Protect Our Winters (POW) has added four new members to its board of directors. POW is a non-profit that was founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, focused on uniting and mobilizing the winter sports community against climate change.


“We are truly honored that this group has agreed to be part of POW's leadership,” said Jones. “Four years ago, POW was an idea.  Now we have some of the best and the brightest in sports, science, sustainability and business guiding this organization.”


With climate change an ever-increasing threat to the longevity of winter sports, jobs and the economies of mountain regions, POW is taking an aggressive approach by strengthening its organizational leadership in key areas, to help it address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.


POW Board Of Directors, New Additions:



  • Gretchen Bleiler – Olympic Silver Medalist, Four-time X Games Champion and co-founder of Nice Reusables/ALEX Bottle

  • Penn Newhard – Owner, Backbone Media, Carbondale CO

  • Naomi Oreskes, Professor of History and Science Studies at the University of California, San Diego

  • Kristine Stratton, SVP of Operations, Earthjustice


Protect Our Winters has also elected Matt McClain as its chairman of the board, effective immediately. Matt is currently the director of marketing and communications, Surfrider Foundation, based in San Clemente, CA. He has served on the POW board for two years.


POW Board Of Directors, Current Members:



  • Matt McClain (Chairman) – Director Marketing & Communications, Surfrider Foundation

  • Auden Schendler, Vice President, Sustainability, Aspen Ski Company

  • Strick Walker, Sr. Director, International Brand Communications, Converse

  • Christina Thomure, Director of Sustainability, Grand Targhee Resort

Protect Our Winters aims to unite the winter sports community around the common goal of reducing climate change's effects on our sport and local mountain communities. With over 40,000 supporters worldwide, POW re-invests contributions in educational initiatives, activism and supporting community-based initiatives that have tangible results. For more information, visit protectourwinters.org