Alaska is synonymous with bitter cold, ice and snow. But that may not last. This year, for only the second time in its history, the iconic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has been forced to change course due to a lack of snowfall. Though unfortunate, it's not exactly unexpected, as 2014 was the warmest year on record in Alaska and the first year ever recorded where the temperature never dropped below zero in Anchorage. So far this winter, Anchorage (where the race traditionally starts) has gotten less than 20 inches of snow -- meaning that Boston's big storm dropped more snow in a couple of days than Anchorage has gotten all season!

As we continue to emit greenhouse gasses, Alaska's climate will continue to change. It's already started, according to the National Climate Assessment. So far, emissions have driven temperatures up by 3 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 60 years, and winter temperatures an astonishing 6 degrees. This means it's warming at twice the pace of the rest of the U.S. All this warming has obvious implications for those that depend on the snow, as warm waters off the coast mean precipitation falls as rain instead of snow. Iditarod organizers said that in some parts of the trail, the lack of snow exposed willow roots, rocks and boulders that they'd never seen before.

While this may seem like a minor issue of concern primarily to sled dog enthusiasts, it serves as a warning to us all. And I don't just mean all of us native Alaskans who come from a family of mushers, or even all of us who love snow sports. I mean every single person who cares about preserving pristine wild spaces and enjoying any kind of outdoor sport. From changing the Iditarod in Alaska to dismantling ski lifts in Europe and canceled World Cup races, from a tennis player in The Australian Open getting so overheated he saw Snoopy, to football players getting heatstroke in the U.S., it doesn't take much looking to see that a warmed world is bad news for athletes of all kinds.

Like the saying that you can't appreciate what you have until it's gone, it's not until the climate you grew up with changes that you realize how much of yourself and your culture has grown out of the weather you experience. For example, for those of us who snowboard, the mountains are where we feel the most at home and are the source of our passion. But unless winters are consistent, mountains will stay dry and resorts will struggle to maintain the cold conditions that warm our hearts and bring the tourists to our mountain communities. Snowmaking is expensive, and at some point many resorts just can't afford to stay open. As California is experiencing the worst drought in at least 1,200 years, we're learning about the costs of climate change the hard way. Scientists tell us we should expect to see more drought, more fires, more severe storms and more flooding in a warmer world.

In addition to being an Olympic snowboarder, I'm Alaska Native. My extended family has lived here for generations; we're commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay and my grandfather, pictured here, competed in regional dog sled races when we were young. My memories of him and his dogs are still very vivid.

So it's not just about the loss of a game or pastime. It's about losing a part of who we are, our culture and identity. For the people of Alaska, the Iditarod is more than a race, it's a symbol of our identity, as it's held in remembrance of an emergency delivery of anti-diphtheria medication. So the race is a testament to both the isolation of Alaskans as well as their strong sense of community and compassion, as a people willing to travel for days to save their brethren, locked away by ice.

But as that ice melts, so too does our culture. And that's not only a shame, but a warning. Unless we stop burning fossil fuels, the warming will continue to melt the snow we love and heat the atmosphere we all share. For snowboarders like me, that's a threat to everything I know and love. It's a threat to what I do, and who I am.

So I joined Protect Our Winters, to fight for my sport and my way of life. But one easy thing every athlete can do is remember that we are citizens of a democracy. We must use our voices -- through old-fashioned, handwritten letters, to tell our members of Congress and our governors, our senators and our mayors, that it is now time for meaningful policy solutions to climate change.

You may love a different sport than I do, but unless it's an indoor one it's likely to change along with the climate. The traditions you were taught as a child may not survive a warmed world, melting away in the heat like so much snow and ice, revealing the dangerous rocks beneath.

Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, was born in Aleknagik, 300 miles from the nearest chairlift and any road system. She grew up snowboarding in the Wood Tikchik Mountains surrounding her home, hiking and snowmachining with her family to the summits. She became a member of the U.S. Snowboard Team at age 16. Throughout the last decade of snowboard competition, Callan is a World Cup medalist, an X-Games medalist and a member of the 2010 Winter Olympic Team.