As the planet's climate changes, there are certain groups of people who experience the side effects more readily than others: farmers, climatologists and, of course, skiers and snowboarders.
Ski areas in the Northeast United States are witnessing shorter winters every year, while at the same time California's farmlands experience water shortages and Europe's glaciers recede at alarming rates.
Now, Teton Gravity Research (TGR) has produced Generations , a short film that explores the consequences of climate change from the perspective of skiers and snowboarders and offers ways to make a positive change.
The film is narrated by Greg Stump and features athletes like Jeremy Jones, Ingrid Backstrom, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Seth Morrison, Dash Longe, Dylan Hood and Erik Roner. Music is by Moby, Philip Sheppard, Dolman Black and the Brain, Kevin MacLeod, Ben Krames, Mosley Wotta & MUD and Sandy Garnett.
The film will be screened at Millar Creek Cafe in Function Junction on Thursday, Feb. 25 and Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., after music by Miss Kosmik. Entry is by donation, with proceeds going to the Protect Our Winters (POW) organization.
B.C. Museum of Mining is open
Anyone heading in or out of Whistler for the Olympic Games should make a point of making a pit stop at the B.C. Museum of Mining (especially if they have any curious kids).
Since opening in 1971, the museum's mandate has been to preserve the material and social history of mining in British Columbia and to educate the public about mining.
But the museum has recently undergone some major renovations, including the opening of the Britannia Project Presentation Centre and implementation of the Core Shed preservation project, which now houses the last two remaining Core Sheds from the Britannia Mines. Now, it is finally ready to welcome the public - seven days a week.
"With thousands of visitors coming to British Columbia over the next few weeks, we're excited to showcase and share one of the province's few historic mining assets and a unique National Historic Site with the world," Kirstin Clausen, executive director of the B.C. Museum of Mining, said in a release.
The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information on tour times and rates, visit www.bcmm.ca/visitor_info/hours_rates.html or call 1-800-896-4044.
Crazy Canucks author signing books
In the 1970s, five young Canadian men took the world of ski racing by storm and made quite a name for their country in the process.
Jim Hunter, Dave Murray, Dave Irwin, Ken Read and Steve Podborski - who earned the moniker of Crazy Canucks - conquered the World Cup ski racing circuit, travelling through Europe in their rusty Volkswagen and making serious waves by becoming the first non-Europeans to win men's World Cup downhill races.
Several years ago, former Whistler resident Janet Love Morrison put their story on paper. Last year the book that captures the group's triumphant and inspiring journey was finally published : The Crazy Canucks: Canada's Legendary Ski Team .
The Olympics may be coming to a close, but the author is offering people one last chance to take a signed piece of Canadian ski racing history home with them. Love Morrison will be autographing copies of The Crazy Canucks at Alpine Canada House in the Westin on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
