This is an excerpt from a story by Mary Walsh and was published on redbull.com on Oct 1,2020. You can view the original HERE.

In contrast to the old adage, “no friends on a powder day,” community has always been integral to snowboarding and skiing; professional riders on both two planks and one have long prioritized their roles as leaders, ambassadors, and stewards of the mountains. Upon achieving long-held goals of becoming best in class in their respective disciplines, Red Bull’s team of riders are quick to give back to the people and places that helped them to get where they are today. Whether volunteering to introduce at-risk youth to the excitement of standing sideways, taking action to combat climate change, or raising money to donate to organizations fighting racial injustice, these pros are breaking trail and elevating the issues that are important to them. Read on to get to know the organizations and causes that Red Bull snow athletes support, and learn how you can get involved, too.

BEN FERGUSON SUPPORTS THE CHILL FOUNDATION

In 1995, Jake and Donna Carpenter, founders of Burton Snowboards, established Chill in order to being at-risk youth into the mountains. Since then, the program has worked with 25,000 kids and young adults across sixteen locations in North America (including Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, and Burton’s home in Burlington, Vermont) as well as international affiliate operations in Japan, Italy, Australia, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Ben Ferguson has been involved with Chill throughout his career as a member of the Burton team, joining fundraisers and ride day events. “I think Chill Foundation is really great because they get kids on the mountain who wouldn’t be able to do that by themselves, introducing kids to the sport and lifestyle I, like so many others, enjoy, while giving them direction and guidance in their personal lives.”

Learning to snowboard is just the starting point in Chill; the organization’s goal is to use riding as a vehicle through which participants build confidence and resiliency to help them see beyond their current circumstances and conquer personal struggles. “It’s awesome to see what Jake and Donna have created, and to see the impact they’ve mad on the sport and so many people’s lives. Being a snowboarder is a great lifestyle and it is a good alternative to other things young kids can be drawn to. The more people we can get Involved in snowboarding the better. I’d love to see more diversity in the snowboarding and its culture.”

Get Involved: The Chill Foundation relies on a network of volunteers who give their time to mentor and help teach participants to snowboard, surf, and skateboard. Find a program near you and sign up to make a difference by sharing the love of standing sideways.

The post Higher causes: Giving back & shaping the future with Red Bull snow athletes appeared first on Chill Foundation.

After careful consideration for safety and following the advice of the CDC, The Chill Foundation (Chill) is gearing up for the return of its boardsport programs this summer! Beginning this month, local youth will participate in stand-up paddleboarding programs with Cascadia SUP & Surf, utilizing unique protocols and format changes to protect the safety of all participants. All associated costs are covered, and gear is provided for the participants, including masks and sanitation stations.

“Youth in our community need programs like Chill now more than ever before,” said Bailey Monty, Chill Regional Program Coordinator. “Our challenge was to figure out if we could safely return to our programs and provide a meaningful and impactful experience for our participants without adding to the long list of stressors already in their daily lives. It quickly became clear that we could. Our whole program is about overcoming challenges in the face of adversity, and the youth we serve rely on our programs so we couldn’t wait for the opportunity to get back out there and work with them again.”

The return to programs will continue to be gradual, careful, and safe, and Chill will continue to adapt along with the world. It’s clear that the youth want and need Chill, and boardsports, now as much as ever, are the perfect vehicle for taking on challenges.

Currently in its 25th year, Chill is impacting local communities with programs in 16 cities throughout North America.

Chill is a positive youth development program where boardsports become a vehicle for empowerment. Revolving around a core value-driven curriculum, Chill programs consist of experiential learning activities, reflection, and discussion, paired with boardsport lessons. Chill’s six core values provide youth with a foundation and framework for learning and growth, supported and enhanced through on-board progression and adult mentorship.

About Chill
Chill operates in 16 cities throughout North America and internationally, and has served more than 25,000 young people since its inception. Chill made the transition from a private to a public charity in May, 2019 For media inquiries, contact Dave Wadleigh (davewa@chill.org)

FOCUS KEYWORDS: Chill, Burton, Cascadia SUP & Surf, SUP, stand-up paddleboarding, youth

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