#SnowStories: Rethinking Food, Fuel, and Sustainability in Snow Sports with André Myhrer

For former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist, André Myhrer, his next chapter is focused on protecting the future of the sport that defined his career. Today, André is deeply involved in sustainability efforts in snow sports, including his role as an ambassador for the ‘Food for White Winters’ project.  

To highlight André’s contributions beyond racing, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) spoke with him about the initiatives he’s championing and the impact he hopes to make.  

A Sport Under Pressure: André Myhrer on the Future of Alpine Skiing

Having spent years competing in mountain landscapes, André explains that the effects of climate change have been impossible to ignore. Glaciers are retreating. Winters are becoming less predictable. Slopes with deep, reliable powder are increasingly hard to find.

In turn, fewer venues may be able to host major competitions, schedules could shrink, and access to the sport is likely to become more limited.

“If we continue with business as usual, we will have fewer venues in the future that can host the Olympic Games and World Championships, and the calendar will shrink somewhat. We will have a tighter schedule, and I think, for the sport, it would be catastrophic because people will not be able to ski as before.”  - André Myhrer, former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist

Yet, for André, the loss goes far beyond competition. Skiing represents culture and community, providing a connection to others and to nature. Without action, family traditions, shared moments of joy, and the awe of winter mountain environments could melt away.  

“You have to walk farther to get to the areas where we can ski. And in general, I think our sport is, in a way, kind of threatened because of environmental changes. I really want my kids to grow up and be able to ski the way I have during my career.” - André Myhrer, former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist

Still, André remains optimistic. The solutions are there. He believes change begins at home, with the everyday choices people make. From how they travel to what they eat, there is always a greener option. André leads by example, cutting back on meat, making conscious travel decisions, and installing solar panels to reduce his family’s impact.  

“I also feel that, as a former ski racer, there’s a kind of debt I have to repay. I’ve traveled around the world many times, flying back and forth from Sweden, and of course, I had a significant impact on the environment during my career. I want to try to make up for that in some way.” - André Myhrer, former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist

Beyond his personal lifestyle changes, André has also stepped forward to play an active role in driving change across the wider snow sports ecosystem. 

André Myhrer Advocates for the 'Food for White Winters' Approach to Sustainable Eating

André chose to focus his efforts where he believed they could have the greatest impact. While travel remains one of the biggest contributors to an athlete’s carbon footprint, it is also one of the hardest to adjust on an individual level due to competition schedules and performance demands. Food, however, offers a more immediate and achievable opportunity to make a difference.  

The ‘Food for White Winters’ project reflects this approach, targeting athletes’ nutrition as a lever for change. By prioritizing plant-based meals alongside local, seasonal ingredients at events, the project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of athletes’ diets without compromising performance. The diet is backed by leading experts, including nutrition specialists affiliated with Olympic committees. 

André is a strong advocate for the ‘Food for White Winters’ initiative. At the FIS Alpine World Cup in Åre, André joined the team in discussions to build momentum and advance the project.  

For André, eating more sustainably has become a way of life. At home, he and his family closely follow a vegetarian diet. From his own experience as an elite athlete, André knows that this lifestyle can provide athletes with everything they need nutritionally to perform at their best.  

“I think it is a good approach to measure and present clear, quantifiable data showing what athletes need and what this [the Food for White Winters] project provides in practice. It is important to communicate to athletes that this is more than enough; it meets their needs. You do not have to eat that much meat; you can get the same nutrients from a vegetarian diet.” - André Myhrer, former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist

The Food for White Winters project sheds light on the environmental impact of food. As André reflects, some of the findings are surprising; even ingredients that are locally sourced and often considered 'sustainable’ can carry impacts that are easily overlooked. It is these insights that challenge conventional assumptions and emphasize the importance of data-driven decision-making.  

Putting theory into practice, the ‘Food for White Winters’ project was tested in the real world at the FIS Alpine World Cup in Åre. The results are now being consolidated to better understand how athletes’ diets can reduce the environmental impact of snow sports.  

André hopes to see the ‘Food for White Winters’ project expand beyond alpine skiing and across the entire World Cup circuit. As such, he will continue to champion this new approach to athlete nutrition.  

Beyond Sustainable Eating: André Myhrer Envisions a Fossil-Fuel Free Sport

Beyond his work for the ‘Food for White Winters’ project, André is also actively involved in the Nordic Sustainability Arena (NoSA). This annual event unites voices from across sport, science, business, and politics. More than a forum for discussion, NoSA highlights key environmental challenges and brings people together to devise practical solutions to address them. The core message behind NoSA is to start somewhere, even if the steps are small.  

Now in his second year, André is helping to push one of NoSA’s key ambitions: phasing out the use of fossil fuels at Olympic events. Such a move represents an important next step, with the potential to set a precedent for the broader sporting ecosystem and pave the way for a more sustainable era.   

“I think that’s a good example of something that actually came out of NoSA as well. And I think it’s really important that we set strong standards and move away from fossil fuels that cause global warming.” - André Myhrer, former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist

Supporting this goal, André also highlights opportunities to reduce travel in snow sports and the emissions that come with it. This includes planning events more carefully, avoiding unnecessary off-season trips, and organizing competitions in a way that reduces movement between locations.  

André acknowledges that making such changes won’t be simple. For example, travel reductions require a careful balance between performance, recovery, and logistics. But with collective effort, meaningful progress is within reach.  

Redefining the Role of the Athlete: André Myhrer Inspires Sustainable Development in Sport

For André, sustainability is a personal commitment, and he continues to use his platform as an athlete to speak up and advocate for change. He recognizes that winter sports athletes witness the effects of climate change firsthand, and with that perspective comes responsibility, one that André embraces.  

Through his actions, André Myhrer is redefining what it means to be an athlete in today’s changing world, using his platform to create a positive impact and inspire others to do the same.

With #SnowStories, FIS sheds light on the thousands of characters across all levels and around the world, who are the true beating heart of snow sports.