The POW Seven campaign launched today, giving individuals seven if the most effective steps to fight climate change. Take a look at the press release and TAKE THE PLEDGE HERE.

Pacific Palisades, CA – Feb. 22, 2012 – Protect Our Winters (POW) launched the POW Seven campaign today, to give individuals specific steps to take personal action against climate change.

The POW Seven campaign is a list of seven important ways that individuals can fight climate change. The list, compiled by some of the world’s foremost experts on climate change and sustainability, was created in response to a lack of credible, results-based action items and the need for individuals to become more directly involved in the fight against climate change. Protect Our Winters is asking the snowsports community to take the POW Seven pledge, thereby committing to do each of these seven items on a regular basis.

The seven step pledge includes items such as “Get Political” (contact Senators regularly) and provides links to each current Senator’s stance on the environment and email links. Also, “Talk to Businesses” asks people to use their purchase power and to pressure their own companies to become more sustainable.

“There is so much information out there, it’s tough to know what to do, much less know that you’re actually making a difference”, said Chris Steinkamp, POW’s Executive Director. “It’s critical that everyone has an opportunity become involved on their own terms, so we decided to consolidate the most effective actions into one short list. Those who follow through on their pledge can rest assured that they’ll be making a difference.”

The pledge resides on POW’s website: http://protectourwinters.org/get-involved and will be supported by heavy social media outreach, digital mareketing and events.

Protect Our Winters has also partnered with The North Face on this effort. At this year’s X Games in Aspen,
The North Face and POW asked attendees for their “Climate Confessions” and to take the POW Seven Pledge. Over 600 visitors to the North Face booth took the pledge. POW and The North Face have also produced several short videos to distribute throughout their respective social networks and online communities to promote the pledge.

Other marketing support includes a Facebook application to engage the social media community, athletes and others who follow POW and The North Face. The app gives the Facebook community an opportunity to take the pledge to win prizes from Protect Our Winters.

Share your #ClimateConfessions on Facebook and Twitter with @ProtectWinters and @TheNorthFace

POW Seven Trailer #1 from chris steinkamp on Vimeo.

Yes, we won!  “Company Of the Year” was awarded to POW at Outdoor Retailer this past week.  Thank you for all of your support, and for voting for us.  Here is the release:

Pacific Palisades, CA – Jan 24, 2012 - Protect Our Winters (POW) was named “Company of the Year” at the inaugural Avalaunch Winter Market Awards presented by Outdoor Retailer. The awards took place during ORWM12 in Salt Lake City last week.

“This award validates our mission and shows that the winter community supports our actions,” comments Chris Steinkamp, POW’s Executive Director. “There are a lot of great companies in snowsports and while revenue is one benchmark, it’s great to see success being redefined and equal consideration given to companies that are focused on doing good.”

For the Company of the Year award , judging criteria extends beyond the bottom line and includes philanthropic endeavors and stewardship initiatives.  Consideration is given to projecting a philosophy that is in alliance with the winter recreational community. The awards are in collaboration with Outdoor Retailer and are created to honor those who have broken new ground in the snow sports industry. Winners are selected by industry peers who voted during the Outdoor Retailer show last week. Additionally, Jeremy Jones POW Founder won Ambassador of the Year for the inaugural Avalaunch WMA’S (Winter Market Awards).

“I can’t think of a company more deserving than POW. Education and discussion are invaluable when it comes to protecting our winters and influencing how we act in every day life. We’re excited to see what mountains Jeremy Jones and crew will overcome this year and beyond,” explains Avalaunch’s Tate Chamberlain.

PRO SNOWSPORT ATHLETES VISIT COLORADO SCHOOLS TO DISCUSS EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND INSPIRE CARBON-REDUCING SOLUTIONS

Protect Our Winters (POW) and Alliance For Climate Education (ACE) bring the in-school climate presentation
Hot Planet/Cool Athletes to Aspen, Basalt, Roaring Fork, Eagle Valley, and Berthoud High Schools during Winter X Games 16

Winter is finally kicking into gear but the effects of a shortened season have already taken a toll on snow-based economies across the country. The widespread lack of snow wreaked havoc on mountain town businesses and ski resorts that generate an estimated 50 percent of annual revenue during the Christmas, New Year’s and MLK holidays.

Next week, when Aspen hosts Winter X Games 16, Olympic and X Game medalists are speaking out on climate change and sharing their unique perspective on the economic, social and intangible values of winter with students at Colorado high schools as part of nonprofit Protect Our Winters’ Hot Planet/Cool Athletes program, in partnership with The North Face.

The program pairs famous pro snow sport athletes with climate experts from the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), the national leader in high school climate education, to deliver an award-winning multimedia assembly on climate science and real-world solutions. The assembly features athlete’s personal stories about climate change, specific local consequences related to snowfall and inspires students to take action against climate change.

Hot Planet/Cool Athletes is part of a host of special events happening in high schools in and around Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley leading up to Winter X 16 in Aspen. During the four-days, Hot Planet/Cool Athletes is slated to reach 1600+ students.

Athletes/Events include:
• Slopestyle snowboard phenom and UC Boulder student Seth Hill will present at Berthoud High School in Berthoud, CO on January 23 at 1 p.m.
• Pro snowboarder and environmental activist Chanelle Sladics will present at Basalt High School on January 24 at 8:05 a.m.
• Olympic Silver Medalist and four-time X Games Gold Medalist Gretchen Bleiler will visit her alma mater, Aspen High School in Aspen, CO on January 25 at 1 p.m.
• Pro freeskiers Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Nick Martini will meet with students at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, CO on January 26 at 10 a.m.
• Ingrid Backstrom, widely recognized as the world’s best female big mountain skier, will be joined by freeskier Ian McIntosh when they present at Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum CO on January 26 at 1 p.m.

*Media are invited to attend. Contact: Savannah Cowley, savannah@protectourwinters.org / 530.448.4093

To help students create meaningful actions after each assembly, Bob Marley’s 1Love.org and POW will be providing starter grants to the students who submit results-based, sustainability ideas to POW. Together, they’ll be awarding $250 per school to individuals and/or groups of students who submit their best ideas to POW by March 1, 2012.

“Part of POW’s mission is to make sure that the next generation is better equipped to address climate change. As athletes, we now have a relevant platform to reach young students and create a movement of passionate youth leaders,” said Jeremy Jones, POW’s Founder and professional snowboarder.

Since its launch last year at Winter X Games 15, Hot Planet/Cool Athletes assemblies have reached 10,000+ students at high schools in Colorado, Utah, California, Vermont, Massachusetts and Nevada. With help from influential snow sport athletes, and partners such as The North Face, Clif Bar, Backcountry Magazine, The Quiksilver Foundation and 1Love.org, the assemblies have inspired students to lead environmental action teams that implement impactful climate-related projects in their schools and communities.

The North Face continued their support of Protect Our Winters, with a generous contribution directed towards POW’s youth education platform, “Hot Planet/Cool Athletes”. The North Face has been the Presenting Partner of “Hot Planet/Cool Athletes” since it’s inception in 2011 and together, we’ve reached over 8,000 students in 19 high schools nationwide.

This past year, the in-school climate assembly program has provided athletes such as: Gretchen Bleiler, Saga Cattabriga-Alosa, Nick Martini, Dana Flahr, Jeremy Jones and Dylan Hood with a platform to communicate directly with high school students about climate change’s effects on our winter season and has inspired many to develop their own solutions-based ideas and to become future climate leaders.

The 2012 schedule kicks off at schools in the Aspen/Roaring Fork Valley during Winter X Games the week of January 23rd.

Thank you to The North Face for their continued and generous support of POW and for their commitment to environmental leadership.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – January 2, 2012 – Protect Our Winters (POW) announced today that Chris Davenport, one of the world’s most accomplished professional skiers and ski mountaineers, has joined the Board of Directors of Protect Our Winters (POW).  POW, a global non-profit founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, is focused on uniting and mobilizing the winter sports community against climate change.

Davenport, of Aspen, Colorado, is widely regarded as one of the premier big mountain skiers in the world today.  Among his many skiing achievements, in 2007 Chris became the first person to ski all fifty-four of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in less than one year.  A two-time World Champion, he has numerous first descents of peaks around the globe under his belt, and recently guided and skied on Mt. Everest.

Chris has been featured in more than thirty ski films. He is also a TV commentator for ESPN, ABC sports, and Outside Television, and is an Olympic and World Cup announcer for ski racing events. Chris is also the author of two beautiful coffee-table books that celebrate North America’s mountains, Ski The 14ers and Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America.

Davenport was part of the five member team that went to Washington DC in September, 2011 with Protect Our Winters to represent the winter sports community, fighting to protect the EPA’s ability to regulate CO2 emissions through the Clean Air Act.

“Chris is a role model for all of us on so many levels.  What he’s done on skis and in the mountains is mind blowing, yet he also makes it his priority to be a true environmental activist. We’re honored to have him be part of POW’s leadership”, said Chris Steinkamp, Executive Director of POW.

With climate change an ever-increasing threat to the $66 billion winter sports industry, Protect Our Winters has built a team of pro athletes, climate and sustainability experts and industry professionals to unite and mobilize the winter sports community and positively address the massive climate issue.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — December 9, 2011 – Protect Our Winters (POW) and Volcom announced today they have combined efforts to create a POW branded line of men’s and women’s performance outerwear to keep their environmentally motivated fans cozy this winter. The POW/Volcom line includes a men’s Hydro Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt, men’s beanie, a women’s 1/4 Zip Hooded Pullover and Women’s Technical Crew.  Proceeds of the merchandise will support Protect Our Winters through Volcom’s “Give Back Series” contributions.  The line is on sale now at all Volcom retail outlets and on POW’s website, www.protectourwinters.org.

“We’re excited and honored to have Volcom support us in this way.  Volcom is one of the most relevant brands in action sports and this partnership gives our supporters an opportunity to contribute to POW by purchasing some amazing gear”, said Chris Steinkamp, POW’s Executive Director.

“We are stoked to create merchandise that helps support such a great cause as Protect Our Winters.  We strongly believe and hope all our customers will get behind POW’s important mission to reduce climate change, said Dutch Schultz, Vice President of Product, Volcom.  “Climate change in our mountains is an extremely important issue.  If we want to keep riding for decades to come, the winter sports community needs to be a collective force to help reduce climate change.”

We’re very lucky to have worked with some of the best in the business. Thanks to everyone who donated their time and made this possible, including:  Mike Daniel @ 43kb.com,  Brian & Jay @ VR Interactive , photographers Dan Milner, Adam Clark and Bri Webber.  Thank you!

On Wednesday, professional freeskier and The North Face athlete, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa visited Clayton Valley HS in Concord, CA to meet students and convey his personal experiences with climate change.  Next week, Sage will visit South Burlington HS in Vermont to meet over 400 students.