Top Tips For Green Snowboarding in New Zealand
How to Be More Environmentally Friendly When Snowboarding
Jun 5, 2009
Talk about global warming is everywhere now and people often talk about what it means for everyday lives. In terms of snowboarding it means there is likely to be a whole range of problems, such as less snowfall which means shorter snowboarding seasons.
The green revolution is alive and well in New Zealand, but it doesn’t mean snowboarding has to stop or car keys need to be thrown away. Here are some top tips to ‘go green’ while out riding that snowboard.
Think How Best to Travel to the Slopes
Try catching a bus or shuttle to the local or favourite slopes. Many of the ski fields around New Zealand provide shuttles. For example shuttles running from Queenstown and Wanaka can take snowboarders directly to the nearby slopes on Cardrona and Treble Cone. A bus means a relaxing ride, meeting some new friends and best of all saving on those nasty car exhaust discharges!
The Canterbury Snowsports Association has been promoting carpooling for a number of years now and it is very successful.Try carpooling. There is a website which helps organise carpooling to the ski fields.
However, if there is no option but to get on a plane, many airlines now offer the opportunity to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions.
Look For Opportunities to Purchase from Green Companies
Keep warm this winter with eco-friendly clothing. It is possible to find soft, warm and comfortable clothes that are made from great alternatives to manmade fabrics, such as merino wool. Planet Green has a wide range of different eco-friendly gear that is easy to browse through.
It is also possible to buy a snowboard made from sustainable materials such as bamboo, or where natural resins have been usedEco-friendly bindings are being made too.
Instead of buying standard wax, which is usually made from toxic chemicals, try a vegetable-based wax instead. These are better for the environment and should perform just as a well as the chemical-based wax for sliding and gliding.
When choosing a place to stay for the night, look for an accommodation provider who is making efforts to be green. Buy a night’s stay somewhere they recycle and also reduce water and energy use.
The Three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Firstly try to reduce what is used. Borrow from friends when heading off for a snowboard.
Most ski fields, such as Treble Cone, have recycling on the mountain so it is easy to separate rubbish. The NZ Government has set up a website where visitors can find out more about what can be recycled in New Zealand.
There are always creative things that can be done with old snowboarding gear. Give old snowboards to friends, or they can make great shelves. Keep old gear out of the landfill by taking it to one of the second hand shops. Or, keep old gear for training like the extreme riders, such as practicing tricks on trampolines!
Support Those Going Green
Many of the ski fields in New Zealand are making efforts to be greener in their operations. Treble Cone has recently received a special environmental tourism award for integrating eco-friendly practices into the experiences they offer. Also riders at NZSki's fields can contribute to the re-vegetation programme on Coronet Peak as part of the Keep Winter Cool campaign. Choose to support a ski field where they are going green and everyone wins.
Choose to support a ski field where they are going green and everyone wins
