Eco-Ski Expedition
A Sustainable Approach to Global Ski Travel
When planning ski trips, or for those who chase snowy spots around the globe the conversation is often, “I have little time; how can I move as fast as possible to do as much as possible, how can I fit multiple trips in this year, and what will it cost to maximize my fun.” Often, there is little dialogue around what the more environmentally friendly or sustainable options are.
We aren’t here to point the conversation towards ending traveling. Travel is important for breaking down borders, learning about cultures, supporting economies, and understanding the environment.
This project will be used to present a shift in thinking around mountain and adventure travel. Demonstrating that beyond the scope of big-budget film companies or high-level athletes there are more eco-friendly options for international snow-chasing consumers. Options where the style of travel is as much a part of the experience as the skiing itself. Beyond this, we will demonstrate a shift in how we approach and talk about ski travel. A shift towards slimming down annual trips to afford a way of travel that costs more in time, or planning; where you physically invest to take quantifiable action in reducing your footprint.
Because, if we want to continue skiing like this for the rest of our lives, and more importantly allow future generations these same experiences then the conversation of success needs to shift away from an annual tally of ski destinations visited, or the number of heli-bumps in a day. Our celebration needs to be in the achievement of enjoying the world’s snowy environments through eco-conscious travel and actively bettering the environment before, during, and after travels. This shift is the true reward of quality over quantity.
A Sustainable Approach to Global Ski Travel
When planning ski trips, or for those who chase snowy spots around the globe the conversation is often, “I have little time; how can I move as fast as possible to do as much as possible, how can I fit multiple trips in this year, and what will it cost to maximize my fun.” Often, there is little dialogue around what the more environmentally friendly or sustainable options are.
We aren’t here to point the conversation towards ending traveling. Travel is important for breaking down borders, learning about cultures, supporting economies, and understanding the environment.
This project will be used to present a shift in thinking around mountain and adventure travel. Demonstrating that beyond the scope of big-budget film companies or high-level athletes there are more eco-friendly options for international snow-chasing consumers. Options where the style of travel is as much a part of the experience as the skiing itself. Beyond this, we will demonstrate a shift in how we approach and talk about ski travel. A shift towards slimming down annual trips to afford a way of travel that costs more in time, or planning; where you physically invest to take quantifiable action in reducing your footprint. Because, if we want to continue skiing like this for the rest of our lives, and more importantly allow future generations these same experiences then the conversation of success needs to shift away from an annual tally of ski destinations visited, or the number of heli-bumps in a day. Our celebration needs to be in the achievement of enjoying the world’s snowy environments through eco-conscious travel and actively bettering the environment before, during, and after travels. This shift is the true reward of quality over quantity.
Project Details
• To explore backcountry skiing from the ocean to the top of remote peaks utilizing the smallest carbon footprint possible.
• Introduce the ski and adventure travel community to concepts and resources that can be utilized to offset your travel footprint by taking personal action.
• Introduce and draw awareness to an alternative method of ski adventure – one that requires you to slow down and become more intimate with your surroundings.
• Support and grow a shift in the conversation of how we celebrate ski trips and adventure travel in general.
• Using non-motorized transportation everywhere except when absolutely necessary, such as airline travel.
• Using dog sleds, skinning, and or kayaks as our form of travel into mountains to replace ski lifts, snow machines, helicopters, etc.
• Use tent base camps, huts, or lodges as destination points just as the general consumer might with a heli-ski, or plane based operation.
• Calculate our carbon usage for the trip in cooperation with MossyEarth and aim to offset this through physically doing something, such as planting trees.
• Produce unique, feature content for specific sponsors.
• Produce a film to premiere at film festivals either in Europe than in US.
• Produce content for publications to raise awareness about this concept of travelling.
• A group of 6-8 skiers; including a professional photographer, writer, videographer, and marketing specialist.
* In regards to the athletes, this is a mix of males and females who are local influencers in their ski communities from around the Alps; they are not fulltime paid professional skiers or categorized as social media influencers. This is done on purpose to further the point of the trips’ achievability beyond big budget ski productions.
The trip will take place between the 2nd and the 18th of April, 2020.
COVID-19 update: unfortunately, due to the current crisis the whole world is going through, we are obliged to postpone our project to better times for everyone. This choice is both led by the problems that travellers are facing nowadays and mainly by our ethical sense. This is not the moment of having fun, we all need to be strong, support each others and pay respect to those who are having worse moments. Additionally, we are clearly located in one of the most dangerous areas in Europe. Even though the whole team is – at the moment – without any syntopmhs, there’s still a small risk of bringing the virus with us, and that’s not acceptable for us, especially in such a remote region where the health system could not afford such a crisis.
East Greenland.
We are going to be based at The Red House, in Tasiilaq. From here, thanks to the precious advices of Robert Peroni, we will discover the surrounding areas of this issolated culture and region.
Project Details
Purpose
• To explore backcountry skiing from the ocean to the top of remote peaks utilizing the smallest carbon footprint possible.
• Introduce the ski and adventure travel community to concepts and resources that can be utilized to offset your travel footprint by taking personal action.
• Introduce and draw awareness to an alternative method of ski adventure – one that requires you to slow down and become more intimate with your surroundings.
• Support and grow a shift in the conversation of how we celebrate ski trips and adventure travel in general.
How
• Using non-motorized transportation everywhere except when absolutely necessary, such as airline travel.
• Using dog sleds, skinning, and or kayaks as our form of travel into mountains to replace ski lifts, snow machines, helicopters, etc.
• Use tent base camps, huts, or lodges as destination points just as the general consumer might with a heli-ski, or plane based operation.
• Calculate our carbon usage for the trip in cooperation with MossyEarth and aim to offset this through physically doing something, such as planting trees.
Content Produced
• Produce unique, feature content for specific sponsors.
• Produce a film to premiere at film festivals either in Europe than in US.
• Produce content for publications to raise awareness about this concept of travelling.
How
• Using non-motorized transportation everywhere except when absolutely necessary, such as airline travel.
• Using dog sleds, skinning, and or kayaks as our form of travel into mountains to replace ski lifts, snow machines, helicopters, etc.
• Use tent base camps, huts, or lodges as destination points just as the general consumer might with a heli-ski, or plane based operation.
• Calculate our carbon usage for the trip in cooperation with MossyEarth and aim to offset this through physically doing something, such as planting trees.
Who
• A group of 6-8 skiers; including a professional photographer, writer, videographer, and marketing specialist.
* In regards to the athletes, this is a mix of males and females who are local influencers in their ski communities from around the Alps; they are not fulltime paid professional skiers or categorized as social media influencers. This is done on purpose to further the point of the trips’ achievability beyond big budget ski productions.
When
The trip will take place between the 2nd and the 18th of April 2020.
COVID-19 update: unfortunately, due to the current crisis the whole world is going through, we are obliged to postpone our project to better times for everyone. This choice is both led by the problems that travellers are facing nowadays and mainly by our ethical sense. This is not the moment of having fun, we all need to be strong, support each others and pay respect to those who are having worse moments. Additionally, we are clearly located in one of the most dangerous areas in Europe. Even though the whole team is – at the moment – without any syntopmhs, there’s still a small risk of bringing the virus with us, and that’s not acceptable for us, especially in such a remote region where the health system could not afford such a crisis.
Where
East Greenland.
We are going to be based at The Red House, in Tasiilaq. From here, thanks to the precious advices of Robert Peroni, we will discover the surrounding areas of this issolated culture and region.
South East Greenland
Although the primary destination for this project bases out of The Red House in Tasiilaq, Greenland, we will fly into the small airport in Kulusuk. Due to the mountains surrounding Tasiilaq, the little island town of Kulusuk, which sits 21 km to the east across the Ammassalik fjord, provides the main airport for the region and is often accessed from the mainland villages by helicopter.
For our group, with a focus on producing the lowest carbon footprint possible, this means we will be foregoing the helicopter as we cross over to Tasiilaq. Instead, we get to step into our ski boots the moment we land in Kulusuk. The specific details of how we cross this expanse of sea and ice are all part of our experience and story. A point that unless you are a sponsor, you will have to wait to discover when we return.
Meet The Team
Tristan Hobson
Project Producer, Photographer, Writer, Filmer
With over a decade of experience in the outdoor industry, Tristan works as a freelancer in marketing strategy, photography, and content creation in the outdoor world. A USA native who now lives in Europe, you can find him in the mountains on skis, running, or climbing – with a story to tell and camera in hand.
Luigi Dellarole
Videographer, Film Producer, Photographer
Luigi is the face behind Highland Productions; you may have seen his work in advertisements or at a film festival. Or you may have seen him fluidly skiing at your local mountain. Either way, the Italian born, Austrian based videographer has an eye for creativity that seamlessly melds sports and storytelling.
Francesco Drago
Co-producer, Skier
Whether he is navigating a high-speed ski line or captaining a high-speed sailboat the Italian born, Austrian based Francesco is devising how best to preserve his playgrounds. At times, this is accomplished through helping brands with CSR communications, and other times by finding ways to connect cultural and environmental awareness through adventure and sports.
Janine Tschanhenz
Skier
Janine’s love of skiing has given her a way to explore the world. From the Alps to the Pyrenees and Alaska to Pakistan, she embodies the power of ski travel and the joy of exploring new cultures. The Austrian native also knows the importance of adjusting how we travel so future generations can enjoy the same experiences skiing has given her.
Nina Bogner
Skier
To the German-born Nina, skiing is not just a given way of life; it is a privilege to be cherished; one that has allowed her to connect with cultures from the Andes, to Canada, to Japan. Now residing in Innsbruck Nina says skiing has shown her how much humans are part of nature and the vital role we have in protecting this for everyone.
Marco Seidl
Skier
If you ask Marco to describe skiing, he will often tell you about community and friendship. He might explain it as why he moved from Dachau, DE, to Innsbruck, AT, or even the best spots in the Alps. Undoubtedly, though, he will share why caring for the mountains is a significant factor in his life; that giving back to what brings him so much joy is essential to his approach of playing in the mountains.
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