Pacific Palisades, CA – The environmental activist group Protect Our Winters (POW) has announced that four new members have been added to the four year-old nonprofit’s Board of Directors, and that they’ve formed a new partnership with an Argentinean vintner. POW was founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, focused on uniting and mobilizing the winter sports community against climate change.
“We are truly honored that this group has agreed to be part of POW’s leadership,” Jones said of the new board members. “Four years ago, POW was an idea. Now we have some of the best and the brightest in sports, science, sustainability and business guiding this organization.”
The group has added to its Board of Directors: Gretchen Bleiler, Olympic Silver Medalist snowboarder, four-time X Games Champion and co-founder of Nice Reusables/ALEX Bottle; Penn Newhard, the owner of Carbondale, Colo.-based outdoor industry public relations firm Backbone Media; Naomi Oreskes, Professor of History and Science Studies at the University of California, San Diego; and Kristine Stratton, Senior Vice President of Operations at Earthjustice.
Protect Our Winters has also elected Matt McClain as its Chairman of the Board. McClain is currently the Director Marketing & Communications for Surfrider Foundation, based in San Clemente, Calif. and has been a POW Board Member for two years.
In addition to the board’s new members and Chairman, it counts amongst its members: Auden Schendler, Vice President of Sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company; Strick Walker, Sr. Director, International Brand Communications, Converse; and Christina Thomure, Director of Sustainability, Grand Targhee Resort.
POW also announced that the organization has joined forces with Mendoza, Argentina’s Alamos Wines to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on mountain communities worldwide. Snow melt from the Andes Mountains in provides an unparalleled natural irrigation system, which nurtures Alamos’ vineyards.
“Our grapes come from mountain vineyards with elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet,” said Alamos Winemaker Felipe Stahlschmidt. “These high-altitude growing conditions provide the ideal elevation, climate and sun exposure to yield grapes with rich, layered aromas and flavors.”
“It is rare to find a partner that truly relies on snow for the production of its product,” said Chris Steinkamp, POW Executive Director. “We have a shared commitment to the preservation of mountain communities worldwide, and partnering with Alamos will help us to reach even more people with our message about climate change.”
Later this year, Alamos and POW will continue to spread the word about climate change by hosting gear recycling events in three U.S. cities. Alamos will collect that old ski gear that’s collecting dust in the garage and recycle it, ensuring that it is used as core material for future skis, decking, flooring and even furniture.