Protect Our Winters

“A week ago I wrote about Hurricane Helene, now recovery from Milton is also underway. This is not normal. Extreme weather is a cost of climate change and none of us are exempt from paying the bill when it comes due. Back-to-back hurricanes bearing down on millions of Americans show us the presence, power, and pushback nature wields.” - Alex Lee, POW Science Alliance Captain Team POW member William Stikeleather, Meteorologist for the North America Peril Advisory team at Guy Carpenter, shared that Hurricane Milton was incredibly destructive, intensifying faster than almost any storm on record—going from a category 1 to a category 5 in just 18 hours. Though the storm weakened before landfall, its impact was still severe, bringing extreme winds, widespread tornados, flooding, and storm surges to communities in west-central Florida. In Florida alone, we have 3,100 POW community members. The Southeast is home to 62 National Parks and nearly 90 million Americans, including millions of runners, climbers, hikers, paddlers, fishermen, swimmers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. As recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene continue, these communities need our support more than ever. If you are able to offer support to those in need, please visit Project HOPE , Greater Good Charities and Charity Navigator. Read more from Alex and Will on our blog: https://lnkd.in/dwBBjTYT #ProtectOurWinters

?? Join the Conversation: Climate, Community, and the Power of Voting ?? We’re excited to announce an impactful evening at Aeronaut Brewing Company in Somerville, MA! We'll kick it off with a screening of Purple Mountains—Live Free or Die, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 film. Follow Jeremy Jones, Founder of Protect Our Winters (POW), as he returns to New Hampshire to bridge political divides, meet outdoor enthusiasts from different backgrounds, and tackle climate challenges—from the peaks of Mount Washington to the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. Following the screening, we're hosting a powerful panel discussion featuring: ? Joe Curtatone – President of ACT | The Alliance for Climate Transition ? Torey Lee Brooks, LEED AP – Professional Skier & Protect Our Winters (POW) Athlete Ambassador ? Rahsaan D. Hall – President & CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts ? Mardi Fuller – Contributing writer to Outside magazine, SKI magazine, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Melanin Basecamp, and more, and serves on the board of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Together, they’ll explore what’s at stake for the Northeast’s Outdoor State and Environmental Justice (EJ) communities in the upcoming elections. These conversations are crucial because ?? Climate is on the ballot ?? As Jeremy Jones, professional snowboarder and founder of POW, says: "Although the policies seem complex and the benefits may be hard to grasp, climate is on the ballot this year, and these policies will bring significant advantages to communities. We know that in order for democracy to work, everyone needs to vote, no matter what side of the aisle you are on. It’s up to us." ?? Your voice matters. Join us, learn more, vote, and be part of the movement. Register for free here: https://lnkd.in/eCb-uAzW #ClimateAction #POW #EnvironmentalJustice #Vote2024 #PurpleMountainsFilm #ProtectWhatYouLove #IVoteEnvironment #ACT

“If you go back 100 years, the sustained cold period across New England was about two to three weeks longer and in some spots across the region, temperatures have warmed by five to six degrees since the 1970s,” - Elizabeth Burakowski, climate scientist, POW Science Alliance Member, and passionate skier. As a Research Faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, Liz studies the effects of climate change in the Northeast. She joined POW for the filming of Purple Mountains Live Free or Die to highlight these critical issues. Watch Purple Mountains Live Free or Die: https://lnkd.in/ekENp3YE A film by Josh 'Bones' Murphy A huge thank you to 11th Hour Racing, ACT | The Alliance for Climate Transition, and Land and Sea for All.

The devastation left by Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking, claiming over 200 lives and leaving 600 missing. 42 Trillion gallons of rainfall have caused entire communities to remain without power, homes lost, mass flooding, and an estimated $160 Billion in damages. “While Helene on its own is a devastating blow to communities in the American Southeast, the storm is indicative of climate change shifting the distribution of hurricanes toward more violent and damaging to communities that historically least expect it. For this reason alone, addressing the causes and effects of climate change are imperative to ensuring the wellbeing of our local communities into the future.” Jackson Yip, POW Science Alliance Member and Research Associate for the Department of Meteorology at San Jose State University. With over 1,000 Team POW and Alliance members directly in Hurricane Helene's path, the devastation serves as a stark reminder that climate change is already here—and it’s hitting hard. These moments strike us deeply, reaffirming our commitment to protect the places, people, and communities we love. Our thoughts are with those impacted by Hurricane Helene. If you can support those in need, please visit American Red Cross and Charity Navigator. Learn more from Alex Lee, POW Science Alliance Captain, Ph.D. in Environmental Ethics from the University of Colorado Boulder, on our blog: https://lnkd.in/exK6_zsj Photos by Caitlin Ochs (East of Asheville, aftermath)

We're honored to work with High West Distillery as a Brand Alliance partner! High West’s Protect the West initiative partners with nonprofits focused on wildfires, conserving wild lands, and protecting winter. “That’s why High West’s support of Protect Our Winters, an organization founded by my friend and snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones, really resonated with me. POW has done an amazing job mobilizing the snow sports community on climate.” -Shaun White

“Did you know that I can’t vote, and have never been able to vote? Did you know that there are approximately 25.3 million people who live in the United States and can’t vote? We are immigrants.” Vanessa Chavarriaga is a professional athlete, POW Alliance member, and climate advocate who can’t vote due to her immigration status. Recently, Vanessa wrote a blog on finding her voice in advocacy, voter suppression, and the disproportionate effects of climate change on communities of color. https://lnkd.in/e8X5RjYQ “I am constantly in rooms full of people who don’t understand my intersectional identities, and are therefore unable to see me or create space for my needs. My communities, the poor, rural, undocumented, working class communities, are on the frontlines of environmental racism, imperialism, and genocide. And politically, we have less agency to do anything about it. We don’t have a political voice to fight for our lives through voting. We can’t fight for our futures.” -Vanessa Chavarriaga Photos by Micheli Oliver and Joey Sackett

Did you know that people are significantly more likely to vote when encouraged by a friend? Vote tripling is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to boost voter turnout. According to Impactive, this strategy can increase turnout by up to 8.3%! Here’s how you can make an impact: Text three friends and ask them to vote. Then, visit https://stokethevote.com/ to enter to win incredible prizes from our partners. Grand prizes include a pair of Faction Skis aka The Faction Collective, a new Burton Snowboards, and an unlimited Ikon Pass. If we unite the Outdoor State, all 175 Million of us, we can unlock the largest voting power in the nation. Triple your vote now: https://bit.ly/3SOEFe8 #protectourwinters “NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and DC, 13 years or older. Begins October 1, 2024 ends November 5, 2024. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit [https://bit.ly/3ZNAbZA].” Photo credit: Gretchen Powers, Jeremiah Watt, Scott Markewitz

Outside Livin Forms Partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW) to Drive Climate Action October 1, 2024 — Outside Livin, Inc., doing business as SkiSync and Outside Life, a leading travel company for outdoor and ski enthusiasts, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting climate change. This collaboration reflects Outside Livin’s commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainability of winter sports and outdoor recreation for generations to come. Outside Livin has long been dedicated to offering unique travel experiences for adventure seekers. With a vibrant, young demographic that includes college students, alumni, and grad students, Outside Livin is well-positioned to inspire climate action at an earlier age. This partnership aims to harness the energy and passion of younger generations, helping to develop climate advocates who can drive meaningful change both now and in the future. Statements from Leadership: "We're thrilled to partner with Protect Our Winters," said Kelsie Neff Lee, Head of Partnerships and Development at Outside Livin. "As a company that serves outdoor enthusiasts, we understand the importance of preserving the environments where we operate. This partnership represents our commitment to ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the Ultimate Winter Experience, because life is best lived outside!" From Patrick King, Strategic Partnerships Director at POW: “We're excited to work with Outside Livin to grow POW’s reach among an important demographic within the Outdoor State: young, engaged voters who are ready and excited to make advocacy part of their climate story.” Read the full press release at https://lnkd.in/gds5njkX For more information about this partnership, please visit OutsideLife.com and SkiSync.com. Learn more about Protect Our Winters at protectourwinters.org.

“Even as a little girl, I knew how it felt to be enveloped with love from my landscapes. That love carried through to everything I did. From skiing, to photography, to my career as an action photographer; the passion that drove me to these things came from my love for the outdoors. The outdoors has always been my friend.” Emily Tidwell, POW Creative Alliance Captain & director of her latest film “Saving Silence”. https://lnkd.in/ePSiKKz2 In this powerful film, Emily Tidwell finds refuge in nature and action. She’s using her passion for the outdoors to tell her story and motivate others to get involved. With microplastic pollution reaching the most pristine places on Earth, the call to action is clear: use your voice, protect our lands, and vote for change. #protectourwinters Thank you for making this possible Fat Tire and Visit Cook County MN

Michelle Parker here to remind you to #stokethevote with our Strava challenge starting TODAY! Whether you ride, run, bike, swim, or skate—whatever gets you moving, we’re all in. Get out, catch some fresh air, and make it count. See you at the polls (and on the trails). Head over to Strava now to join the challenge and start logging your activities to earn a POW badge and the chance to win epic prizes from our partners Osprey Packs, Inc. GU Energy Labs 45NRTH Big Agnes Inc ! https://lnkd.in/e6D2bP_S #ProtectOurWinters