Focusing on water-related climate issues, including warming waters, sea-level rise, river health, and extreme droughts and storms, the new POW program will support policy engagement at local, regional, and national levels, as well as climate storytelling, and community mobilization. Photos: POW//Screenshots
Protect Our Winters (POW) is branching out with a new initiative called the POW Water Alliance.
Back in 2007, Jeremy Jones started up POW after he noticed on his global adventures that snow was melting faster and temperatures were rising. The places he relied on for deep snow weren’t reliable anymore, so he began looking around for an organization that would bring the snowsports community to act on climate. Not finding one, he started his own. Now, all these years later, POW has become a force in the industry, bringing together athletes, creators, and brand partners to tackle the issue of climate change. There are 77,000 team POW members, and the POW Water Alliance is adding a few more big names.
“With 11th Hour Racing as a founding partner, the POW Water Alliance will activate climate leaders from ridgetops to reefs,” a press release reads. “Focusing on water-related climate issues, including warming waters, sea-level rise, river health, and extreme droughts and storms, the program will support policy engagement at local, regional, and national levels, (as well as) climate storytelling, and community mobilization.”
POW’s model in the mountain world has proven to be effective, so it’s bringing it over to the water space and hoping it will make an impact.
“The newly formed POW Water Alliance launches with an initial group of voices representing surfing, sailing, angling, whitewater paddling, and rowing, each bringing personal stories and experiences of how climate change is reshaping recreation and ecosystems,” the press release continues.
The founding members are Montana-based fly-fishing guide and conservation leader Hilary Hutcheson; a wildlife biologist named Eeland Stribling; Francesca Clapcich, an Olympian and professional offshore sailor; U.S. national team rower and UN climate communicator Christine Cavallo; Liz Clark, a solo sailor and surfer who explores sustainable living at sea; Mario Ordoñez-Calderón, an Indigenous Mayan surfer; and Cliff Kapono, a chemist and pro surfer.
That’s a wildly qualified group, isn’t it? They’re also working with surf photographer Morgan Maassen, climate artists Jill Pelto and Meg O’Hara, and marine scientist Shawnee Traylor.
“Much like those who explore our planet’s mountains and trails, those who recreate on rivers, lakes, coastlines, and oceans carry powerful stories and deep passion that can shift the climate conversation,” says Jeremy Jones. “Beaches, reefs, and waterways are seeing the impacts of climate change coast to coast and are reshaping recreation, livelihoods, and entire communities. POW’s proven model of community leader-driven culture change, policy advocacy, and movement building presents a significant opportunity in water-based communities. This is a pivotal moment to leverage our strengths in the water space and expand our impact.”
