In this article Powderroom.net kicks off a series on the environment. We'll be covering the impact of the environment on the future of snowboard and what you can do to help, as well as the impact of snowboarding and resorts on the environment and what people are doing to help.


When I was younger I would laugh at my older brother who reused envelopes, recycled anything he could and thought 'organic' before it was the thing to do.

15 years on and I am not laughing so much anymore, in fact I am wishing more people thought like him - including myself. You see it's quite simple: as a result of our energy consuming lives we are slowly destroying the planet beyond repair. Sounds a tad melodramatic doesn't it, but if we are to believe the experts this is exactly what is happening.

As snowboarders we all love the mountains but have you thought about how the snowboarding industry could be affecting the Earth's environment and indeed the mountains that you love so much?

Winter warmth

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the winter sports industry with the results already being felt in some areas of the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – a panel of world experts – stated that most of the observed warming over the last 50 years "is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations." The most critical of these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2). The biggest source of which is a result of burning fossil fuels on a huge scale, e.g. power stations and fuel for transport etc. The World Resources Institute reports that humans have added a colossal 2.3 trillion tonnes of CO2 to the earth's atmosphere in the last 200 years, 50% which has been added in the last 30. A rapid increase I am sure you will agree.

UNEP/GRID-Arendal. Increases in annual temperatures for a recent five-year period, relative to 1951-1980. UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library. June 2007. Available at: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/increases-in-annual-temperatures-for-a-recent-five-year-period-relative-to-1951-1980

This resulting increase in trapped CO2 in the atmosphere creates a 'warming blanket' of sorts, the knock on effect is a rise in global temperature, seasonal change and environmentally damaging effects worldwide. The IPCC predicts global temperatures may rise by the end of the century between 1.4°C and 5.8°C. Some of you may think, "end of the century I wont even be around then why worry" but have a thought for those that come after you!

It has to be said that in the short term some areas, such as those in the northern Rockies may in fact benefit from the climatic shift, with increases in snowfall. Great news for some maybe, but this is heavily outweighed by the staggering predictions for many other ski areas worldwide over the next century.

• Increasing temperatures may mean wetter snow and decreased snow pack and therefore less available terrain, which in smaller regional resorts could be problematic. One projection for the Rocky Mountain West suggested that there could be a 70 percent reduction in snow pack by 2050.
  
  
• Receding mountains – i.e. resorts at lower elevations may disappear altogether and skiing may eventually be limited to mountains with base elevations above 5, 000ft. Skiing in some parts of Europe could be a thing of the past like the now defunct Swiss resort of Klosters.
  
  

  Whistler's Symphony Chair in the distance in summer! Could this be the view mid winter in years to come? Photo: Ruth Hartnup

• Loss of alpine glaciers - it is estimated that half the glacier ice in the Alps has disappeared in the last century. The European Environmental Agency and the UN have both reported that 75% of the Swiss Alpine glaciers will be gone by 2050.
  
  
• Winter seasons will become shorter – meaning later opening and earlier closing. This is not good news for places like Australia where the season is already only three months or so.

• Resorts will become more dependent on snowmaking – which is costly and requires a lot of energy. Creating a Catch 22 situation, we love the snow guns because they bring us snow when the resorts need it but they are probably one of the most damaging pieces of equipment on the hill in terms of energy consumption and water usage. A major issue for resorts in Australia, Europe and eastern states in the US.

Ski resorts themselves are not the biggest offender as far as carbon emissions go, but they do consume sizable chunks of electricity for lift operations, snow making equipment, and buildings, as well as guzzle fuel in grooming machinery, snowmobiles and other resort vehicles.

James Kellow from the board sports holiday company Board n Lodge says he "finds it a bit odd that in the current climate (no pun intended) of environmental concern that it has taken the winter sports industry so long to come around to green thinking after all climate change and global warming specifically are and will continue to have the strongest and quickest impact on this sector of the tourism industry."

However, the industry is starting to embrace more environmental alternatives and initiatives to protect their valuable future; this includes some of the largest skiing corporations like Vail Resorts, American Ski Company and Aspen Skiing Company.

© Greenpeace / Rap Rios

More than upwards of 20 resorts in seven states now use wind power credits to supply 100% of their electricity requirements. Sugar Bowl resort in California was the first resort to go 100% renewable. They now purchase renewable energy energy equivalent to planting 310,000 trees or taking 400 cars off the road for one year!

Others are implementing additional projects, such as Sugarbush, Vermont which promotes the use of bio diesel in its grooming and snow moving equipment, The Canyons in Utah uses solar powered lighting. Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts has taken things a step further by building their own wind turbine which is capable of providing up to 50% of the resorts winter electricity demands. Those of you in the US can check out how environmentally friendly your local resort is at www.skiareacitizens.com.

Some resorts also believe that they need to encourage their customers to be proactive offering a Ski Green tag, which when purchased along with season passes or lift tickets; helps reduce the impact of their own activities, such as the pollution caused by driving to their ski area. Check out www.skigreen.org to see if your local mountain offers this. (Currently only in North America)

There so many operations occurring in ski areas that have an environmental impact, too many to included here, check out some of the issues here.

Eco Tourism

By now most of you will have heard about carbon footprints, but if you haven't it is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. Travel/transportation is a primary contributor to this with any travel by car or airplane counting or up to 20% of your total footprint. If you don't happen to be one of the lucky ones that live on the base lodge doorstep, travelling to the mountains is an integral part of snowboarding for most. At a minimum a trip involves getting in the car and driving up the hill and for others going snowboarding means a trip to the airport taking a flight to across the country or even another continent.

Photo: Leslie Clark

UK to New Zealand requires the same amount of fuel as driving a mini around the world 640 times! This may or may not be an exaggeration but the fact remains until planes fly on sustainable fuel we must try and reduce this impact any way we can.

Flying will make the biggest dent by far on your carbon footprint in fact it creates three times more CO2 than any other method. The best way to reduce this, is not flying at all. This is for many not an option, so what are your alternatives? Perhaps seek some alternative travel options, e.g. travel in Europe is extremely efficient by rail with most major resorts within an hour or two a major European city.

If taking the train is not an option, think about offsetting your carbon emissions by paying a little extra for carbon offset credits. Most major airlines offer this option when booking or there are many other carbon offset options, try a Google search for country specific details.

If driving your car your fuel guzzling car up the mountain is your travel option of choice, as an alternative why not hop on a shuttle buses from the resort town to the hill or car pool with some friends to the mountain.

Tarantaise Eco Lodge, France Photo: Board n Lodge

Its highly likely that you will be booking accommodation for your trip to the snow and there are some eco options starting to pop up. UK based company Board n Lodge are an environmentally aware accommodation booking site, who have just launched the first of several eco lodges Tarantaise Eco Lodge, France. The lodge is at the luxury end of the scale, offering accommodation with minimal possible impact on the environment working towards carbon neutrality. They will even discount your holiday by 5% if you travel by train to the eco lodge. A policy they aim to make available to other destinations.

In a few years time you might even be able to stay at the proposed 'Ever Vail' eco resort currently in development in Vail, Colorado check out the article here.

Green is the new black

We all love to buy new gear, so we can't forget that things like snowboards, boots, bindings, and outerwear are all made from materials such as foam, plastics, carbon fibre, wood and a variety of metals. The snowboarding companies themselves are perhaps not a major player in their own right but the materials used are products of the industrial sector (petroleum refining, chemical production, primary metal production, paper, food, and mineral production) which is the next biggest energy consumer after transport.

It is for this reason that many snowboard companies have now followed a green path and are now offering more eco-friendly products in a bid to lighten, not only their own but your 'footprint on the planet.

I caught up with Mikey Leblanc pro rider and owner of eco conscious outerwear company Holden, about the brand. Mikey explains, "We know that our products are never going to be 100% 'eco friendly'. Producing anything creates some sort of waste along the way. All we can do is keep striving to be 'eco-friendlier' and asking the hard questions from our suppliers to ensure that they're using environmentally conscious sources and processes. "

Holden 09 Womens Cypress Jacket. Photo: Holden

He also reminds us, "Another forgotten aspect of the eco friendly battle is the reality of quality over quantity, buy a coat and keep it for life, instead of being useless in a few years both functionally and stylistically. We design very well built pieces that will last for years."

Holden also extend their environmental vision into their general business practices, Mikey told us 'we print our PR material on recycled paper and use biodegradable bags to ship all our product ". They are not along in their thinking, Arbor perhaps the pioneers of eco minded snowboard products,focus on producing products with the least environmental impact. All of the snowboards in their range are largely made from sustainable materials such as bamboo, clothing is made from organic cotton and bamboo fabrics.

Their conscious approach runs company wide; all catalogs and promotional material is printed exclusively on recycled paper with soy inks, retail shop are built with as much sustainable materials as possible including: bamboo, recycled wood, and reclaimed materials from snowboard and skate production and all their factories power requirements are met by wind power.

There are many community forums where you can post up your plans for a trip and get together with some other like minded individuals. Not only will you be doing your bit environmentally, you might make a few new riding buddies too! Kirkwood Resort, Lake Tahoe launched a car pool forum help people make contact with others travelling to the resort.

Or why not try checkin' our own Powderroom.net forum too …you never know who might be heading your direction

Pro Active

I already mentioned Mickey LeBlanc, but there are a number of other high profile athletes who have joined the cause spreading the word in their own ways.

Epic big mountain rider Jeremy Jones started Protect Our Winters (POW) in 2007, a non profit organisation aimed at educating the community and providing physical solutions that can help make a difference today. He says 'its time for us to take responsibility and do something, to start thinking of ways we can make a difference. The winter sports community has a vested interest in protecting the environment we might otherwise take for granted.'

So far they have used contributions to invest in a program called Solar 4R Schools, an educational program that installs solar panels in schools and places information in classrooms, This educational tool is aimed at changing the habits of kids, the next generation, and shifting the current mindset. Check out www.protectourwinters.org for details on how to contribute.

POW are also supporting the Leeward Cinema film - My Own Two Feet to be released later this year. The movie will be shot totally without using any helicopters, snowmobiles and instead using you guessed it, their own two feet to hike in the mountains of California. They aim to uncover some new terrain not seen in any other snowboard film and aim to camp on the mountain to discover these areas. Riders involved include Jamie Anderson, Barret Christy, Stacey Thomas, Eddie Wall and of course the man himself Jeremy Jones, just to name a few.

Golden girl Gretchen Bleiler has been vocal about her environmental concerns in recent interviews and has signed up on the highly trafficked site, www.stopglobalwarming.org

Environmentally conscious Euro Silvia Mittermüller joined the Grease not Gas crew for a week on their drive through the states in an RV fueled completely with vegetable oil.

You may not be able to jump in a vegetable oil fueled RV when heading to the mountains, but hopefully after reading this you may have some of your own ideas on how to improve your next trip. Check back soon for our guide to reducing your burden on our stressed out earth!