Summits, Soil, and Sustainability With Chris Rubens
Photo: Source
Today I speak with professional skier and organic farmer, Chris Rubens. In our conversation, he shares his journey from chasing powder around the globe to realizing he needed to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. Growing up with a passion for skiing, Chris's perspective took a dramatic turn following a climate change focused trip to Greenland. Realizing the environmental impact of his professional pursuits, he began to adopt more eco-friendly habits, including reducing travel and transitioning to a vegetarian diet. These days Chris operates a three-acre organic farm with his partner in Revelstoke and has switched to more sustainable practices in skiing by partnering with environmentally conscious sponsors. He discusses the need of individual actions towards sustainability, the challenges of implementing sustainability in the ski industry, and the power of community in supporting local agriculture. This interview explores Chris's efforts to lead by example, illustrating how personal changes can contribute to a larger environmental impact.
00:24 Journey from Professional Skier to Sustainability Advocate
02:17 Making Personal Changes for Sustainability
04:17 Influence and Changes in the Ski Industry
09:26 Designing Sustainable Ski Gear
19:10 The Future of Sustainability in Skiing
23:07 Transitioning to Farming and Local Food Production
29:05 The Joy of Farming and Community Engagement
29:37 Discovering Work-Life Balance in Farming
30:16 The Unique Revelstoke Farming Community
33:08 Supporting Local Food and Community Initiatives
40:50 The Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Farm
44:22 Sustainability and Individual Impact
50:46 Hopeful Perspectives and Community Trust
55:17 Closing Thoughts and Resources
Some of Chris’s Ski Films:
Curve of Time - What choices can be made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Guilt Trip - A trip to Greenland with a massive carbon footprint. How can we change?
The Burn - Examing how forests, wildfire, and skiers interact.