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The phone connection with Amie Engerbretson wasn’t so good. She was somewhere overseas, but the podcaster, producer and professional skier still wanted to talk.
This is an undated contributed photo of professional skier and model Amie Engerbretson.
Courtesy photo
On Nov. 21, Engerbretson makes her second visit to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä for a ski film screening, this time for a special showing of her film, “Hypocrite†at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, 1 Clay Square.
“This is my first time making a documentary,†Engerbretson said.
“Hypocrite†matches Engerbretson’s love of skiing with her work with Protect Our Winters, a climate advocacy group organized by the outdoor sports community.
Engerbretson is part of an elite group of athletes who travel months out of the year to carve their way down some of the tallest and most difficult slopes in the world.
These destinations make for legendary skiing that can test the capabilities of the human body, while also offering the opportunity for awe-inspiring photographs that showcase seldom-scene natural beauty.
Pro snow sports’ role in climate change
The snow sports industry often aligns itself with conservation causes, but critics have pointed out that while professional skiers and snowboarders promote recreation outdoors and taking care of the environment, they’re also flying across the globe. They ride around in snowmobiles or take helicopters to the tops of mountains.
All of this burns up a lot of fuel.
The same argument has been leveled at touring musicians like Taylor Swift and U2.
These are undated photos of professional skier and model Amie Engerbretson (above and below).
Courtesy photos
“One of the things we do is we talk with Natalie Oreskes,†Engerbretson explained. “She wrote a book called ‘Merchants of Doubt.’â€
The book discussed a small group of contrarian scientists aligned with political think tanks, and criticized industries that disputed scientific consensus on topics such as the dangers of smoking, acid rain and climate change.
“The term ‘personal carbon footprint’ was something the fossil fuel industry came up with,†Engerbretson said.
She added that people like her — who travel the world — contribute only a small part to the much larger problem.
“It’s just a bucket of water in the ocean of trouble,†she said. “Is climate change really the fault of going on that ski trip or is that just a way to make [people] feel guilty and hypocritical and incapable of driving for change and using their voice?â€
That wasn’t to say that individual people shouldn’t look toward helping the environment or doing what they can to offset climate change, but ultimately changes have to be systemic. Doing little things, like carpooling to the ski resort to reduce use of fossil fuels are good. But really, things have to be done on a larger scale for real change.
Engerbretson said she doesn’t dispute climate change. She’s witnessed it in her lifetime. Ski seasons start later and winters are shorter.
That affects more than people on ski slopes. Shorter winters make less snow to pack down. That affects the spring thaw and the water that filters down to streams, rivers and to farms and communities.
It can also lead to droughts and wildfires.
Engerbretson acknowledged that the incoming presidential administration probably doesn’t have the same interest in the environment as the outgoing administration.
“I think if things like the EPA go away, that’s going to limit our ability to address climate change,†she said. “That’s detrimental, but it’s not something we give up on. My ultimate goal and the ultimate goal of Protect Our Winters is to make this issue not a partisan issue or a political issue. It’s about clean air, clean water and having a healthy planet for everybody.â€
