Fresh off her Olympic debut, 19-year-old professional snowboarder Bea Kim is shifting her focus from podiums to preservation. While many athletes use their newfound fame to secure endorsements, Kim is leveraging her platform to address a fundamental threat to her sport: the rapid disappearance of reliable winter conditions.
Speaking at the Hearst Eco-Conscious Living Summit, Kim highlighted a growing crisis in the winter sports industry—one where the very environment required for the sport to exist is fundamentally changing.
The Limits of Artificial Solutions
A common response to warming temperatures in mountain resorts is increased snowmaking. However, Kim argues that this is a temporary fix rather than a sustainable solution.
“It’s like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound,” Kim remarked, noting that snowmaking cannot compensate for shifting weather patterns, changing precipitation, and rising global temperatures.
The technical reality is stark: snowmaking requires specific cold temperatures to function. As mountain climates warm, even the technology used to extend the season becomes less effective. This creates a precarious cycle for the industry:
– Training and Competition: Athletes struggle to find consistent snow for high-level training.
– Economic Stability: Mountain towns rely heavily on winter tourism. A lack of snow directly impacts the livelihoods of local communities that depend on visitors from major hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
– Environmental Volatility: Changing wind directions and unpredictable precipitation make long-term planning nearly impossible for resorts.
From the Slopes to Science
Kim’s transition from athlete to advocate is not merely a hobby; it is a structured pursuit. She is currently a member of the athlete alliance for Protect Our Winters, a non-profit that bridges the gap between scientists, creatives, and athletes to push for systemic climate solutions.
Kim views the fight against climate change through the lens of an elite competitor. She suggests that the “grit and determination” required to succeed in professional sports can be applied to environmental activism. To her, the climate crisis is not just a problem to be feared, but a “challenge” to be met with the same intensity as a gold medal pursuit.
This commitment to understanding the mechanics of environmental change is driving her academic future. This fall, Kim will enroll at Columbia University to major in climate and sustainability, aiming to deepen her expertise in the field.
A Call for “Digestible” Advocacy
For many, the scale of climate change feels overwhelming and impossible to tackle. Kim offers a different perspective: advocacy should be personal and integrated into what you already love.
She encourages others to look at their own professions or passions and find ways to enact change from within those spheres. By connecting activism to one’s existing identity—whether as an athlete, an artist, or a professional—the work becomes more manageable and, crucially, more sustainable for the individual.
“You want work to be fun,” Kim noted. “Doing that, you’ll have more of an impact because you really care about it.”
Conclusion
Bea Kim’s journey highlights a critical intersection between professional sports and environmental survival. As the physical landscape of winter sports shifts, athletes are increasingly moving beyond the competition arena to fight for the very climate that makes their careers possible.
