The Time is Now

A few years ago I made a personal pledge to myself to get more involved in something. I wasn’t sure what it should be. But I wanted to give back.

Sure, I realize that sounds lame and super vague, but over multiple dialogs with people like Terry Kellogg from 1% For The Planet and Peter Metcalf from Black Diamond I was inspired. They did not shy away from big, audacious undertakings and were unintimidated by the scale or seeming futility of setting out and breaking a lonely trail uphill. I was also haunted by my personal concerns over climate change and the fact that one day one of my kids would ask me why we as a society didn’t do something about it when we knew what was happening.

DSC_0114 3Soon enough an opportunity came forward when Auden Schendler and Chris Davenport asked that I join the Board for Protect Our Winters (POW), a non-profit started by snowboarder Jeremy Jones focused on climate.

Here was the opportunity to work with a great group of people and try to move the needle on a big issue. Sure, I was inwardly skeptical if we could move public awareness or truly affect change. Yet I was also inspired by the mentality that people like Jeremy and Dav have whether planning to ski and ride huge intimidating faces, or in taking a public stance around education, activism and climate change.

DSC_0613Since joining POW, in various conversations with friends the most pressing question has been, “you don’t actually think you can make any headway, do you?” After a lobbying trip to DC last fall that fell during the government shut down, the skepticism seemed even more acutely counterbalanced against the vision. Skepticism. Futility. It’s easier to not not even try because the system is jacked, right?
DSC_0015Yet the groundswell continues. Porter Fox’s op-ed landed on the cover of the NY Times Sunday Travel Section. The POW Rider’s Alliance spawns an Olympic group of 105 international athletes focused on climate. The collective efforts of POW colleagues Chris Steinkamp, Matt McClain, Naomi Oreskes, Anne Nolin, Joni Lynch, Conrad Anker, Gretchen Bleiler, Winston Binch and Ryan Gellert continues to build the message forward.

This morning friends from the NRDC sent over a great email highlighting major coverage on climate impact covered by the AP, ABC, The Today Show, USA Today, Huffington Post, Boston Globe, Washington Post and more. Skepticism. Futility. Or maybe not?

This blog is not about POW. It is bigger than that. It is about the impacts of climate change on water supply, agriculture, forest and air quality. The wonkiness of radical climate change is everywhere and increasingly hard to ignore – massive flooding in England, expected increase in produce prices due to the ongoing drought in California and glaciers in Greenland shifting up to 150 feet per day. Yet to affect change takes activism, which means individuals getting involved even if you doubt you can make a difference. Activism is the enemy of apathy.

So, the question is are you apathetic or active?

American Pistachio Growers Dinner with Jeremy Jones

1479517_10152084647760530_214732620_nThe American Pistachio Growers (APG) hosted an intimate dinner with professional big mountain snowboarder and APG athlete ambassador Jeremy Jones last month in Boulder with leaders in snow sports media.

In an effort to tell a deeper story with active lifestyle media on the growing partnership between Jones and the American Pistachio Growers, the Backbone Media team worked with culinary experts at Frasca Food & Wine on Pearl Street to craft a pistachio themed evening full of great food and conversation.

Boulder continues to lead the country as a hub for active interest media. Frasca was the ideal venue to bring this community together with APG nutritionist Becci Twombley and Jeremy Jones for conversations regarding snow sports and nutrition. Courses including a raviolo with celery root, ricotta, black truffle and parmesan reggiano, capesante with scallop, cauliflower, blood orange and pistachio and finally crostata di fragile – a strawberry tarte with pistachio gelato.

University of Southern California nutritionist Becci Twombley spoke about modern sports nutrition – and the importance of pistachios – for winter sports athletes. Jeremy discussed his recent trip to Nepal and filming the third installment of his film trilogy with Teton Gravity Research. Jones stressed the importance of proper nutrition and his “recovery window” when he returns to base camp after extended periods filming in the most remote locations.

Twelve members of the media attended, representing titles such as Snowboard Magazine, Humber Sport, the Atlantic, the Associated Press, ESPN, Mountain Magazine, SKI/Skiing, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Outside Magazine and the Active Interest Media House. We were psyched to reconnect with old friends and make new acquaintances as well!

Becci Twombley & Jeremy Jones

Becci Twombley & Jeremy Jones

Sue Jotblad from American Pistachio Growers, Kim Beekman from SKI Magazine and Sharon Houghton from Active Interest Media

Sue Jotblad from American Pistachio Growers, Kim Beekman from SKI Magazine and Sharon Houghton from Active Interest Media

Doug Schniztspahn from Elevation Outdoors Magazine & Radha Marcum

Doug Schniztspahn from Elevation Outdoors Magazine & Radha Marcum

Marc Peruzzi from Mountain magazine & Jayme Moye

Marc Peruzzi from Mountain magazine & Jayme Moye

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Chris Thompson & Sam Bass from SKI Magazine/ Skiing Magazine and BackboneMedia's Amanda Boyle

Chris Thompson & Sam Bass from SKI Magazine/ Skiing Magazine and BackboneMedia’s Amanda Boyle

By: Amanda Boyle