Protect Our Winters

The biggest election of our lifetime is in 60 days, and we need every Outdoor State member at the polls to #StokeTheVote Gear up and make a statement with POW’s limited-edition merch. Feel good, look good, and send it straight to the ballot box this November. https://pow.brist.store/ Photos by Creative Alliance Member, Holly Shankland #protectourwinters

5 climate stories from August. NASA can detect greenhouse gas emissions from a satellite. A new satellite will detect methane and CO2 emissions from space—down to individual facilities—the public data will give us a clear view of global polluters. Boost for Clean Drinking Water: The Biden-Harris administration is investing $25.5 million to protect drinking water from climate change impacts through a new EPA program. Wind power just blew past coal in a big way! For the first time, wind energy outproduced coal in the U.S. for two consecutive months. Clean energy is on the rise, with wind power expected to supply 35% of U.S. electricity by 2050. Big bucks for EV charging: $521 million is being invested to expand EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., with 9,200 new charging ports on the way—pushing us closer to a cleaner future. U.S. joins the Global Plastic Treaty: The U.S. is planning to team up with over 60 countries to reduce plastic production and eliminate harmful chemicals. Learn more about this month’s climate wins on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eyjxD3rp #protectourwinters

28 million acres in Alaska are officially protected! This win comes after an outpouring of support from over 15,000 public comments to the Bureau of Land Management—and thanks to you, 9.4% of the total comments were submitted by the POW community!! Massive shoutout to the BLM for standing up for Alaska’s D1 lands! We're thrilled to see the final push to safeguard 28 million acres of pristine Alaskan wilderness from oil and gas extraction. Protecting this landscape will prevent the release of more than 600 million tons of carbon dioxide. This is a huge win for conservation and a major boost for Alaska’s $2.6 billion outdoor recreation industry, which supports over 20,000 jobs. #protectourwinters

"The more people who care, the more people will want to protect these places. As athletes we are not perfect, we all have our impacts and it’s crucial to share that aspect as well. Despite this imperfection, we can all be stewards, we can all have a voice and show that we care and be examples. Getting the conversation going is key." -POW Alliance Member and professional climber Emily Harrington Emily, a pioneering force in competitive climbing, made history with the first female routes of multiple 5.14s, and the first female free ascent of Golden Gate on El Cap. Adrian Ballinger is a professional mountaineer, founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, and accomplished skier with numerous first descents around the globe. Both Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger were an integral part of launching the POW Climb program. These two have always been climate advocates, but when they became parents, the climate crisis became more urgent than ever. 🏔️ Read more from Emily and Adrian about their path to parenthood on our blog with an in-depth Q&A about environmentalism, skiing, and raising the next generation. https://lnkd.in/dtfv_Hcw #protectourwinters Photos: Clayton Herrmann

"Since the 1980s, the #Himalayas has lost as much as 25% of its ice." ⚠️ We're excited to invite you to an exclusive interview with director Craig Leeson about his latest film by Nicholas (Nick) Nuttall, The Last Glaciers, a unique adventure highlighting the rapid disappearance of the Earth's glaciers. 🌍🌎🌏 📅 28 August - 15:00 CEST, join us to learn how cinema can drive environmental change: https://lnkd.in/eYhd26cP 📽️ Get your copy of the film and support Protect Our Winters with 5% of proceeds going to the non-profit: https://lnkd.in/ezSW8eHb #Thelastglaciers #glacier #glaciers #glacierwater #glacierhike #glaciermelt #mountains #mountain #savetheplanet #climateaction #climatecrisis

Stoke is high—POW Stoke Fest is back. We're bringing new films from POW Athletes, Creatives and Scientists to mountain towns across the West (or tune in from home)! This year, we’re gearing up for the most crucial election of our lifetime, and we’ve curated the perfect film fest to fire you up for the polls. Expect fresh, inspiring films, powerful panel discussions with climate advocates and the chance to connect with pros - like POW Founder Jeremy Jones and Amie Engerbretson. Plus, score some killer prizes! Coming to a mountain town near you THIS October. October 7: Bozeman, MT October 8: Missoula, MT October 10: Glenwood Springs, CO October 11: Durango, CO October 15: Reno, NV October 29: Virtually, from anywhere! Drop in and snag your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/eU9jWj9X #ProtectOurWinters #StokeTheVote

Charging across America with Austin Smith Austin Smith, pro snowboarder and POW Athlete Alliance member is on a mission to transition his lifestyle to clean energy on a budget. After converting his home to solar energy, he produced twice as much energy as his house was using. The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes individuals to swap to electric solutions at a reduced price. Using the benefits of the IRA, Austin saved $9,000 on his EV purchase and could charge it directly from his house. “There were different qualifications to have the car be eligible. For example, the car needs to be under $25,000, at least two years old, and from an authorized dealer.” Austin found his perfect vehicle in New Jersey and decided to put it to the test on a coast-to-coast road trip: NJ all the way back home to Oregon, without a drop of gas. Two years after the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, Austin reflects on how this historic legislation has made it easier for him to transition to clean energy at home while saving money. For the full blog on Austin’s EV journey, head to our blog: https://lnkd.in/ewFgWu-Q #protectourwinters

Film Drop! “How to Recall” Check out AAA grant recipient and POW Bike Alliance member Christopher Blevins and Creative Alliance member Nico Schiavone's new project, "How to Recall," which seamlessly blends captivating poetry and animation to explore how our connection to nature can drive climate advocacy. From hometown bike trails in Durango to Champion of the World Cup in Brazil, to the Paris Olympics, to climate advocacy, Christopher Blevins, POW Bike Alliance Member, is inspired by a deep love for the outdoors and its intersection with climate action. Nico Schiavone, another Durango native, provided a perfect collaboration opportunity to drive home the importance of how we share this earth. “I hope people can reflect on how innate it is to love and care for the environment, and I hope the project helps people understand how “playing outdoors” is a part of this. There will be a thousand steps that we need to take from this point on. We’ll need to show up, vote, build community, think critically, and make hard decisions to get on the right track with climate change. But this work has to come from the common feeling we get when we’re doing what we love outdoors.” Christopher Blevins, POW Bike Alliance Member Watch the short film on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/en9xg65r #protectourwinters Written by Christopher Blevins, directed, produced, and animated by Nico Schiavone.

There’s only 7 days left to bid on the POW Yard Sale! Check out a few of our favorite Yard Sale Items: a personalized photography workshop with Holly Shankland an Palisades Tahoe getaway (ski tickets included)! Graham Zimmerman has his eye out for some Ruffwear swag for his doodle Pebble. Bid on personalized items straight from our alliance members. https://lnkd.in/dkzR6RVq Proceeds from The Yard Sale go directly into protecting the places and experiences you love most from climate change. #protectourwinters

As members of the Outdoor State™, we don’t just play in the outdoors—we live for it. We’re rallying the entire Outdoor State—all 175 million of us—to stand up for our planet. We believe in clean air, clean water and a healthy planet for all. Climate change is putting all of it at risk, and the upcoming election is our best shot to protect what we love. From now until the election, you’ll see POW coast to coast at in-person events, film screenings, dynamic panel discussions,  and we’re rolling out some of our most powerful films and creative projects from our Alliance yet - stay tuned! Visit https://bit.ly/3SOEFe8 to check your voter registration status and get involved. Now’s the time to vote like your adventures depend on it. Because they do. https://lnkd.in/eevnWdS9 #protectourwinters #stokethevote Special thanks to our friend Goth Babe for music and POW Board and Alliance Member Hilary Hutcheson  for narrating and Jonathon Chandler for editing.