GAME ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Header photo courtesy of Marcus Quintiliano
Protect Our Winters Canada is a community of enthusiasts, athletes and brands uniting the outdoor community to advocate for policy solutions to climate change. They believe love of adventure in nature demands our participation in the fight to save and protect it.
#GAMEON2030 is the world's first program that turns climate action into an official sport. This program invites the outdoor community to become climate athletes through POW Canada. They are incentivizing and gamifying climate action at all levels. More info on the program here.
WHY I SIGNED UP AS A CLIMATE ATHLETE
Algoma
Snowboarding & skiing most of my life has been a big influence on my connection to the environment and to who I am. It makes sense to me to help protect winter in gratitude for those amazing times and for the new experiences yet to come for future sliders.
When I first moved to Ontario from BC my love for snowboarding began to wane. Then in 2015 when I first tried the Altai Hoks & Koms, I felt a new sense of freedom to explore my local hills. Realizing that a drive to a ski resort and standing in line for a short run wasn't the best answer for downhill fun for me. There is snow in them hills and new found adventures in the trees began..again. That's why I became an Altai ski dealer. I wanted to promote the sport of backcountry skiing and the connection to the forests, snow and slopes of all sizes.
There were always people backcountry skiing in Eastern Canada but in the last 5 years it has really started to take off. In Ontario, the creation of associations like West Wind Highlands Ski Touring Association and other local groups are helping advocate for and support the development of backcountry touring. I think more and more people are looking for the kind of connection freeing the heel brings. Earning your turns locally is also a form of activism in itself by skipping the lifts, a long drive or a flight. Not every winter adventure 'has' to be somewhere bigger, somewhere better, somewhere else. Local laps wherever you live can be training for the epic trips you do make in the winter!
POW DONATION
For 2024 and 2025 winter seasons I'm donating $10 to POW Canada from each pair of skis sold - via their charitable organization: Hot Planet Cool Athletes.
To keep track of the donations to POW this winter I will update the rolling total below to show the amount donated.
Also, it was Arc'teryx Double Your Impact donation month - so $400 total to POW!
Thank-you for your support!
Have a great winter - wherever you slide ;)
Kyle Lamont