Eco-Friendly Winter Sports: To Ski or Not To Ski

Winter sports have seen record volumes of participation in recent times with as many as 60.1 million visits to ski areas in the 2007/2008 winter season. If you’ve ever put a pair of skis or ridden a snowboard before, you can probably attest to the fact that there are few sports that can combine exhilaration and exposure to the beauty of nature the way alpine sports can. The recent onset of climate change and resulting lessening abundance of snow have a number of experts and ski industry leaders worried. Snowboarders and skiers alike can certainly see eye to eye on the tremendous potential loss if current trends in climate change-induced snow fall reduction continues. One recent study expects that over the course of the next 50 years, snowpack in the Western United States will diminish by 70%. Certainly alpine sports wouldn’t quite be as much fun if you took out the snow now would they. We’ve brought together our best recommendations on how to minimize your environmental impact when taking to the slopes.

Top 5 Green Tips

You Have Chosen... Wisely
Dress Warmer and Greener
It's Time For an Upgrade…
Ok, You're Finally There…
Recharge on the Slopes with the Latest Green Gadgets

Top 5 Green Tips

1. You Have Chosen... Wisely

If you’re trying to keep it green, going on an alpine vacation is a bit like buying fruit…try to stay local. Since air travel accounts for 13% of transportation related greenhouse gas emissions, a general effort to reduce air travel can have a significant impact on the collective CO2 emissions. So if you can, try to keep your skiing or board riding to a mountain near you, you’ll be minimizing the environmental impact of your trip (that is of course until we’re all flying in fuel cell powered airliners). Staying local might be easier said than done for some. For example, if you’re an expert and the slopes nearby you just don’t cut it, then you might have to get on planes, trains and automobiles. For those who need to go the extra miles to get there, try to choose a mountain that is active about managing their environmental impact. Conveniently, the National Ski Areas Association maintains a running list of skiable resorts that are participating in green electricity programs. As of the NSAA’s latest data, there are over 64 resorts in the U.S. that offset part or all of their electricity consumption with renewable energy. Clearly, this is of concern to many resorts as their long term livelihood might be at stake. Lastly, you can also purchase offsets for your own travel via groups like Terrapass or Native Energy.

2. Dress Warmer and Greener

Needless to say that dressing right for any alpine activity is crucial. The last thing you want is to be sitting at the top of a mountain with wet socks, freezing feet and a looming cold that will prematurely end your alpine career for the season. Functional clothes are crucial on the mountain top. Lucky for those who are in need for gear with a lessened eco-impact – many outdoor sports manufacturers have a natural inclination to produce their products using innovative, low impact materials. The granddaddy of these companies is Patagonia but many other brands have released some amazing products as well. Below, we’ve lined up the essential gear selection to get you through this season and hopefully many more to come:

Check out products from these brands as well: Arbor, Burton, Nitro, Patagonia and Spyder.

3. It's Time For an Upgrade…

So, if those ski pants you got in the 80s just don’t fit the way they used to, it might be time for an upgrade. Outdoor sporting gear is also constantly reinvented with new technological advances, making it tempting to get the newest and the latest each season. This winter, save money by researching local donation and gear-swap programs. It’s a great way to ensure things don’t end up in a landfill unnecessarily, and you might be surprised by the gems you can find (many serious performance athletes use their top-of-the-line equipment only a handful of times and get rid of it after one season). When the winter ends, be sure to go through all of your equipment and set aside the things that you no longer need. Donate gear to a local shelter, or even a nationwide donation program, like Sharing Warmth Around the World , which brings repurposed, gently used ski resort uniforms to those in need in cold climates abroad.

4. Ok, You're Finally There…

Now what? Well, we’re expecting that this idea may only appeal to a few but go in with an open-mind and you might actually take us up on this. Sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are great ways to make use of your natural environment and reducing your environmental tracks, like the carbon emissions expended to run a ski lift and groom trails—and they’re cheaper than buying a lift ticket.

5. Recharge on the Slopes with the Latest Green Gadgets

So just because you’re on the slopes doesn’t mean that you need to cut yourself off from the digital world and the elements may come to your rescue after a full day away from an AC outlet. Whether you’re into solar or wind, these gadgets will have your back when you need to notify your friends that you’re running that black diamond one last time and that they should keep the hot cocoa warm just a little bit longer.