Jeremy Jones
AP Photo/Keystone, Olivier Maire
Professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones wants to change the way you think about skiing and snowboarding. After 15 years of watching glaciers and snow pack recede at his favorite backcountry spots, and being turned away from once rideable terrain, Jones got fed up with warm winters and decided the action sports community needed to do something about it.
In 2007 Jones founded Protect Our Winters (POW), a non profit organization dedicated to reversing the damage that's been done by climate change. Through resort partnerships, grants, educational initiatives, community activism and even films, Jones wants to inspire people to get involved, and ensure that winter keeps coming back for future generations to enjoy.
In just two years, POW has made substantial strides. "The industry stepped up right off the bat," says Chris Steinkamp, executive director of POW." So many companies jumped at the chance to finally do something."
Perhaps POW's success lies in the group's ability to engage its audience. They use nontraditional methods to reach notoriously nontraditional athletes. Generations, a short film that will screen at major U.S. film festivals in 2010, explains climate change from the point of view of an action sports athlete. Deeper is a two-year project in which Jones sets out to prove that after decades of relying on ski lifts, snowmobiles and helicopters to access the best powder, you can actually go further--and find better turns--on foot.
So what does this mean for the winter sports community as a whole? Here is what Steinkamp has to say about changing winters, and what you can do to help.
How much has climate change really affected our winters?
The season is getting shorter and shorter. Resorts can't depend on a long winter anymore to sustain their business. The ski season once stretched from October through April with reliable crowds on Thanksgiving; now it's Christmas through March. These changes are happening in our lifetime. POW is not about scaring people though; it's about getting people engaged and getting them to realize the solution is in our hands.
Can individuals really make a difference?
Yes, things like changing light bulbs and carpooling really do make a difference. The more people we get to think about it, the bigger the impact will be. Do what you can, and influence your friends and family to do the same. We want to make those small changes as a global winter sports community.
Why is POW so effective?
We use money in untraditional ways. We work with resorts who want to change their carbon footprint. We raise money to support community initiatives. In some places, workers can elect to donate a percentage of their paycheck to POW, and we ensure the money goes directly to projects for that community.
We also put a lot of money into educational programs. It's tougher to change the habits of our parents, and even ourselves, but if we can get kids to change the way they move and work in the world, that will make a huge difference.
The pro rider community as a whole is thinking differently and they will set the example. Jeremy has changed his riding style and the way he thinks about filming because of this. Deeper is about doing that one run that takes days or weeks to get to. Hopefully we can inspire others to think that way too.
Heli and sled skiing have become pretty popular. How bad are helicopters and snowmobiles?
They are bad. Period. And they are probably not necessary. When you are offsetting a helicopter's carbon emissions it's different from offsetting your energy use. An offset isn't going to take the carbon out of the atmosphere. There will always be people that are drawn to heli skiing because you can go to incredible places several times a day. On the flip side, more people are getting into splitboarding. It's incredibly satisfying to hike your own line. You have one shot and that one shot is well earned. Strap on your board and walk. It's cooler that way.
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