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Skiing and snowboarding are such exhilarating outdoor sports that it seems wrong to not be green when you hit the slopes. So why not minimize your impact every time you go?
We'll help you pick out the greenest ski resorts—some are installing wind turbines, buying carbon offsets, and implementing carpooling programs. We'll also look at stellar green gear like solar paneled ski suits and bamboo boards, point out the most egregious eco-offenders in the industry (oh, indoor ski resorts, how your very concept makes me shudder) and advocate greener, crowd-less cross country skiing and riding.
Here's a quick sample of our newest, and snowiest guide, How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding, over on Planet Green.
Find Sustainable Skis and Snowboards
Independent companies like Colorado's Venture Snowboards, which has converted its entire operation to run on wind power, sometimes have the greatest freedom to put green principle into practice. Support companies like these that are making a genuine effort to be sustainable. Also, look for innovative green gear like snowboards made of bamboo, and skis made of Paulownia. Both are examples of good equipment that doesn't rely on the traditional timber that's used in most of the millions of skis and snowboards made and sold every year.
Get to the Slopes Greenly
If there's accessible public transit nearby, great—but unfortunately, most ski resorts do not seem to be located in metropolitan downtown areas. However, many ski and snowboard shops like Emilio's in New York City run shuttle services straight to the slopes from the city. Consider carpooling, which is getting increasingly easier to do thanks to handy Facebook apps and resort innovators like California's Kirkwood, which provides its own carpool service, the K-Pool.
Groundbreaking Green Gear and Skiwear
There's a lot to choose from out there—from futuristic solar powered ski suits that unintentionally doubles as a warning beacon to anyone downhill from the wearer, to a green, vegetable based snowboard wax. Also, keep yourself warm with organic outdoor wear when you hit the slopes.
Do Not Ski in Dubai
Okay, so I'm just using the indoor ski resort in Dubai as an example for opulent, unnecessarily un-green resort destinations. Yes, it's a fascinating novelty. But yes, it's a nauseatingly unnatural resource hog aimed at giving the super rich a cheap thrill that will inevitably elicit head-shaking and murmurs of "What the hell were we thinking?" when Dubai's oil bubble eventually pops, which it inevitably will. Ahem. Ski local, and avoid uber-luxury resorts.
To get the rest of the lowdown on green skiing and riding (and believe you me, there's plenty more lowdowning to be done) click through to the guide for How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding at Planet Green, and while you're at it, check out How to Go Green: Outdoor Sports and the rest of our guides for How to Go Green.
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