may have for collaboration, design concepts, or specialty products

Duranski Athletics reviews each inquiry to ensure the partnership is a good fit and aligned with the Athlete’s or Team’s vision and the program’s mission. Selected Athlete or Team will then work closely with our team to develop custom merchandise, outline sponsorship goals, and launch their collaborative collection.

This application process allows us to build intentional, authentic partnerships with athletes who are motivated to grow, represent their sport well, and engage meaningfully with their supporters.