| Ski resorts world-wide have been actively | | | | equipment. Recycling older ski or snowboard |
| participating in recycling and composting projects | | | | equipment offers someone else the opportunity to |
| since as early as 2001. | | | | learn to ski or snowboard at discounted prices. |
| Most resorts are now using 100 percent recyclable | | | | The number of snowboarders in North America is |
| materials throughout day-to-day operations. Resort | | | | starting to catch the number of skiers. Many of the |
| restaurants are using environment friendly utensils | | | | world's leading ski resorts welcome higher numbers of |
| and carry-out containers and composting food scraps | | | | snowboarders year after year. Resorts that offer ski |
| with wood shavings to use in landscaping throughout | | | | lessons are starting to include snowboard lessons for |
| the resort. | | | | beginners and intermediate snowboarders as well. |
| Some resorts are passing their recycling and | | | | Snowboard rentals are readily available in the ski |
| composting knowledge to their guests. Several also | | | | rental area of most resorts. |
| take a one dollar donation from guests to donate to | | | | Associations like the United States of America |
| organizations dedicated to helping the environment. | | | | Snowboard Association and the United States Ski and |
| Bob Candler, snowboard rider and inventor, has gone | | | | Snowboard Association promote snowboarding |
| further in his attempts to help the environment. | | | | competitions throughout the ski season. |
| Candler has spent the last 15 years designing the | | | | Competitions include events like Rail Jam, |
| world's first fully recyclable snowboard: the Makboard. | | | | Boardercross, Slalom and Giant Slalom. Competitors |
| 'Taking care of our planet is something that should be | | | | are divided into age categories and range in age from |
| important to all riders,' Candler said. 'I created a board | | | | under 7 years to 22 years. |
| that, instead of ending up in a landfill, could be melted | | | | In the years to come, skiers, snowboarders and |
| down and reshaped into another snowboard when its | | | | other winter sports enthusiasts will benefit from the |
| life is over.' | | | | recycling efforts put forth by resorts and fellow |
| 'Ultimately, what we're trying to do is keep these | | | | skiers alike. |
| things from ending up as pollution,' Candler said. 'As | | | | Skiing families will learn more about recycling and |
| snowboarders, we've got to be on the front lines | | | | protecting the environment. They will take that |
| doing all we can to protect what we all love: the | | | | knowledge with them throughout other aspects of |
| mountains, the environment and everything that | | | | life. |
| makes snowboarding so much fun.' | | | | Their children will teach other children how to recycle |
| With the combined efforts of ski resorts and skiers | | | | and reuse items they may normally throw away. |
| like Mr. Candler, our resorts and mountains will be | | | | Small efforts by a lot of people can help make a |
| much nicer places to spend free time. | | | | difference in our national forests and mountains. |
| Many ski shops also recycle ski and snowboard | | | | Helping in the recycling efforts will ultimately lead to |
| equipment by taking in trades and selling used | | | | cleaner, safer environments for families to enjoy. |
| equipment for a fraction of the cost of new | | | | |