about_header

POW TAKES X GAMES ATHLETES TO SCHOOLS IN ASPEN THIS WEEK

  • During the X Games week, we’re taking some of the world’s best snow sports athletes to local high schools in the Aspen area, as part of our 2012 Hot Planet/Cool Athletes initiative. Thank you to The North Face, Clif Bar, Backcountry Magazine, The Quiksilver Foundation and 1Love.org for their support in making this happen.  Check out this lineup!

    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.


    Posted on: January 21st, 2012