So goes the great planetary water cycle. Because Earth is a closed system, there is as much water on the planet today as there was or will ever be. But although the overall supply is unchanging, the quality of usable (i.e. drinkable) water for snowboarders and other mammals is extremely limited -- less than one half of one percent. If all the Earth's water fit into a gallon jug, available fresh water would equal just over a tablespoon.
 And the little bit we have is heavily used and abused by humans. We spend billions of dollars and tons of fossil fuels piping fresh water to semi-arid deserts such as Southern California only to flush it down the sewer at six gallons a wee. We befoul rivers and streams and oceans with all manner of toxic effluent, making them life-threatening to swim or surf in. We suck up ancient ground water supplies to grow yuppie tomatoes in November or water golf courses in the Sahara. As planetary stewards, we suck.
In response to boarders who wanted to ride cleaner and greener, the Snowrider Project was begun three years ago by the Surfrider Foundation and concerned individuals who wanted to create an environmental voice for snowriders -- boarders and skiers alike.
"One of Surfrider's strengths is that they have channeled the passion and interest of people who ride waves into an environmental force," says Surfrider Executive Director Pierce Flynn. "We wanted to complete the circle and ride the entire water cycle."
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Steve Barilotti article #2
Hydrologic Cycle
In case you were curious, here's how the snowboarding hydrocycle works:
Starting at the top of the food chain, take one pitcher of tasteless, mass-market American lager purchased at a hideously inflated price from the Bear Butt Lodge high atop Mt. Whatever. Process through one snowboarder. Flush. In time, that largish stein of prole ale (having changed little in color, flavor or nutritional content after passing through Mr. or Ms. Boarder's kidneys) will filter down the mountain to the ocean to be picked up as evaporation and sprinkled over the mountains as snow to be carved, ripped, slashed, whipped and flayed by legions of snowboard enthusiasts. Come spring thaw, the snow melts back to water which flows down the mountain into a federally funded irrigation canal and is sold to an agri-business conglomerate at below-market price through a controversial sweetheart deal before being sprayed over the soil which grows the summer barley that is sold to a neofascist brewing cartel and ultimately recycled into another pitcher of beer.
Is not nature truly AWESOME?
Actuall, it's a bit more complex, so here's a breakdown of the hydrologic cycle for those of you who bailed sixth period science class in body or mind.
Part One: In the beginning there were the oceans. They were humongous and did cover most of the earth.
Part Two: The sun did heat the seas, which caused the water to evaporate into the air. The water vapor formed clouds which circled the planet in huge gnarly currents. Note that 85 percent of the vapor in the air comes from oceans.
Part Three: In time the clouds did cool and release the water as rain or snow. There is much joyousness and jocularity with snow.
Part Four: Some of the water seeps through the ground to become the "ground water" supply. Water in the highlands is pulled by gravity via brooks, creeks, streams, tributaries, rivers, rapids and biblical floods back to the ocean to evaporate and become rain and snow once more. Some water is sucked up by plants and biological organisms (including snowboarders) and released via perspiration, elimination (see Snowboarder Water Cycle above) or in the case of plants, "transpiration."
Part Five: All water eventually returns to the ocean via the "watershed" system.
Part Six: See Part One.
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