COURCHEVEL – The world’s elite downhill skiers, led by Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksader Aamodt Kild, called on the International Ski Federation (FIS) in a letter to fight more actively against climate change.
According to the AP agency, they propose, for example, to move the start of the season from the end of October to November or adjust the calendar and not travel repeatedly between Europe and North America. About 200 skiers from several industries signed the text.
The skiers delivered the letter to the FIS management during the World Championships in France. “It’s time to address a really important topic,” Kilde said after winning the downhill silver medal in Courchevel on Sunday. “We see that the world is changing. And we also see the effects on our sport. I want future generations to experience winter and be able to do what I did,” added the 30-year-old medalist from the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Activists want to extend the season until the end of April
The letter was written by Austrian skier Julian Schütter, who is an ambassador of the non-profit organization Protect Out Winters. Due to the warm weather and lack of snow, several races had to be canceled at the beginning of this season. Alpine skiers are therefore proposing that the FIS postpone the start of the season until the end of November and extend it until the end of April.
Overall World Cup winners Mikaela Shiffrin, Federica Brignone and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde are among nearly 200 athletes who have signed a letter addressed to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation demanding action over climate change.https://t.co/DEV09m5uZo pic.twitter.com/dpD8PHLnvO
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 13, 2023
“This is our most important race, let’s win it together,” the athletes wrote. “The season has changed, and for the sake of all of us, we must adapt to these new circumstances,” they added. The representatives of the ski federation have not yet commented on the initiative of the skiers.
During the MS, Shiffrinová and the other American representatives also draw attention to climate change with special overalls. Their design is supposed to resemble the melting ice in the sea.
- Author: © List
- VIDEO: Twitter/AP Sports
- Source: CTK
