Eco-Tips by Tahoe Skiers
Posted on March 3, 2011
Filed Under Lake Tahoe Eco-Tips
As skiers living in Tahoe, we understand the importance of doing our part to help reduce global warming to protect our environment, recreation and livelihoods.
Following are some useful tips by local skiers featured in Adventure Film Works’ ski films who practice what they preach.
Filmmaker Duane Kubischta has combined his passion for skiing and the environment into his ski films to make environmental adventure documentaries. His 2007 film, Weather We Change, is an environmental ski movie that explores the changes we can make as skiers.
Duane and the athletes believe that by starting small and then building our awareness and activism every year, each one us us can make a difference. Weather We Change was made without the use of helicopters or snowmobiles. In addition, the carbon footprint (driving, travel, production) of the film was offset through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s GreenTags program. Skiers starring in the 2008 film, AK the Hard Way, also chose to hike their lines to earn those precious backcountry turns.
Skier Eco-Tips we all can follow:
- Don’t use any bags at the grocery store. Get some permanent bags and leave them in your car. If your forget them, go back and get them – It will make you mad and you’ll remember them next time. 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.
- Drive less, carpool and coordinate your trips. Each time you have to drive, ask yourself if you really need to go. The U.S. contributes 45% of the world’s automotive carbon dioxide emissions.
- Don’t use napkins or paper towels. That’s what your pants are for! If you do get one of those really messy burritos, use a fork. Americans use an average of 2200 paper napkins per year and it’s cheaper to wash cloth ones than to buy paper napkins.
- Figure out where your energy comes from. Call your energy provider and ask, then ask if they have a renewable energy program you can sign up for. This is how we start to demand energy that’s cleaner than filthy coal.
- Work Less. Practice ski bum minimalism by working less, being thrifty, and enjoying your life more. The very best way to help the environment is to reduce your overall impact. If you have a little less money, your going to buy fewer things.
AK the Hard Way (2008) by Adventure Film Works
“AK the Hard Way” is the fourth release from local Squaw filmmaker Duane Kubischta. The film stars two Squaw athletes, Miles Clark of the Squaw Valley Freeride Team and Jackie Paaso, a freeride coach on the Squaw Freestyle Team. “AK the Hard Way” follows Miles Clark, Jackie Paaso, and Jeff Seifred on their 3,000-mile road trip from Squaw Valley, CA to the glacial peaks of southern Alaska, with stops at Mt. Baker, Whistler, and Smithers, BC.
Candid interviews guide the story and reveal the athletes’ thoughts and emotions as they face unforeseen obstacles along the way. Filmmaker Duane Kubischta intentionally chose a diverse set of characters to see how their unique personal journeys would play out alongside the physical one.
The group chooses to forgo the use of helicopters for a more intimate and “earn your turn” ski experience. As the athletes are pushed to the limits in the harsh Alaska environment, their internal struggles become lessons and sources of inspiration for the larger story of facing life’s challenges. “AK the Hard Way” demonstrates that the personal and physical are often one and the same when tested by the challenges of nature.
The “AK the Hard Way” DVD and movie trailer are available at www.adventurefilmworks.com.
