How to Reduce Your Footprint In Winter Sports

Written by Claudia Wex

As Canadians, we love when the temperatures drop and little white snowflakes fall from the sky. We live for our winter sports whether that be skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc. It’s important tokeep in mind that there could be some negative environmental impacts from taking part in these activities.That being said, there isn’t any reason why we can’t still enjoy our sports as long as weare respectful of the environment around us and take initiatives to reduce our impact.

Here are some ways that you can be a mindful skier orboarder, and reduce yourimpact on the environment. 

Try to bus, train, or carpool to the mountains

This is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint when getting there (especially if you are with a group). Check out Magic Bus Tours if you’re ever wanting to catch a ride to the hill in the Edmonton region. They provide many bus rides to popular mountains and even offer “Weekender” tickets if you’re wanting to spend a whole weekend in the Rockies.

When using personal cars/vehicles, opt to carpool with your ski/snowboard freinds! 

Throw out your rubbish

Now you’ve gotten to the mountains, how do you continue to try and reduce your impact? Make sure if you’re bringing food items with disposable wrappers/containers that you’re taking everything with you and disposing of it properly. If you see litter on the ground, pick it up and throw it out so that no wildlife is disrupted. 

An even better way to solve the issue of garbage being in the mountains is to bring your food in Tupperware containers! This is a much more eco-friendly solution and saves you money in the long run if you’re always buying plastic bags and other single-use plastics. 

High-quality and durable gear

You can make a positive environmental impact through your gear. You don’t want to have to purchase a new set of skis every year if you don’t have to. Purchase gear that’s of high-quality, durable and sustainable materialsthat’s meant to last.

In terms of clothing, shop for gear that uses enviornmental certifications and avoid fast-fashion brands. It might be tempting to buy that cheap, matching ski suit, but in the long run it's not going to last. 

Our Skis and Boards are made with extremely high-quality, durable materials and are produced in one of the highest-end factories in the world. Therefore when we tell youthey’re meant to last, we’re not playing around. To back up our quality in ourproducts we offer a FREE 3-year manufacturing warranty. 

 Pictured: Dustin Kephart wearing our VICE 97’s

Shop consciously 

Quality is just as important as the brand itself you’re purchasing from. When it comes down to skis and snowboards, there are an array of different products and options. Why not opt for those options from manufacturers that share the same values as you? Being a socially and environmentally conscious consumer is crucial when trying to be mindful. It’s up to you to support companies that show awareness and care about the environmentsuch as using sustainable materials in production and donating to environmental causes. 

Here at Paradise, we have partnered with One Tree Planted and are committed to planting one tree for every purchase made on our online website. Other environmental causesthat you can supportinclude: Protect Our Winters, Canadian Wildlife Federation, and The David Suzuki Foundation. 

Give away your old ski & snowboard gear

When you’re no longer using your old gear, why not try selling it to someone to get a new life out of it? Especially if it’s skis and snowboards for little children, they grow so fast and need a new pair every year or so. A family would definitely appreciate finding a pair of used skis in good condition rather than having to buy a brand-new pair. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of selling it, try donating your old gear to your local reuse store for someone to purchase there. 

If you're looking for an easy way to sell your old ski/snowboard gear - check out the Calgary New & Used Ski Sale! Not in Calgary? Most ski-heavy areas will have some type of community sale or ski swap - they're always worth checking out whether you want to make some extra cash, or find some gear on a budget! 

These are just a few ways to try and reduce your environmental impact on the hill. I know although some suggestions might seem small and not make the biggest impact if we come together as a community, we can make a huge difference, in the best way possible. If you want to read more about our sustainability inativities here at Paradise, head over to our Sustainability page see how we employ sustainability as a mindset whenever we can throughout our manufacturing and shipping processes!