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A recent Treehugger article by Lloyd Alter raised some good questions about snowboarding. Is the activity green? Is it sustainable? Don't you have to drive a great deal to get somewhere vertical enough to board? Snowboarding has many of the same eco-problems that the sport of skiing faces, like artificial snow and electricity-powered ski lifts.
Snowboarding, like other eco-questionable activities, is legal. Environmentalists, like ourselves, can chastise snowboarders for partaking in an activity that's ungreen, but we can't really stop them from doing it. Therefore, it would probably be in everyone's best interests to work together, as it was pointed out by Bob Carson in the Treehugger article:
| To snowboard, we need snow. That simple premise should be driving everybody toward not just flagship boards, but greening everything they do. |
Here are some tips:
- Buy a Green Board
Invest in a snowboard made from green materials. The Burton Eco Nico is a good example. - Visit Eco-Friendly Resorts
There are ski resorts that take measures to be green. Skiing and snowboarding are often done at the same places. Here's a list of the best and worst ski areas. - Travel Well
Avoiding plane travel, riding in a carpool, training or busing are all eco-friendly ways of getting to your favorite slopes. - Recycle or Reuse Old Snowboards
Some boards are specifically made to be recycled. Others can be recycled or repurposed depending on the materials the board is made out of. You can always find a creative way to reuse snowboards. Tlmfarmgirl on RecyclethisUK suggests making cool shelves from old boards. - Don't Litter & Stay on the Slopes
When you board only on the designated snowboarding/skiing areas, you stay out of the habitats of plants and animals. Tramping around in the snow can damage unseen, snow-covered vegetation. Littering is just bad, and I feel that this should be randomly mentioned from time to time. - Use Eco-Friendly Snowboard Wax
Don't track dirty wax into the out of doors. Use waxes that vibe out and become a part of nature instead of a menace to nature.
More on Winter Sports:
Take a Dog Sled Tour
Green Your Snowshoeing Adventure
Green Your Sledding
