3 Degrees Inc
| Thanks to 3Degrees, all of the CO2 we created travelling around the state is offset with investments in renewable energy and efficiency projects that help prevent climate change. |
| Loki's innovative jackets keep our athletes warm in the frigid North Dakota winter. Their access mittens and face warmers are also used to keep the 2XtM education crew warm. Loki makes the first outerwear with a built in Face Shield & Mitts. These convenient features are unnoticeable when not deployed, but are at the ready when your all weather lifestyle gets socked in. Loki gear fuses “low keyâ€, casual design with state of the art performance to update and extend the traditional outdoor experience. When you step outside with Loki, you are fully prepared to have more fun that ever before! |
| As one of the nation's top builders, and the leading wind power contractor in North America, Mortenson provides a complete range of services, including planning, program management, preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, design-build, and turn-key development. Engineering News-Record ranked Mortenson 12 in power in the 2007 Top 400 Contractors listing, all of which is renewable power, and named the company the 17th Top Green Contractor. This quote from Tom Wacker, the Senior VP of Mortenson's Energy Group, exemplifies why we are so happy to be partnered with Mortenson: “Since entering the wind market in 1995 we have constructed over 30 percent of the wind energy capacity in the U.S. to date, and are currently completing over 90 MW’s in North Dakota. As a company we are committed to environmental stewardship and would like to see North Dakota tap into its enormous wind energy potential.†|
| Without AARN packs, the 2XtM snowkiters would be in a world of hurt -- literally. Using the findings of Sports Science AARN challenges traditional thinking on pack design. No longer just backpacks, their body centered load carrying systems are better described as â€FlowMo Bodypacksâ€. They disturb the posture, balance and movement of the body as little as possible under load, completely replacing backpacks as the most comfortable way to carry load on the human body. |
| One of the best solutions to global climate change is right in front of our noses. Supporting local small business, and especially local agriculture. Amazing Grains is a local food co-op that allows us access to healthy food, and a great space to meet and discuss our next plan to change the world. Think Globally, buy locally. We are truly lucky to have such a great co-op in this town! |
| MacGyver only used duct tape and paper clips to get out of problems because he didn't have a Benchmade knife. The athletes will be carrying the hookblade knives - ensuring that in an emergenct they can cut away their kites. |
| Website design, environmental awareness, technical expertise...we at 2XtM and Team YogaSlackers feel blessed to have found Brian. |
| Few things make Sam, Paul and Jason happier than sitting down to some wonderful Indian cuisine from Eastern Essense after a long day of snowkiting. All Eastern Essence products are completely naturally grown on small farms in India using traditional organic farming techniques. They are prepared according to traditional Indian Ayurvedic family recipes (that's why they taste so good!). Plus, we really dig that they do not contain hydrogenated oils. |
| SPOT is the only device of its kind, using the GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, and then sending its location – with a link to Google Maps™ – and a pre-programmed message via a commercial satellite network. And unlike Personal Locator Beacons, SPOT does more than just call for help. Tracking your progress, checking in with loved ones, and non-emergency assistance are also available, all at the push of a button. And because it uses 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world. Track our athletes as they travel with the SPOT! |
| LED lighting with an inovative design. Fox Fury lights provide more peripheral light exposure than any other headlamp out there. We hope to not have to kite during the nights, but if we do we'll be happy to have Fox Fury showing the way. |
| If you have seen the images from last year's expedition, then we don't have to tell you how good of work Sean O'Connor of Freesolo photography does. Sean can shoot a wide variety of settings, and really excels in the outdoors. Besides 2XtM, he is also working on a tree climbing project to protect the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. |
| A full service sattelite phone the size of a standard cell phone. Need I say more? The athletes will rely on this phone to stary in touch with the media and the educational crew for the duration of the expedition. Maybe we'll call you! |
| Made for people who like to choose their own path, Inov-8's mountain running influence is clear. The racers of Team YogaSlackers first discovered this fine footwear in 2005 and (shudder at the thought) actually bought several pair. We've fallen in love with them over and over again, and when they introduced their racing packs last year, we were more than happy to help test them. On top of all that, they are the shoe company with a small global footprint! Founder Wayne is one of the most responsive people to feedback we've ever encountered. Create your own trail. Inov-8 will help. |
| Good coffee in the backcountry has always been a struggle. Sustainably and consciously produced coffee anywhere has always been a problem. Java Juice solves them both! Fair Trade, Shade Grown, delicious coffee extract. The crew and athletes will probably drink way too much of it in February! |
| The reason for this expedition to promote wind energy. LM Glassfiber makes the beautiful blades that make harvesting the wind possible, and they do it right here in North Dakota. They are currently the largest manufacturer in Grand Forks, employing over 900 people. |
| The 2XtM athletes are subsisting on a vegetarian diet. Thanks to Manitoba Harvest, the kiters will have a rich and high quality source of protein along with the perfect balance of Omega fatty acids. |
| Our fiscal sponsor Northern Great Plains, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) based in Fargo with the mission of identifying and promoting policies and practices that support an integrated approach to economic opportunity, a healthy environment and vital rural communities. Thanks to their support, donations to the To Cross the Moon expedition are tax deductible. |
| NewSun has been at the forefront of renewable and portable energy production for years. Their Eco-Pioneer tour is an amazing effort to educate the public while showcasing the amazing solutions to green portable power that they ave developed. |
| Snowkiting would still be in the stone ages without the brilliant pioneers at Ozone. When the gusty winds of the great plains start ripping, we're happy to be attached to Ozone kites. Stable and fast, the Access kites have been proven again and again in backcountry travel. |
| Born From the Experience. Prana has been providing yoga and climbing inspired clothing to slackers around the world for years. Of all our sponsors, Prana is the one that we've been with the longest as consumers. At least 50% of everything we wear is from them, and for good reason. Comfortable, multifunctional, and produced completely with energy from the wind. Prana does so much for environmental awareness within the industry, we can't even begin to write it down. We are truly privledged to have them on our team. |
| Warmth starts with the air that you breathe in. PSolar makes sure it is warm, and it makes a big difference in everything else. This small peice of equipment is a true gem if you follow the addage "light is right" because it allows winter athletes to carry much less gear. We tested it in Utah winter, and in the Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon, and consider it essential gear. |
| Raw Oraganic Food Bars. So many good flavors that it is hard for us to choose. Dave at Raw Rev is one of the most inspiring people we've connected with in ths project, and we look forward to working with him and Raw Rev on many projects. If you have not tried a bar, go to your local co-op or natural foods store and do! Jason's favorite - Cashew and Spirulina Sam's - Chocolate and Coconut Paul's - Raspberry and Chocolate We'll certainly trash our bodies over those 21 days, but our GI tracts will be happy. |
| Steger Mukluks are the greatest winter boot ever. It is like running barefoot in the snow but your feet stay warm. We met Patti Steger briefly at the OR show, she explained her strong feelings toward supporting only expeditions bringing the message of climate change awareness and action. I am pretty sure I will be the first to snowboard in mukluks. On a side note these will allow me to train barefoot year round. |
| A lot of the companies we work with look to us for eco-conscious inspiration. We, however, look to Teko. Owen and the crew at Teko have sustainable ideals so imbedded into their minds that every time we visit with them they have found a new way to minimize their impact further. Next year I think we'll be able to wear the socks all day, and then eat them for dinner. I wouldn't put it past them. The slogan is true. We've tested them through the last 2 years in the harshest conditions, and they are always top notch. |
| Bringing the excitement of 2XtM to the big screen, these talented vidoegraphers have been shooting backcountry ski fotage for years. In the last few they've become amazing environmental stewards of snowy playgrounds all over the country. Ellis Smith will be suffering along side the athletes as well as capturing the education side of the expedition. Look for the finished film in fall 2008. |
| Not only do we want to see more wind energy developed in North Dakota, but we want to see more of it locally-owned so even more money circulates into local economies. They have even created a special page for 2XtM focusing on community wind in North Dakota. Windustry is a non-profit organization working to increase wind energy opportunities for rural landowners and communities. They promote wind energy through outreach, educational materials, and technical assistance to rural landowners, local communities and utilities, and state, regional, and nonprofit collaborations. |
| Just go to the website - it really is too hard to explain all that these guys and girls do. They are the exclusive athlete sponsor for the expedition (ie. all the athletes are yogaslackers and proud of it!). YogaSlackers also promote "extreme living with awareness" through all their activities. They have been hosting fund raising yoga workshops around the country to help support the expedition's educational programs. They look forward to some crazy cold yoga during any breaks in the wind. |
| Zeal is only high performance optics company using recycled products in their frames and 100% reused recycled material in their straps. We also happen to find them extremely functional and stylish. It is great to see a company that builds a product not typically associated with sustainability doing things to redefine what is possible. |
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