Billed as “the ultimate demo experience,” the sixth annual Salomon Oasis Project is traveling across North America to 13 winter resort areas, using airlines and trucks to haul staff and more than 200 pairs of demo skis, 80 snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear from Salomon, Bonfire and Arc’Teryx, plus tents, cutting edge products and gear from Oasis partners Saab, GORE-TEX, FUEL, DIRECTV and others. All together, the tour will cover over 100,000 miles. “We knew we’d be putting on thousands of truck and airline miles to deliver this huge Oasis experience, and that all those miles would have an impact on the environment,” said Bo Johnson, marketing director of Salomon North America. “We decided to do something about it.”

SNA found an opportunity with BEF, a leading provider of green power options, and the only non-profit provider that is independently certified by Green-e. “We determined the amount of emissions the tour would create, and provided Green Tags that guarantee production of the equivalent amount of clean wind energy,” said Tom Starrs, vice president of marketing and sales at BEF. “Salomon’s support for clean, renewable wind energy offsets over 220,000 pounds of greenhouse gas and other air emissions, meaning the Salomon Oasis Project Tour’s environmental impact from travel nets out as pollution-free.”

We always strive to lead the industry with our products and innovation,” said James Curleigh, president and chief executive officer, Salomon North America. “With this program, we’re applying that same leadership and innovation in our efforts to fight global climate change.”

Salomon is a major partner, and the first equipment manufacturer, participating in BEF’s “SkiGreen” initiative. SkiGreen is designed to compliment the Sustainable Slopes program (www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/), created by the National Ski Areas Association and other leaders in the snow sports industry to build support for non-polluting renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar energy. For more information about ‘greening’ snow sports activities, visit www.skigreen.org.

About Salomon
Salomon is one of the portfolio of sports brands of adidas-Salomon AG, the number two sporting goods manufacturer in the world. In North America, Salomon is based in Portland, Oregon. Salomon products include technical ski apparel, boots, skis, and bindings; snowboards, snowboard boots and bindings; technical mountaineering, backpacking and outdoor footwear; backpacks; cross-country ski boots and bindings; snowshoes; and inline skates. The adidas-Salomon brand portfolio also includes ADIDAS footwear and apparel, TAYLOR MADE golf clubs and accessories, MAVIC wheels and bicycle rims, BONFIRE SNOWBOARDING apparel, travel gear, and accessories and ARC’TERYX outerwear, backpacks, harnesses and accessories. Salomon information can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.salomon-sports.com.

About BEF
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading. Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively with but independent of both.