09:27 AM PST on Tuesday, February 28, 2006

By LORI MATSUKAWA / KING 5 News

VANCOUVER, B.C. - After Torino, Canada is stepping up to host the next winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. and to search out and groom Canadian athletic talent.

Particular attention is being paid to First Nations youth, who are noticeably missing from expensive winter sports.

A new program in B.C. is putting kids on snowboards with their eyes on 2010.

Many come from households that can't afford the clothing, equipment and lessons to make them Olympic champions, But a $3 million provincial grant called the Shared Legacy Fund is changing that.

“We provide them with the  infrastructure that they'll need to achieve their dreams and their goals and as to date we've been in two competitions and won four medals,” said Aaron Marchant, the snowboard team manager.

KING

Rachel Findlay of the Squamish Nation wants a shot at the Canadian snowboarding team.

Rachel Findlay of the Squamish Nation wants a shot at the Canadian snowboarding team.

“I definitely hope to be competing in 2010,” she said.

But beyond that, she says being an athlete gives people hope.

“I would love to inspire other women to be involved in snowboarding just to represent aboriginal first nations women that they can achieve their hopes and dreams,” she said.

Participants promise to stay drug and alcohol free, maintain grades of c+ or better and attend 90 percent of all training.

Kyle Wallace is already making a name for himself in snowboard cross competitions across the province.

“Just continuing with snowboarding and going to competitions and getting into more boarder cross competitions and do well in them,” he said.

Marchant says the 66 team members are already winners in his eyes.

“We're hoping to have them feel confident about themselves as well and providing them with opportunities,” he said.

The program is so successful, there are plans to establish more First Nations teams across the country, and have at least one aboriginal youth on Canada's national team in two years.