The Ski Club of Great Britain�s Respect the Mountain Campaign, which was launched to help safeguard the natural environment and the long-term future of skiing, has been jointly awarded the Lucy Dicker award which acknowledges innovation and outstanding contribution to the ski industry.

The Lucy Dicker award was presented to the Ski Club on the first day of the Daily Mail Ski Show in Olympia, London. The award is presented annually by Les Arcs in the memory of Lucy Dicker, an intrepid skier who tragically lost her life in the French resort of La Grave. The Respect the Mountain Campaign was launched at the start of last winter season following the introduction by the Ski Club of an environmental policy. The policy is aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues with regard to snowsports, and gives advice on how to help preserve the mountains with a seven-step guide.

Since its launch, the Respect the Mountain Campaign has grown and this season will see the introduction of an environmental database on www.skiclub.co.uk which advises skiers and boarders on what resorts are doing to help protect the environment, ranking their performance on different criteria including recycling, green power, traffic reduction and building policy.

Caroline Stuart-Taylor, Chief Executive of the Ski Club said: �This award recognises the big steps we have made to try and raise awareness of environmental issues with regard to snowsports. The future will see us build this campaign, aiming to ensure that all skiers and boarders are switched on with regard to the environment and how they can act responsibly when taking their snowsports holiday.�

For skiers and boarders who want to show their support of the campaign and their respect of the mountains, the Ski Club are selling Respect the Mountain green wristbands. Each band sells for �2. The profits from the wristbands go straight towards a carbon replacement tree planting scheme and research project which the campaign funds.

ENDS

For more information contact Betony Garner on 0208 4102018 / 07740 642262 or email betony.garner@skiclub.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

The Ski Clubs Seven Steps to Preserve the Mountains:

1) Be aware of your environmental impact as skiers and boarders Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what you can do to minimise it.

2) Do not leave litter on the slopes When the snow melts, the litter will still be there. Bin it or take it home. Orange peel takes up to two years to break down, and cigarette ends up to five years. If you find litter on the slopes, do the right thing � pick it up.

3) Respect the natural habitat of mountain animals and plants If you ski through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and killing young shoots under the snow. Take care. Many areas are out of bounds to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants � not just for safety reasons.

4) Choose a resort which uses environmentally friendly practices Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating, hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark of their environmental credentials.

5) Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying, if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures, if they use, for example, low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents.

6) Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home Re-use your towels each day, re-cycle household waste and switch off electrical appliances when not in use.

7) Reduce CO2 emissions By flying fewer miles, or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce the volume of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When possible, use your bike instead of your car.