Professional skiers call for competition changes in response to climate crisis | ‘This is our most important race’ | News News

In an open letter signed by almost 200 professional athletes, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation is coming under increased pressure to make winter sports more sustainable

Mikaela Shiffrin is among the professional winter sports athletes to co-sign the letter

Ski chiefs have come under pressure from professional athletes to improve the sustainability of winter sports.

Nearly 200 professionals, including US slalom star Mikaela Shiffrin and Norwegian racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde have penned a letter to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), calling the current environmental policies “insufficient”.

The letter comes after unseasonal warm weather and show shortages wiped nearly a month of racing from the start of the season, with pre-season training on shrinking European glaciers melting away.

The letter was written by Austrian downhiller Julian Schütter, an ambassador for the non-profit organisation Protect Our Winters, known as POW.

Olympic cross-country skiing champion Jessie Diggins and Freeride World Tour champions Arianna Tricomi and Xavier de le Rue have also signed the letter.

“A heatwave in January brings the next lack of snow to Europe. Soon we won’t be able to produce artificial snow at some classic World Cup slopes anymore as winter temperatures rise above zero in low altitude ski resorts more frequently,” the athletes said.

“The public opinion about skiing is shifting towards unjustifiability. This will also bring the industry into trouble. This is our most important race, let’s win it together.”

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The professionals suggested “geographically reasonable” schedules to reduce carbon emissions from air travel, citing how the men’s circuit will have to travel from Europe to North America and back twice by the end of the season.

“The races of Beaver Creek in November and those in Aspen in February are 50km (30 miles) away from each other,” the skiers said, referring to the two Colorado resorts.

“Planning those two races one after the other would reduce approximately 1,500 tons of (carbon emissions).”

Kilde was at the skiing world championships on Sunday spoke of the issue after winning silver medal in the downhill.

“It’s about time to address a really important topic. We see also the impact of our sport,” he said. “I want the future generations to experience winter and to be able to do what I do,” she said.

Sky Sports News has contact FIS for comment.

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