The U.S. ski team, including stars Mikaela Shiffrin and Travis Ganong, will wear brand-new race outfits at the World Championships.
Additionally, they want widespread awareness of the issue of global warming.
The team’s uniforms are mostly blue and white, representing icebergs in the sea. The idea stems from a satellite image showing icebergs melting rapidly in the face of rising temperatures. Kappa, the team’s technical gear sponsor, worked with the non-profit group Protect Our Winters to create the suit (POW).
The World Championships begin on Monday with the women’s Alpine combined event and finish on February 19 in Courchevel and Meribel, France. The Americans will wear the suits throughout the competition.
Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, stated, “While a racing suit is not addressing climate change, it is a move to continue the dialogue and indicate that U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its athletes are dedicated to being a part of the future.”
Mild weather and a lack of snow have forced the delay of numerous World Cup events this winter, making global warming a harsh reality in the sport of ski racing.
Concerning a world without snow is all I care about. “I grew up skiing at Lake Tahoe in California, and I can tell you that without snow, there is no more skiing,” said Ganong. So, “this is something that means a lot to me.”
Concerning Ganong is the noticeable deterioration of some of the World Cup’s most historic stadiums from one year to the next.
Ganong, a member of the U.S. squad since 2006, expressed his concern about the slim possibility of such incidents happening in the future. Kitzbuehel (Austria) goes to great lengths to host the event because of its historical significance and financial value.
However, this raises the issue, “Is that what we should be doing?” in terms of sustainability. How do we want to show the world that our sport is evolving to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century?
Insignias of the group, a snowflake, and a POW patch adorn the jackets and pants, respectively.
Executive Director Mario Molina said in a statement that his group consists of “athletes, business leaders, and scientists” who are trying to protect places from climate change by implementing clean energy technologies and policies.
According to Ganong, several competitive skiers are releasing a letter to the International Ski Federation (FIS) in the hopes of encouraging the organization to adopt a more robust stand on environmental responsibility and climate change.
They should be on the cutting edge of attempting to adjust to the new reality and improve it, Ganong argued.