Tell your Governor: Commit to Cleaner Cars

The fact is, the vast majority of us still rely on our personal cars to get us to the slopes, the river or the hiking trail. We believe a trip to the mountains shouldn’t endanger the natural spaces we love, and electric vehicles are an essential part of making our vision a reality. We cannot yet depend on public or shared transportation to access our outdoor recreation activities, so in the meantime it’s crucial that conscientious outdoors-people advocate for the transition to electric vehicles.

With transportation now the single largest source of carbon emissions in the country, we need to move beyond gas powered cars and towards a cleaner, safer transportation future.  

Curbing carbon emissions from transportation is essential if we want to continue to have access to the beautiful places and recreation activities we love while still taking meaningful and responsible action to combat climate change.

Join Snowriders and our partner Environment America in calling on our governors to commit to end the sale of new gas-powered cars in the coming decade.

Governor: Go Big on Clean Energy

We don’t want to watch our winters melt away! That’s why Snowriders International is dedicated to fighting for a 100% renewable energy economy. A 100% renewable energy economy is essential to cutting global warming pollution and ensuring snowy winters for generations to come.

Clean energy is taking off across America and federal tax credits promise to turbocharge wind and solar deployment. Join Snowriders and our partners Environment America Research & Policy Center in asking governors to go big on clean energy.

We must take urgent and decisive action to reduce emissions to the levels that science tells us are necessary to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.  Snowriders believes transitioning to 100% renewables is a necessary step in curtailing our carbon emissions and protecting our planet. The 100% renewables goal is both possible and vitally important to protecting the future of snowsports in North America.

RENEWABLE ENERGY IS GOOD FOR MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES.

Renewable energy is also clean energy. Wind and solar power keeps our mountain air clear of pollution and alpine views free of smog.

WE NEED TO ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

The good news is that the goal of 100% renewable energy is closer than ever. Solar and wind energy are both growing rapidly nationwide, and renewable energy now employs more people than oil and coal!

Snowriders International has fought towards this goal for years in our work on the Clean Power Plan, the Paris Climate Agreements and more. Today, we thinks it’s more important ever to reaffirm our goals and redoubling our climate efforts. If we are going to confront change and protect the future of snow sports, transitioning to a 100% renewable energy economy is essential.

Tell the EPA: Cut Power Plant Pollution

SNOWRIDERS INTERNATIONAL BELIEVES THAT CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS THE FUTURE OF WINTER SPORTS.  WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROTECT THE SNOW AND SPORTS THAT WE LOVE THROUGH EDUCATION, SERVICE, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY.

Snow and mountain communities know better than most what’s at stake in the face of climate change.  We can see snow and our way of life threatened by irregular weather and freezing patterns, warming winters, and earlier and earlier springs each year.

Join Snowriders and our partners at Environment America in calling on the EPA to cut pollution from power plants.

We don’t want to watch our winters melt away! That’s why Snowriders International is dedicated to fighting for a 100% renewable energy economy.

We must take urgent and decisive action to reduce emissions to the levels that science tells us are necessary to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.  Snowriders believes transitioning to 100% renewables is a necessary step in curtailing our carbon emissions and protecting our planet. The 100% renewables goal is both possible and vitally important to protecting the future of snowsports in North America.

Ready for Fall?

Winter is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more ready. Unfortunately we first need to make it through the season of fall: inconveniently placed smack in between summer and winter.

But, Candide Thorox, the king of snow-less skiing, may have a solution for your autumn-antsies.

If you’ve ever looked at a pile of leaves and thought “I could ski that” - this video is for you.

Clean Cars in Colorado

DENVER - Last week the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) voted unanimously to  adopt Low Emission Vehicle Standards for the state. Snowriders International is excited to see the state of Colorado leading on emission standards regulation in the absence of national action. Read out statement below:

"Here in Colorado, most of us rely on our personal cars to get us out to the slopes in the winter, or in the summer to the pitch, the river or the hiking trail.  And the emission from our weekend adventures have a real impact on our communities and environment. Exhaust from idling cars in winter traffic jams degrades air quality in mountain towns, and releases climate change causing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

"At Snowriders we believe that a trip to the mountains shouldn’t harm the beautiful natural places we are there to enjoy; and that our transportation shouldn’t threaten the future of Colorado’s snowy winters by contributing to climate change. Clean car standards, like the Low Emission Vehicle Standard announced last week by AQCC are an essential step to making this vision a reality.  More efficient cars on the road means cleaner and more responsible transportation choices for us all and they will allow more Coloradans to enjoy our mountains with a lighter environment impact.

"With the Trump administration backing off of clean car regulations nationally, we are thrilled to see Colorado leading the way in this essential and common sense step so that we can be responsible stewards of Colorado’s incredible natural beauty for generations to come."

Colorado Ski Deals for Kids!

Ski days become a little more complicated when you have kids in tow.

With each additional child there is more gear to pack, more bodies to bundle into the car, and more pricey lift passes to purchase. And growing children frequently means dealing with rentals and ski lessons, all of which can get very expensive very quickly.

Visit Estonia via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

That being said, there are few things better in life than sharing a love of skiing and riding with your kids. Colorado understands why people live and play here. They know we want to share the incredible mountains and plentiful snow with the next generation, and they want to make it easy!

With a little pre-planning, you can capitalize on the amazing ski and snowboard deals available to kids in this state, and get them on the slopes for free this season!

Did you know that kids in kindergarten through 5th grade can get 4 free days of skiing or boarding at each of the following four resorts: Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail?

That's a pretty monstrous deal. And it's available right now, for a limited time, through Vail's Epic School Kids Colorado Pack program.

All you need to do is to register at any front range Epic Mountain Gear location (except for the Frisco storefront). Bring your child and a form of ID for them (report card, student ID, birth certificate or passport). Once you are registered, you can pick up your free passes at the resort ticket window on your first ski day.

There's more too. Each child is eligible for a FREE first-timer lesson as well as free rentals for the lesson.

For fifth and sixth graders, Colorado Ski Country has an even better deal!

Registration is now open on the Colorado Ski Country website for their 2018/19 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program. The fifth grade ski passport gives registered students 3 free days at each of Colorado's 22 premier ski areas.  That's 66 days of free skiing!! For 6th graders, this same deal is available for just $105!

Have more tips for skiing with kids on a budget? Let us know in the comments.

6 Ski and Snowboard Mountains that are Almost More Fun in the Summer

The resorts that we ski and snowboard at in the winter don't disappear once the snow stops falling, and many of them are taking advantage of their infrastructure to transform themselves into outdoor playgrounds in the summer months.  With plentiful lodging, quality dining and stunning mountain views, these resorts have a lot to offer a vacationer in the summer. Many offer kids programs, and activities for all ages and interest.

Check out our list of six ski and snowboard resorts that are worth a visit in the summer!

Enjoy the Mountain Air at Arapahoe Basin

In the summer months Arapahoe Basin Ski Area turns into a hub for outdoor activity. With hiking, mountain biking, and sun-deck yoga all available, A-Basin is a great place to enjoy what the mountains have to offer in the warmer months as well. See their whole summer schedule here.

Check out: their Saturday concert series

Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

Take in Culture and Mountain Views in Aspen

Aspen has a ton to offer in the summer. You can find a wide variety of outdoor programming that takes advantage of Aspen’s stunning scenery. From the Snowmass’ mountain bike park, to guided horse back riding and fishing, Aspen has something to offer for everyone, especially when you consider the world class culture on offer. Throughout the summer, Aspen hosts a myriad of cultural events that bring in talent from around the world. Learn more about Aspen’s culinary, musical, and intellectual events here, and read about all of Aspen Snowmass’ summer programming here.

Check out: the Lost Forest Ropes Course.

Photo by Jessica Fadel on Unsplash

Learn to Mountain Bike at Breckenridge

Breckenridge really does it up in the summer. The town is surrounded by river, mountains and forests to explore, and they want to make them as accessible as possible.

“There are 100+ miles you can explore on two legs, 2 wheels, 4 wheels or horseback… our Breckenridge summer is packed with festivals, concerts, competitions and celebrations.”

Read about their summer activities, from mountain biking, to river rafting, here.

Check out: the alpine slide!

Photo by Daniel Spase on Unsplash

See the Wildflowers at Crested Butte

Crested Butte is one of the most scenic mountain towns in Colorado - which is saying something. Tucked into the mountains, it is a wildflower mecca in the summer.

There are many options to get out and explore the landscape in the summer, and town offers unique dining experiences, a summer concert series, and a quirky mountain town vibe. Learn more here.

Check out: their disc gold course, recently named one of the top 25 courses in America.

Enjoy the Green Mountains in Killington

Killington Ski Resort is another mountain that puts in the effort for its summer programming. Explore the green mountains, on foot or on wheel, or simply relax and try some golf or sample some of the fine food and wine available in town - all within a cozy New England setting. Learn more about Killington’s summer program, here.

Check out: the “Wrecktangle” a Ninja-Warrior style ropes course.

Photo by Fredy Chavez on Unsplash

No need to Compromise at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has more to offer in the summer than most ski and snowboard resorts, because it has something most others do not: proximity to beaches! Whether you want to go geocaching in the Sierras or read a book on the beach, Lake Tahoe has you covered.

Squaw organizes yoga, disc golf, slacklining and an outdoor music series. Learn more about their programming, here.

South Tahoe itself has even more to offer from adventure sports to cultural events. Learn more here.

Check out: Squaw’s Outdoor Summer Movie Series

Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash

Skiing in July... in Vermont?

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center has been storing snow since the winter as part of an experimental "snow farming" project working to see if snow can be stored from one season to another.  Many, around the world, are hoping to use this technique in the future to help build early-season bases, and alleviate some of their dependance on natural snowfall as climate change makes weather more variable.  Several major events from the Iditarod to the Hahnenkamm World Cup ski races in Austria, now depending on the technique.

It will be really interesting to see the capabilities of snow storage technology and its impact on the future of winter sports as the technology develops, but for now, it's fun to watch people fool around in a pile of snow in the middle of summer!

Sand Skiing in Peru!

It's been so hot at our headquarters in Denver over the last couple weeks that it's difficult to believe it will ever snow again.

Jesper Tjäder and Emma Dahlström with GoPro have one idea on how to get your turns - and even hit kickers and rails - without waiting for the white fluffy stuff. Watch these skiers hike up and then shred the Cerro Blanco dune in Peru!

Undoubtedly rad, but all I can think about is the SAND IN THEIR BOOTS!!

The Catamount Trail: Vermont's 300-Mile Nordic Ski Trail

Did you know that if you strap on a pair of cross-country skis just east of the Deerfield River at Vermont’s southern boarder and head north, you can ski on uninterrupted trail until you arrive at the Canadian boarder 300-miles north?

The Catamount Trail, which began in 1984 as the thesis project of Steve Bushey, Paul Jarris and Ben Rose when they were students at the University of Vermont, is now the longest uninterrupted cross-country skiing trail in North America. Its 300-miles of trail, between Vermont’s southern to northern boarders, were painstakingly pieced together by the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) over 20 years. The trail connects vast wilderness areas to old timber roads; it crosses farmland and protected forests, and caters to skiers of a variety of levels.

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The trail is a vast cooperative effort, passing through both public and private land, and demanding hours of volunteer labor to maintain; it reflects a state-wide dedication to a no-frills outdoor culture and the preservation of the state's long history of winter sports.

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Unlike many aspects of the winter sports world, especially those associated with Nordic skiing’s brasher alpine cousin, the Catamount Trail is explicitly designed to be accessible and inexpensive, where skiers are drawn by the state’s stunning natural beauty rather than by high speed trams, luxury accommodations, or glitzy off-slope shopping. The trail is the result of a rugged culture that is increasingly absent from a skiing world dominated by corporate giants Vail and Alterra.

But in Vermont — and it’s eastern neighbor New Hampshire — you can still find trail systems maintained by passionate volunteers, mountains where the owner personally greets their customers each morning and, occasionally, lodge beers for less than $5. It is a land that respects rigorous exercise and bone chilling winds, where winter sports are part of a time-honored way of life.

Ben Rose, one of the Catamount Trail’s founders, and the Executive Director of the Green Mountain Club, describes the project’s unique vision: It’s a “very intimate way to see the landscape. Like hiking the Long Trail, skiing the Catamount Trail is a way to see Vermont from its heart.”

Although few people actually ski the whole trail — as it’s always not easy to camp along the route in winter — few people have actually skied the whole trail, each winter it’s estimated to support over 8,000 skier days.

Photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash

On their website the CTA states that their goal “is to create a future in which Vermont is home to a world-class network of locally-supported winter back-country trails and terrain accessible to outdoor travelers of all abilities and means.” As winter recreation is becoming increasingly corporate across the US, organizations like the CTA will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that winter sports like cross country skiing and snowshoeing remain accessible and inexpensive as they have been for centuries.

A lonely stretch along the Catamount Trail is about as far as you could get spiritually from, say, Aspen’s glamorous Little Nell’s bar, but for many, the former encapsulated the soul of winter sports in a way the latter new can.