Burlington, VT (April 22, 2013) In honor of Earth Day, Burton is proud to announce stepped-up efforts in support of Protect Our Winters (POW), an athlete-focused foundation whose mission is to unite the winter sports community against the effects of climate change. Together, Burton and POW will focus on building awareness and taking action against global warming in the snowboard community through social media campaigns, global team rider activation and events.

“Burton has a deep responsibility to the sport we helped pioneer and to the people and environment that sustain it,” said Burton President Donna Carpenter. “We are riders, and we take climate change personally because snowboarding is our life, our livelihood and our passion. By working more closely with POW, our hope is to encourage snowboarders to get involved with the very important work the organization is doing. Together, we can protect our winters.”

Burton and POW have strong ties already as Burton team riders Nicolas Muller, Danny Davis and John Jackson are actively involved with the POW Riders Alliance, a community of professional athletes committed to environmental leadership. And many Burton riders also signed a climate change petition last week that urged President Obama to take action on climate change and clean energy.

Moving forward, Burton plans to encourage more riders to join POW’s efforts through social media campaigns, and the company will actively promote POW at marquee events like the US Open Snowboarding Championships. To kick things off today, Burton and POW are launching an awareness campaign on Instagram where riders can share how they protect our winters and in turn win cool prizes from Burton and POW. To get involved, riders simply upload a photo and caption that shows how they protect our winters to @burtonsnowboard on Instagram and tag #HowYouPOW. Each month, a new winner will be randomly selected and recognized for their fresh take on making a difference.

“We’re absolutely thrilled about our partnership with Burton,” said Chris Steinkamp, Executive Director of Protect Our Winters. “Our ability to unite the snow sports community, build grassroots advocacy and take a strong economic message to Washington is being taken to another level now.”

Burton’s expanded relationship with POW is just a part of its extensive commitment to sustainability. Since 2008, Burton has actively increased its focus on sustainability by working to ensure a healthier future for all riders through efforts like the Green Mountain Process, where Burton seeks to improve not just the use of sustainable materials, but also the production process as a whole. In addition, through a continued collaboration with Mountain Dew, Burton has gained a consistent supplier of high-grade fabrics woven with recycled plastic soda bottles. Burton also has a department focused on sustainability that reports directly to Burton President, Donna Carpenter. The group has stepped up social and environmental responsibility in the supply chain with restricted substance and code of conduct policies. And last year, Burton became a bluesign® system partner to ensure select softgoods and bags meet the highest standards of environmental responsibility, consumer safety, and resource conservation.

For more information on all of Burton’s sustainability efforts, check out www.burton.com/sustainability. And to get involved with Protect Our Winters, head to www.protectourwinters.org.

Washington, DC - April 12, 2013 – Jeremy Jones, pro snowboarder and Founder of the global nonprofit, Protect Our Winters was honored yesterday at a White House ceremony along with other “Champions of Change,” in recognition of “ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”

Jones is being recognized for his contribution to raising awareness about the impact of climate change on the winter sports industry by creating Protect Our Winters, a foundation established in 2007 to unite and mobilize the global winter sports community against climate change.

The ceremony took place at the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Twelve Champions of Change were honored for working to prepare their communities for the consequences of climate change. These individuals are leaders and innovators working tirelessly to build community resilience by preparing for increasingly extreme weather and other costly climate-related impacts.  The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative.

“As we take action to reduce carbon pollution and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy, we must also take action to prepare for the impacts of climate change we are already seeing, including more frequent and severe extreme weather,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  “This week, we look forward to welcoming Champions of Change who are doing smart, innovative work to protect the health, safety and prosperity of their communities in the face of climate change.”

“This nomination and to be recognized by the White House is an absolute honor for me.  It’s also a testament to the work that we’re doing at Protect Our Winters and how important fighting climate change is to the future of our sport and economy,” said Jones.

Additionally, earlier this week, Jones and 75 other winter sports athletes also sent a letter to President Obama today urging the President to take action on climate and clean energy.  The letter was hand delivered to the White House in a separate meeting after the Champions of Change ceremony.

“Without a doubt, winter is in trouble,” the letter states.”  At risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries.  Those are the jobs and businesses owned by our friends and families, generators of billions in federal and state income.”

The letter calls on Obama to follow through on the promises he made in the State of the Union address to fight climate change. He can do so by using executive authority currently available to reduce carbon pollution emitted by America’s power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution worsening climate change, and by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, which would add millions of tons of new carbon pollution to the atmosphere.

As Pro Snowboarder Jeremy Jones Receives White House “Champions of Change” Award, He and 75 Top Athletes Speak Out for 23 Million Winter Sports Enthusiasts, $12.2 Billion Winter Tourism Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 9, 2013 – Warning that “winter is in trouble,” 75 Olympic medalists and other winter sports athletes – including White House “Champion of Change” awardee and pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones – are sending a letter to President Obama today urging the President to take action on climate and clean energy.

The representatives of the global snow sports community signing the letter include X Games champions and World Champion snowboarders, alpine/Nordic skiers and professional climbers, including:

• Olympic gold and silver medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA)
• Olympic silver medalist and four-time X Games gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO)
• 10-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year Jeremy Jones (Truckee, CA)
• Olympic silver medalist, three-time World champion, seven-time X Games champion Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT)
• Two-time Olympian and six-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Truckee, CA)
• Olympic gold & silver medalist, six-time X Games medalist, six-time World Cup champion Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT)
• 2010 Olympian, Nordic skier Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK)
• Five-time winner Powder Magazine’s Best Female Performer Ingrid Backstrom (Seattle, WA)
• Two-time World Freeskiing champion Chris Davenport (Aspen, CO)
• Two- time World Freeeskiing champion, Kit Deslauriers (Jackson, WY)
• 2013 World champion, X Games medalist Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO)

“Without a doubt, winter is in trouble,” the letter states. “… at risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries.  Those are the jobs and businesses owned by our friends and families, generators of billions in federal and state income.”

Jones is being honored on April 11 at a White House ceremony along with other “Champions of Change,” in recognition of “ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”

Jones is being recognized for his contribution to raising awareness about the impact of climate change on the winter sports industry by creating “Protect Our Winters,” a foundation established in 2007 to unite and mobilize the global winter sports community against climate change.

“This nomination is an absolute honor for me and the work we’re doing at POW.  But it’s now my responsibility to take this recognition and help secure a place in the climate discussions in Washington.  The letter that’s been enthusiastically signed by so many amazing athletes is a strong showing of solidarity from the leaders in snow sports on climate action, so together, we have to keep that momentum going,” Jones said.

The letter to the president references a December 2012 report published by Protect Our Winters and the Natural Resources Defense Council highlighting the economic impact of inconsistent winters on the U.S. snow sports community and tourism-dependent states.  (See http://www.protectourwinters.org/climate_report/.)

The athletes’ letter calls on Obama to follow through on the promise he made in the State of the Union address to fight climate change. He can do so by using executive authority currently available to reduce carbon pollution emitted by America’s power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution worsening climate change, and by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, which would add millions of tons of new carbon pollution to the atmosphere.

“Mr. President, it’s time to force our transition to clean energy, and we need your leadership,” the letter states. “…on behalf of 23 million of us who love winter and depend on it for our economic livelihoods, please take the action on climate change you have promised.”

To hear recording of the press conference call with Gretchen Bleiler, Jeremy Jones, Ingrid Backstrom and Kit Deslauriers, please just click here:   http://www.hastingsgroupmedia.com/POW/040913POWathleteletter.mp3

The full text of the letter follows:

“Dear President Obama,

During the recent State of the Union address, you urged Congress to “get together, pursue a bipartisan market-based solution to climate change…but if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will.” 

As professional athletes, representing a community of 23 million winter sports enthusiasts, we’re witnessing climate change first-hand.  Last year was the warmest year on record, and once again, we’re currently experiencing another winter season of inconsistent snow and questionable extremes.  Without a doubt, winter is in trouble.

And with this lack of consistent snow, at risk are the economies of tourist-dependent states where winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue annually, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries.  Those are the jobs and businesses owned by our friends and families, generators of billions in federal and state income.

The good news is that because we know this warming is human-caused, we can do something about it and it can be done, now, from limiting carbon pollution from our nation’s dirty power plants to rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

First, it is time to tackle pollution from the biggest emitters in the United States: power plants.  We’re asking for you to issue standards under the Clean Air Act that cut carbon pollution from America’s aging power plant fleet – at least 25 percent by 2020, while boosting energy efficiency and shifting to clean energy sources. Power plants are our largest source of carbon pollution.  Cleaning them up will create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs, meet the pollution targets set for the country, and restore U.S. international leadership.

Furthermore, we urge you to reject dirty fuels like tar sands. Specifically, reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which is not in our national interest because it would unlock vast amounts of additional carbon that we can’t afford to burn, extend our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels, endanger health and safety, and put critical water resources at risk.

Mr. President, it’s time to force our transition to clean energy, these are the first big steps and we need your leadership.

Again, on behalf of 23 million of us who love winter and depend on it for our economic livelihoods, please take the action on climate change you have promised.

Thank you,

Jeremy Jones – Truckee, CA  10-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year

Gretchen Bleiler – Aspen, CO Olympic silver medalist and four-time X Games gold medalist

Chris Davenport  – Aspen, CO  Professional skier, two-time world freeskiing champion

Ingrid Backstrom – Seattle, WA  Five-time winner Powder Magazine’s Best Female Performer

Kit Deslauriers – Jackson, WY  Two time World Freeskiing Champion

Julia Mancuso  – Olympic Valley, CA  Olympic gold and silver medalist

Lindsey Jacobellis – Stratton, VT Olympic silver medalist, three-time World Champion, seven-time X Games champion

Nate Holland – Truckee, CA  Two-time Olympian and six-time X Games gold medalist

Hannah Teter – Belmont, VT  Olympic gold & silver medalist, six-time X Games medalist, six-time World Cup Champion

Kikkan Randall – Anchorage, AK  2010 Olympian, Nordic

Arielle Gold – Steamboat Springs, CO  2013 World Champion, X Games medalist

Leo Ahrens – Salt Lake City, UT   Professional skier

Ralph Backstrom – Squaw Valley, CA  2013 World Freeride World Tour Champion

Molly Baker – Salt Lake City, UT   Professional skier

Mikkel Bang – Norway  Champion, US Open

Cody Barnhill – Anchorage, AK  Professional skier

Ashley Battersby – Chicago, IL  Professional skier, Dew Tour winner

Hana Beaman – Salt Lake City, UT  Two-time X Games silver medalist, Two-time US Open gold medalist

Jenn Berg – San Francisco, CA  Professional skier

Chris Benchetler – Bishop, CA  Professional skier

Jake Black – Keystone, CO  Professional snowboarder

Zachary Black – Keystone, CO Professional snowboarder

Jake Blauvelt – Waterbury, VT Professional snowboarder, US Open champion

Tricia Byrnes – Stratton, VT Professional snowboarder

Sammy Carlson – Hood River, OR Professional skier

Julian Carr – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Sage Cattabriga-Alosa – Salt Lake City, UT  Freesking World Tour Podium,  Peoples Choice Winner (Powder Magazine)

Jonathan Cheever – Saugus, MA  Professional snowboarder, US Champion, two time World Cup silver medalist

Ted Davenport – Aspen, Colorado   Professional skier, two time World Heli Champion

Danny Davis – Truckee, CA  Grand Prix Champion, US, European, Australian and NZ Open podium

Xavier de le Rue – France  Olympian and three-time Freeride World Champion

Maria Debari – Seattle, WA  Professional snowboarder

Grete Eliassen – Salt Lake City, UT  X Games Medalist, US Open Champion

Kaitlyn Farrington – Salt Lake City, UT  X Games, Dew Tour and Grand Prix Champion

Benji Farrow – Breckenridge, CO  Professional snowboarder, US Open bronze medalist

Kimmy Fasani – Mammoth Lakes, CA   Three time USASA Slopestyle Champion

Wendy Fisher – Crested Butte, CO  Professional skier

Pep Fujas – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier, X Games silver medalist

Scott Gaffney – Squaw Valley, CA Professional skier

Pete Gaston – Aspen, CO   Professional skier

Caroline Gleich – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Suz Graham – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Chas Guldemond – Laconia, NH  Professional snowboarder

Terje Haakonson – Norway  Three-time world champion, five-time European Champion, three-time US Open Champion

Moss Halladay – Squaw Valley, CA  Professional snowboarder

Kim Havell – Jackson, WY  Professional skier

Elena Hight – Kauai, HI  Olympian and X Games silver & bronze medalist

Alex Honnold – Sacramento, CA  Professional climber

Noah Howell – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Jennifer Hudak  – Hamden, CT  Professional skier

Graham I. Watanabe – Hailey, ID  Professional skier.  2010 US Olympian.

Hans K Mindnich – Stowe, VT  Professional snowboarder

Nils K. Mindnich – Stowe, VT  Professional snowboarder

Matt Ladley – Chicago, IL   Professional snowboarder

Christopher Laker – Park City, UT  Professional skier

Eric Larsen – Boulder, CO  Polar Explorer

Iris Lazzareschi – Squaw Valley, CA   Freeride World Tour winner

Nick Martini – Boulder, CO  First place Dew Tour

Andrew McLean – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Jess McMillan – Jackson, WY  Professional skier

Jaclyn Paaso – Boston, MA   Professional skier

Michelle Parker – Truckee, CA  Professional skier

Jamey Parks – Salt Lake City, UT  Professional skier

Kevin Pearce – Norwich, VT  Four time X Games medalist

Callum Pettit – Pemberton, B.C.  Professional skier

Megan Pischke – Vancouver, BC  Professional snowboarder

Mike Riddle – Vancouver, BC Professional skier, Gold medal World Ski Championships

Erik Roner – Tahoe, City, CA  Professional skier

Marie-France Roy – Vancouver, BC  US Open two-time podium

Elyse Saugstad – Olympic Valley, CA  2008 Freeride World Champion

Maddy Schaffrick – Steamboat Springs, CO  Silver medal Copper Grand Prix

Alex Schlopy – Park City, UT   X Games Gold medalist, Gold Medal World Ski Championships

Chanelle Sladics – Breckenridge, CO  X Games Silver medalist

Chris Tatsuno – Sun Valley, ID  Professional skier

Cody Townsend – Santa Cruz, CA  Professional skier

Protect Our Winters’ Founder, Jeremy Jones was featured in The New York Times this week.  We’re proud to say that the same mindset and passion that drives Jeremy to be the best in the mountains, is reflected in our work here at POW.

Take look HERE

Also, thank you to the Ultima Thule Lodge,  Vans, Jones Snowboards, Black Diamond, Transworld Snowboarding, TGR and Outside Television for supporting this amazing contest.

And now for the winner. Let’s hear it from Jeremy:

Jeremy Jones Ultima Thule AK Adventure Winner Announced from protect our winters on Vimeo.

When you shop at thenorthface.com, you’ll have the opportunity to make a donation to us at checkout. Every dollar we raise this way will be directed to our Hot Planet/Cool Athletes climate education program, presented by The North Face.

Thank you to The North Face for their generous partnership.  And to you all, we think you need a new Free Thinker jacket.  www.thenorthface.com

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 second year in a row.

The People’s Choice, the original metric of the outdoors, is dedicated to providing outdoor industry insiders with a platform to express their opinions. The 2nd annual Avalaunch Winter Market Awards gives industry insiders a chance to honor their picks for the years best.

Big coal has big plans for Washington State. The largest coal company in the world -Peabody coal- wants to build a massive export terminal in Whatcom county (NW Washington), so they can ship coal from Wyoming and Montana to Asia and all over the world.

This is one of the most important fights against coal in the country right now, because if we lose, it will seriously undermine much of the progress we’ve made to reduce global warming pollution and reduce the amount of dirty coal burned in the United States.

But Washington State can stop the coal industry in its tracks. The most important step right now is to weigh in with the agencies making the first round of decisions on the project before the deadline of Jan. 20.

The proposed export terminal north of Bellingham, would export at least 48 million tons of coal per year and would make it the largest coal export facility in North America. On the way to this port from the Powder River Basin, millions of pounds of coal would be transported annually by train through most of Washington’s population centers, leaving traffic jams and a cloud of harmful coal dust in its wake. Not to mention mercury poisoning blowing back to the West coast from coal burned in Asia and the catastrophic climate impacts from burning that coal.

Over 8,000 concerned citizens like you turned out to 7 hearings throughout Washington and two “People’s Hearings” in Montana in solidarity, this fall. Now we need 50,000 people to make your voices heard.

Please comment today and say NO to Peabody Coal 

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THIS FIGHT