Thule ambassadors advise on how to schuss with respect for nature
Winter sports enthusiasts are the people for whom the fight against climate change should be particularly important – this is clearly stated in the documentary film “The Melting Point”, made by director Paolo Prosperi and a pair of professional skiers – Lorenzo Alesi and Alice Linari. In it, Alesi and Linari – Thule ambassadors – share a set of tips to help winter activity fans reduce their negative impact on the environment. Here are the most interesting ones.
The documentary The Melting Point is a record of the authors’ journey through the mountains of the Old Continent and a story about how climate change is negatively affecting European mountains and glaciers. But it also shows that this phenomenon can be combated – by making the right consumer choices and minimizing your impact on the environment. During its implementation, Alesi and Linari traveled and schussed in an effort to generate the smallest possible carbon footprint – here’s how they achieved it.
Travel with your head
The first point is to “travel responsibly” – choose the least carbon-intensive mode of transportation possible, which in most cases is the train. When you reach your destination, consider renting an electric car or, if the distances you intend to cover are short, a motorcycle. Alternatively, you can use apps that allow several people to travel together – to reduce “empty” car rides with 1 or 2 passengers.
Commuting on electric motorcycles (photo. Thule)
What form of winter activity we choose also has an impact on the environment – it might be a great idea to opt for ski touring instead of traveling up and down the slopes (and using lifts powered by mains electricity or a generator).
Renewable energy and short trips
When planning a ski trip, it is also worth consciously choosing a ski resort – and paying special attention to those that use renewable energy sources. Let’s also remember that in order to have a fantastic time in the snow, you don’t necessarily have to travel halfway across the country or continent – sometimes you can find superbly groomed trails and worthwhile destinations quite close to home.
photo. Thule
There is also a huge environmental impact from the manufacturing process of many of the products needed for winter expeditions – from ski equipment to clothing to accessories and maintenance solutions. Some waxes for board lubrication can take up to 100,000 years to decompose – that’s why it’s worth reaching for modern products created from plant-based raw materials (equally effective, and definitely more environmentally friendly).
Reduce toxic substances
The same applies to the materials used in the manufacture of clothing or backpacks – the perfluorocarbons (PFCs) used to waterproof them also have a fatal impact on the environment, so when choosing a jacket or ski bag, it is worth paying attention to whether they are labeled “PFC-free”. On the same principle, you should also pay attention to whether the sun protection products you use are environmentally friendly (ie. Whether they do not include, for example. oxybenzone or octinoxate).
The Melting Point documentary and more information on responsible skiing can be found on the Thule website.
With Thule for skiing!
Thule offers a whole range of products for skiers who follow the above rules and plan, for example, to carry a backpack. travel to ski by train, while when choosing the necessary equipment, they will pay attention to the fact that it is manufactured from environmentally friendly materials. Such are the products in the Thule RoundTrip series – bags for skis and snowboards (available in several variants to fit boards of different sizes), as well as roomy backpacks, into which we can pack boots and all accessories.
Designed with Thule’s typical attention to detail and convenience – the new bags and backpacks feature convenient access to gear, plenty of room for essential equipment, and a suite of ingenious and useful additional features.
Skis on wheels
Take, for example, such a Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller 175 bag, suitable for transporting two pairs of skis and additional luggage. It features easy-to-transport wheels and padded cases with pullers to keep skis from moving around inside and separate from other items (e.g. of clothing that can be stowed in an additional inner pocket).
A long – running the full length of the bag – S-shaped zipper makes it easy to access gear, while a removable, padded compartment separates skis and serves as a bracing cover. The Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller 175 can hold two pairs of alpine ski skis up to 175 cm long – but Thule also offers a variant designed to transport two pairs of 192 cm long “boards”, as well as a snowboard bag (up to 165 cm long).
Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller
For transporting just one pair of skis, the Thule RoundTrip Ski Bag – also available in 175 or 192 cm long variants – will work perfectly. In it you will also find a system of pullers taking care of cargo stability, a long, wide-opening zipper, or an internal compartment for poles. Importantly, each of the described bags uses excellent YKK zippers, which can additionally be fastened with a padlock (sold separately), which protects the contents from theft.
Boots… on the back
The Thule RoundTrip series also includes great backpacks for ski boots and accessories, with 45 and 65 L variants available. Here, too, a number of ingenious, innovative solutions are used. A great one is e.g. a patent with a folding back panel – by opening it and unfolding it horizontally, we provide comfortable, wide access to the interior… and a flat waterproof mat on which we can stand to comfortably change shoes.
Thule RoundTrip series ski boot backpack
The backpacks also provide space for goggles, sunglasses, a smartphone or other small items – in a padded pocket with soft lining. Of course, there will also be room inside for other accessories and items that can be reached through openings in the top or front of the bag. A helmet can be clipped to the outer straps.
