Sponsored by Burton Snowboards, Chill is a nonprofit snowboarding class for underprivileged and at-risk inner city kids between the ages of 10 and 18. It provides the youths with everything they need for a six-week experience, including gear, lift tickets, instruction and bus transportation.

In 1995, Jake Burton founded Chill in Burlington, Vt., to bring snowboarding to kids who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity. Now in 14 cities in the United States and Canada, Burton is still Chill's largest supporter, rounding up volunteers and donating funding, office space and equipment so that 2,200 inner-city kids nationwide can literally escape the pavement.

But Chill is more than just a chance to hit the slopes.

Throughout the six-week program youths learn about patience, persistence, responsibility and courage. And after the Chill experience, some are invited to be involved in a Peer Leadership program and train to return the next year as Chill chaperones.

Derek Omori is an avid snowboarder who recently wrapped up his first volunteer experience with Chill. The Davis County resident was thrilled with the chance to chill with some local kids.

"This was my first year involved with the Chill program, and the greatest benefit I saw was giving kids the opportunity to snowboard who may not normally have the chance to," says Omori. "I think the volunteers helped to make the atmosphere a little more relaxed and everyone seemed to have a good time."

The local Chill program is made possible through contributions from JetBlue Airways and Brighton Ski Resort, which hosts the annual event. Surface Snow and Skate in Bountiful is the local partner shop and has worked to create greater public awareness about the program.

"My personal opinion of Chill is that it's a great thing in all aspects," says Ryan Salazar of Surface. "Members of our community go up there, helping others enjoy something they likely would never have a chance to participate in. By doing so, it can give the kids motivation to better themselves. We're fortunate, here in Utah, to be able to host such an event."

Many Utah kids participating in Chill in Utah come through the Third District Juvenile Court.

Ben Cavill, the national coordinator for Chill, recalls one boy who was among 30 "good-natured kids who . . . made some bad decisions in their young lives." The boy made it clear on the first day he had no interest in learning how to snowboard - he had been recruited for the program by his probation officer and protested up to the last minute. But at the end of the first day of the program, the boy was scrambling to squeeze in one more run.

"From no interest to hooked in three hours," says Cavill. "That's Chill at its best."

Catch the Chill

* For more information about getting involved in the Chill program, go to http://www.burton.com/chill or contact Ryan Salazar at Surface Snow and Skate at 292-8700.