Olympic Athletes and Saving Snow


Portions from a LTE in the Minneapolis Tribune. Included with permission of the author.

“Like many of you, I was glued to my TV and computer following the 2018 Winter Olympics and the great Star Tribune coverage of our home-state hero Jessie Diggins from tiny Afton. Her story is one of grit, determination and inspiration to do something that our country has not done before: win a women’s cross-country medal. The other piece about Jessie not as well-known is her fierce determination to save her sport and winter from the ravage of warming and shorter winters. Have you noticed the brown hills surrounding the cross-country venue in Pyeongchang, South Korea?

In a interview, Jessie was asked, “What do you say to those who say, ‘You’re just an athlete, stay in your lane’ ”? Her response: “I’m also someone who lives on this planet. I think you need to be able to stand up for things you believe in, and saving winter is something I believe in.”

Solving this problem is requiring all of us to ask the question: What’s my role in keeping Minnesota cold and snowy? It’s a matter of regional identity, and every day more and more people from all walks of life are taking action. Asking the question of ourselves and our elected officials is essential. Action now saves money and recovery efforts tomorrow.

Thank you, Jessie, for lighting the fire of pride and patriotism in the Bold North. You have three races left. Bring home a medal and the real prize: a future of skiing on real snow and keeping winters cold and snowy.”

The writer is Paul Thompson, founder of Cool Planet Skiers and a regional coordinator for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Minnesota.

Winter is part of a Minnesotan’s DNA. Minnesotans do not want winter to go away. But, unlike us, Minnesota will have a strong tourist business without winter. They have 10,000 lakes. Can you imagine the UP without our skiers, snowmobilers, ice-fishing women and men? How about our SISU?

We have a lot of climate literate Olympic athletes, such as Ted Ligety, Steve Nyman, Resi Steigler, Jamie Anderson, Kelly Clark, Danny Davis, and now Jessie Diggins. They see, feel, and know what is happening as they compete around the world.

The 2017 Birkie was cancelled. The organizers and volunteers joined CCL and other climate organizations to make a documentary called, “Saving Snow”. The movie debuted at the Birkie.

The Birkiebiener, the SISU, and the Winter Olympics, are they just contests? Did you watch the Olympics?  Try this video about Hayward’s, no North America’s, crown jewel of events. It is hard to imagine that this race, and even our SISU, not to mention our Winter Olympics, could go away. Many historic winter Olympic sites are, already, too warm to use.

Hope is not a strategy. There is no Planet B. Failure is not an option. I know the science. I am confident we can save winter. Join the Citizen’s Climate Lobby.

Link: Jessie Diggins in the New York Times

Paul Thompson: 612-810-4664

Greyson Morrow: 906-285-3702  Wakefield

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