Getting Teens Stoked on Life

"One teen at a time, counterculture will change the world."

This is the mission of Stoked Mentoring, an organization pairing at-risk youth with adventurous mentors. Believing that what's learned through action sports are life lessons needed now more then ever, kids head off to the ocean, parks and mountains to do some surfing, skating and snowboarding. With their de facto big brothers and sisters, the kids flex their determination, courage, self-confidence and patience.

Stoked seasons on both coasts are about to kick off with surf mentoring in Los Angeles and skate mentoring in New York City. After a two spring fundraisers (also on each coast) the organization has just announced that it's an official charity partner of the NYC Half Marathon (Aug. 16) and the ING New York City Marathon (Nov. 1) giving those who are not able to mentor a fun and healthy way to give action sports and life experience to teens at risk.

The beauty and power of Stoked is that teens can learn these life skills while snowboarding in the mountains with a group of peers, discovering one of life's most excellent ways to spend an afternoon. I had the opportunity this past winter to go with an LA Stoked group to Snow Summit.

"It's one of the few programs where the mentor and the mentee can be on the same level," said actress Joy Bryant who was also on the mountain that day. "There are so many great mentoring organizations, and all of them have their own special way of reaching the kids that need them. What makes Stoked unique is that they use action sports as the link between the kids and mentors, exposing the kids to sports they may have never thought to try or would have been able to learn. Their self-esteem and confidence grow as they see that when you put your mind and energy to something, no matter how challenging or how many obstacles exist, they can overcome anything," said Bryant.

Part of the genius of Stoked, founded by Steve Larosiliere and Sal Mesekala, is in believing that trust and friendship between mentor and mentee are born out of falling, teaching and learning together while being crushed by a wave or landing face-first in the snow — these are action sports we're talking about, after all. Among Stoked supporters is supermodel (and from what I've heard, a killer snowboarder) Daria Werbowy, who hosted a recent Stoked spring art auction benefit.

"Stoked not only brings nature to kids but also life lessons. Action sports take a lot of commitment and dedication but they are also fun, as life is. Snowboarding is something that helps me in life and if I can spread that to kids and help them along their journey then we both succeed," said Werbowy.

But it's not just action sports that are effective in shaping confident, success-bound teens. It's loading the bus at 6 a.m. Doing group exercises. Asking: Where do we envision ourselves in five years? What do we want to accomplish by the end of the day?

What surprised me at the end of a day with Stoked? I felt like I had been mentored! Yes, it's about instilling opportunity, knowledge, experience and determination in teens; but as with anything worthwhile in life, what the givers get get back is more than ever expected.