Industry News
Known for its beautiful views of Lake Tahoe and community vibe, Diamond Peak has officially received recognition for its sustainability initiatives and has become STOKE certified. Diamond Peak is the first resort in the Tahoe area to receive the STOKE certification and will certainly be setting the pace for resort best practices and sustainability. According to the Tahoe Tribune, the community-owned ski resort has been following its “Roadmap Report” to achieve the best practices in snowmaking, interpretation, waste diversion and community development.
“This certification is something we’ve worked very hard to achieve over the past three seasons, and it reflects our commitment to sustainability and transparency in our operations.”-Paul Raymore, Diamond Peak Marketing Manager
Diamond Peak has been integrating more sustainability measures into their everyday operations. Some additions to this past season included an interpretive guided tour for skiers and riders on the historic Incline Flume Trail, integration of witty signs on trash cans, lift towers, and chair-backs, and installing more hydration stations and selling custom reusable water pouches. According to the resort, reducing the sale and use of single-use plastic water bottles led to 2,409 fewer bottles compared to the 16-17 season. Diamond Peak has also invested millions into watershed restoration efforts and high-efficiency snow guns and towers over the last three years.
Promoting a sense of responsibility and community is one of the main goals of the ski resort. They are now partnered with the Take Care Tahoe campaign, a group of organizations working to inspire the Tahoe community and bring awareness to the importance of environmental responsibility. They have also revived the Sierra Scouts lesson program, which is geared towards teaching ski school students about the environment. Once completed, students are awarded the Sierra Snow Ranger badge. Diamond Peak has worked towards educating guests about the mountain’s cultural heritage, ecosystem functions, and sustainability initiatives.
“A lot has changed over the years, but Diamond Peak still has that friendly, local feel and remains dedicated to the community and our environment. STOKE provided us a roadmap to make short and long-term strategic changes for achieving a more sustainable future. I’m extremely proud of everyone here for making this achievement possible.”-Diamond Peak General Manager Mike Bandelin
STOKE (Sustainable Tourism Operator’s Kit for Evaluation) Certified is the world’s first sustainability certification body with standards built specifically for surf and ski tourism operators, destinations and affiliated events. With STOKE, operators have a clear and structured path to best practice, and riders can easily identify and choose operators who embody sustainability. For three years, STOKE researched the best practices in the ski tourism industry. The STOKE criteria focuses on the efficacy of sustainability management systems, alpine resource conservation, quality and safety of the riding experience delivery, as well as social, economic, cultural heritage, and environmental impacts.
