After three years of dedicated work, the Erasmus+ ZERO Project is approaching its conclusion. One of its final milestones was the Final Conference, hosted and organized by Swiss-Ski, one of the 11 project partners. All partners gathered in Bern on November 25, close to Swiss-Ski’s headquarters, for the last in-person meeting of the project.

 

 

ZERO’s main vision: The ZERO Project develops innovative grassroots snowboarding practices to increase accessibility and participation of young people in sport, while empowering them to take climate action and move toward “zero emission rides.”
Ultimately, it is about empowering the next generation of riders and turning them into climate advocates.

The conference opened with remarks from Denis Giger, WSF Vice President Youth Development, followed by a welcome from Nikos Karpathakis, Head of Freestyle Events at Swiss-Ski. The floor was then given to Elias Elhardt, one of Germany’s most renowned freeriders, a filmmaker, and an environmental activist. He delivered an inspiring keynote, describing his journey from a young snowboard enthusiast to a world-traveling professional; up to the point where he began questioning it all in order to stay true to his values.

 

 

Afterwards, participants took a deep dive into the project. The partners presented key milestones from the past three years, major findings and learnings, final deliverables including educational tools, as well as the challenges encountered along the way.
Gillian Rosh from POW Europe, who hosted the afternoon, gave a detailed introduction to the ZERO Climate Card Game, a deliverable that all partners are particularly excited about.

The program continued with a panel discussion titled “Rethinking Access, Education & Climate Action in Youth Snowboarding”, featuring Christine Busch (CIPRA), Pedro Flavio (FDI Portugal), Chloe Jordan (ENGSO Youth), and Fabienne Dirksen-Reuteler (Swiss-Ski). The discussion addressed a wide range of topics relevant to the snowboarding community and sparked numerous questions from participants. This concluded the afternoon program and the final presentation of the ZERO Project.

 

 

ZERO Final Conference Video Recap

Key notes by Elias Elhardt

Find out more about ZERO

After three inspiring years, the ZERO Erasmus+ project, led by the World Snowboard Federation (WSF), is slowly coming to an end. To celebrate this milestone, the WSF and its project partners invite you to the ZERO Final Conference in Bern (SUI), hosted by Swiss-Ski.

 

 

The conference marks a key moment in the project, to network with various stakeholders from the snowboard industry and outside. It will serve as a platform to present the project’s main outcomes, showcase best practices for sustainability in snowboarding, and validate the core deliverables developed throughout the program.

The afternoon kicks off with a keynote speech by Elias Elhardt, professional snowboarder, filmmaker, and environmental activist from Germany. Considered one of Europe’s best backcountry riders, Elias is known for his appearances in numerous snowboard films and top competition results over the past decade. Through his award-winning short films, he explores deep questions around personal ambition, responsibility, and societal challenges through the lens of snowboarding.

“Having dedicated more than 25 years of my life to snowboarding, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much the climate, and our mountains, have changed in such a short time. Being part of this community and industry, I believe it’s essential that we live up to our responsibility and, despite the contradictions we may face, keep striving to shape the most committed and responsible path forward.”

 

 

 

Following the keynote, a panel discussion will explore how to rethink access, education, and climate action in youth snowboarding. Panelists include Fabienne Dirksen-Reuteler from Swiss-Ski (responsible for sustainable events), Pedro Flávio, ZERO project partner and president of the Portuguese Winter Sports Federation, Chloe Jordan, Policy and Project Manager at ENGSO Youth and Christine Busch, CEO of CIPRA, all bringing valuable insights and years of experience in their positions and organisations.

 

The ZERO Final Conference concludes with the last and final in-person partners’ meeting on Wednesday, November 26th.

The conference on Tuesday is open for everyone who refuses to let winter melt away — join us Tuesday to help reimagine the future of snow sports. _The conference on Tuesday welcomes everyone who cares about the future of winter — and wants to be part of keeping snow and winter sports alive.  

 

 

 

 

Meeting Location:

Restaurant Rio, Arastr. 7, 3048 Worblaufen

 

Program ZERO Final Conference

Tuesday, Nov. 25th, 2025

 

12:30 Registration

13:00 Welcome & speeches

13:15 Keynote: “Riding with Purpose: Reimagining Snowboarding in a Warming World”

Speaker: Elias Elhardt 

13:45 Intro ZERO

14:00 Presentation ZERO

14:40 Card Game

15:00 Coffee Break

15:30 Panel: Zero Emission Rides: Rethinking Access, Education & Climate Action in Youth Snowboarding

Speakers:

• Christine Busch (CIPRA)
• Chloe Jordan (ENGSO Youth)
• Fabienne Dirksen-Reuteler (Swiss-Ski)
• Pedro Flavio (FDI Portugal)

16:30 Outlook: Recommendations

16:45 Closing remarks

17:00 End

 

From June 2–4, the ZERO Project team came together in the picturesque city of Antwerp, Belgium, for the 4th ZERO Partners Meeting. Hosted by Sneeuwsport Vlaanderen, this in-person gathering marked a crucial milestone in the Erasmus+ project’s journey toward a more climate-conscious winter sports industry.

 

Three Days of Collaboration and Progress

Federations and partners from across Europe spent three productive days in Antwerp, combining intense working sessions with opportunities to explore the city on bike. The focus was clear: evaluate progress, fine-tune upcoming deliverables, and prepare for the project’s culmination later this year.

 

 

Constructive Dialogue and Clear Action Points

While challenges were acknowledged, the tone was forward-looking. Partners engaged in open, solution-oriented discussions, sharing valuable feedback to refine two of the project’s key tools:

• The ZERO Card Game, designed to spark climate conversations among youth
• The online educational climate course, aimed at raising awareness and building sustainability skills

Both tools are in their final stages and will be updated based on the feedback received during the sessions.

 

Interactive Highlights: Testing the Card Game

A standout moment of the meeting was the interactive card game session. Attendees split into groups to test and play the game, offering hands-on input that will directly shape its final version—set for release this autumn.

 

 

Looking Ahead: Final Conference in Bern

The team also laid the groundwork for the Final Conference, which will take place in Bern, Switzerland, on November 25th, 2025. With momentum building and contributions from across Europe, the event promises to be a powerful culmination of the project’s efforts.

 

Thank You to Our Hosts

A heartfelt thank you to Sneeuwsport Vlaanderen for their excellent organization and warm hospitality throughout the event. Their efforts helped create a productive and inspiring environment for all involved.

 

What’s Next?

• Finalization of the ZERO Card Game
• Optimization of the online climate course
• Preparation for the Final Conference in Bern

Stay tuned—and be sure to mark November 25th on your calendar!

 

Photo-Credits: (c) WSF

 

Curious about what climate change is? Curious about how it is affecting what we love most—Snowboarding and winter sports? Curious about what you can do about it? Then dive in to find out the answers to each of those questions and become a part of the solution.

 

In the face of a changing climate, knowledge is power—and action starts with education. That’s the mission behind the ZERO Climate Education Course, offered through the WSF Academy,  a dynamic and accessible program designed to empower individuals, educators, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to address the climate crisis head-on. Available in seven languages.

 

What is the ZERO Climate Education Course?

The ZERO Climate Education Course is an online learning experience built to equip participants with a foundational understanding of the climate crisis and the skills to address it – an innovative, science-based curriculum aimed at fostering global climate literacy. Whether you’re a student, educator, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this course provides the foundation to understand the root causes of climate change—and more importantly, what we can do about it.

 

Key Features of the Course

• Science-Based Curriculum: Learn the fundamentals of climate science, from greenhouse gas emissions and global warming to biodiversity loss and environmental justice.
• Action-Oriented Learning: Go beyond the classroom with real-world strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy.
• Global Perspective: Understand climate issues from both local and global contexts, helping to foster a sense of shared responsibility.
• Interactive & Inclusive: With videos, quizzes, and reflective activities, the course encourages critical thinking and collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
• Free and Accessible: True to the ZERO name, this course is free of charge — because climate education should be a right, not a privilege.

 

 

Who is it For?

ZERO is built for everyone. No prior expertise in climate science or environmental studies is required. It’s ideal for:

• Secondary and post-secondary students
• Teachers looking to integrate climate education into their classrooms
• Professionals in any field aiming to become climate-conscious leaders
• Anyone who wants to be part of the solution

 

What You’ll Learn

The course is structured around engaging, easy-to-follow modules that cover:

• Climate Science Basics: Understand how climate systems work and the evidence behind human-caused climate change.
• Global Impacts: Explore how climate change affects ecosystems, economies, and societies across the world.
• Climate Justice: Delve into the social dimensions of the crisis—why it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and how we can build a fairer future.
• Solutions and Action: Discover real-world solutions and how individuals, communities, and nations can take meaningful action.

 

Why ZERO Matters

This course isn’t just about facts—it’s about empowerment. ZERO is designed to spark critical thinking, inspire local and global action, and support a generation ready to tackle the biggest challenge of our time. As climate anxiety rises, education offers a hopeful, actionable path forward.

The climate crisis touches every part of our lives—and solving it requires all of us. Whether you’re just starting your climate journey or looking to deepen your understanding, the ZERO Climate Education Course is your gateway to becoming an informed, empowered climate advocate.

 

Enroll now for free: ZERO Climate Education Course

 

Photo-Credits: (c) Andreas Amplatz

“Pay even more attention to carpooling or bus transportation to get me to the mountains.”

When we see a statement like this, we feel joy about realizing the ZERO project’s objective. In the project, we have dual aims – one, to engage young people in snowboarding and two, to empower these young people to be climate advocates in their daily life and in their snowboarding life. To achieve the second aim, POW Europe, a project partner, is delivering their second winter of climate workshops.Throughout winter 24/25, from Portugal to Finland, these workshops will positively impact the future generation. How?

• A presentation will lay the groundwork of what climate change is, how it is affecting the world, and what this means for winter sports. Remember this workshop is for young kids, some might not have heard of climate change before!
• Interactive activities – we don’t need to go over the research that everyone retains knowledge better when doing something tangible. We run activities that teach children how sustainable action can be part of their everyday life to the wider structural changes that must occur. This latter part might sound grandeur for children but our Climate Card game has proven itself as an effective teacher.
• Doing the challenges of the Chall app

Establishing a collaboration with CHALL, home of digital social challenges and video competitions for the ZERO Platform, the aim is to establish an online snowboard community by introducing the big international snowboard community to the video-contest series with 6 video-challenges for all kids interested in a sustainable lifestyle and those that are curious to participate in an environment-friendly way of snowboarding. The challenges reach from the community-aspect of snowboarding with the “best handshake” to give your snowboard a new life to travel to the slopes with public transport. Cool prizes are up for wins, among them lift-tickets for key WSPL events such as the World Tour Finals in Kitzsteinhorn and other goodies and discounts.

Link to the app: https://chall.it/WSF

Workshops are taking place throughout the winter in between laps on the slope, of course. Here are photos from our workshop in Belgium and Finland.

Photo-Credits: (c) Sneeuwsport Vlaanderen, Finnish Snowboard Association