Introduction

Over the past 50 years throughout most of Canada in B.C. and Alberta, the average nightly low temperature in the middle of winter has increased at least 2 C near the coast and up to 5 C in parts of the Rockies. This has a tremendous effect on most, if not all of Canada’s ski resorts. Throughout my journey as a competitive alpine ski racer, I have been able to witness first hand the effect that the warmer climate is having on our winters.

Pictured above is the Hintertux Glacier located in the Tirol region of Austria. This is a popular destination for skiers of many levels. As an athlete, I have traveled to Hintertux twice over the span of 3 years for training camps. My coach has been traveling to this same glacier for around 40 years. He has described to me how much this glacier has melted and where they used to be able to ski and are no longer able due to the lack of ice and snow. I rode the chair with one the employees from the Hintertux Glacier and he was explaining to me about what they are doing in attempts to preserve the glacier and slow its rapidly melting surface. They have been “tarping” certain parts of the Glacier to preserve snowpack in the summer which means earlier skiing in the fall.

Winter has become increasingly unpredictable in recent decades due to climate change, scientists and ski industry experts say. December-February temperatures in the U.S. and Canada have increased an average of 0.55 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1970, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Warmer oceans are fueling stronger winter storms—as evidenced by Boston's record 9 feet of snow last year—but warmer air temperatures also mean that snow doesn't stick around as long. Seasons are demonstrably shorter. Droughts are more severe and last longer. This kind of weather whiplash is expected to worsen in coming decades.

Snowmaking can help some mountains overcome the inconsistency of winter, but it comes at a steep cost—an average $500,000 annually. Many mom-and-pop resorts, especially those at lower latitudes or elevations, with tight budgets are the first to disappear.

The number of ski areas in the U.S. has dropped almost 20 percent in the last two decades, from 546 in 1992 to 470 today, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Locally owned businesses, like hotels, restaurants and ski shops, are feeling the pinch as much as the resorts themselves.

The snowsports industry—which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes $12.2 billion to the U.S. economy every year—is already hurting.

"This is an industry that is literally seeing climate change first hand," said Chris Steinkamp, the executive director of the environmental advocacy group Protect Our Winters. "People are realizing this is something that needs to be addressed, that climate change is not this theory anymore."

Conclusion

How much do you enjoy putting your ski boots on and heading outside on a beautiful sunny winter day? That feeling of the cold air hitting your face as you make turns through the freshly groomed run. To me, there is nothing quite like it. If we do not start doing something about climate change, we won’t be able to enjoy these fun winter activities that we as Canadians are lucky enough to be blessed with. Let’s keep our winters.

As for me, I and currently planning on moving out west to Calgary to pursue my passion for skiing and the environment at The University of Mount Royal. I will be taking part time courses in Ecotourism and Outdoor Adventure towards a bachelor in Physical Education. I will be competing at the national and international level for Canada racing Ski-Cross on the North American circuit and hopefully will be attending the FIS Junior World Championships again next year. With the main goal being the 2222 Olympics in 4 years. Wherever I am around the world skiing, I will continue to observe the effects that climate change is having on our beautiful winters.

Let it snow!

Jared Schmidt