Make Your Voice Heard in the Senate!

The House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act a few months ago and legislation is currently in the hands of the Senate. While the details of the Senate bill haven’t been ironed out yet, the fight may come down to a few undecided votes - and our collective voice could help tip the scales.

A strong US climate policy will help protect small businesses, jobs and the vitality of our unique mountain communities that draw millions of tourists each year.

The Protect Our Winters “Sixty Days” website offers an overview of the issues at stake, shows the current voting position of each Senator, and gives you an easy way to send an e-letter telling Senators why passing strong climate legislation is crucial to the economic and cultural well being of mountain communities.

If this issue matters to you, please take the time to send a note to your Senator letting them know you want them to support strong climate legislation this Spring. Make your voice heard!

Cast Your Vote!

What a great response we received for the first ever Venture/Protect Our Winters snowboard art contest!

More than 50 entries poured in from creative folks across the continent, each putting their own spin on the contest themes of winter, the environment and activism.

Our panel of judges convened last Friday to review the submissions and select the top ten finalists. They are:



Julie Boake
Pete Connolly
Aggie Drelich Smith
Glen Graves
Steven Harris
Glenn Holbrook
Emily Kuang
Skye McNeill
Eric Sakotas
Joe Weber

All of these participants will receive t-shirts and other Venture swag for their participation in the contest.

From these ten, our judges whittled it down to their five favorites - posted below. Now comes your chance to cast a vote for your favorite entry!

To vote, use the poll in the top left hand column of this blog. You may also vote in person at the Venture factory showroom here in Silverton.

Polls close at midnight on Monday, March 15, 2010 and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards. The top artwork will be used in a limited edition run of Protect Our Winters snowboards for winter 2010/2011, and the winning artist will receive a board emblazoned with their artwork as grand prize!

Many thanks to all of the participants who put in the time, energy and creativity to make this contest a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

[click on the images below to see a larger version]

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Skye McNeill - Seattle, WA
"Dwindle"

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Julie Boake - Alberta Canada
"Unknown Future"

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Glenn Holbrook - Venice, CA

"Regrowth"

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Glen Graves - Mancos, CO
"Blue Kristl"

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Aggie Drelich Smith - Boulder, CO
"Modern Threat"

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Happy voting!

Susan Mol In First Place of Freeride World Tour!

Venture rider and Crested Butte, CO local Susan Mol is currently in first place for women's snowboarding in the Freeride World Tour. Here she is on the podium in Chamonix. Congrats Susan and good luck with the rest of the tour! Tear it up girl!!

Follow the action here:
http://www.freerideworldtour.com/en/