They posed for a group picture with local Olympian and X-Games star, Andy Finch, then grabbed their skis and snowboards for some one-on-one lessons.
"I was like dang! I was like nervous," said Patrick Lewis, 14.
"It's pretty rad 'cause he's a good influence on snowboarders who are trying to get good and go pro," said snowboarder Malik Sims.
All eight kids are part of Ski Jamin. Each of them and their parents wrote an essay when they applied for the program. The top essay writers got the chance to meet Finch, organizers said.
"Before I've never had the chance to snowboard of even see snow, you know. So, it's definitely... I want to do... keep doing it the rest of my life," said Ian DeGraff, 17.
That type of mentality is what organizers hope to instill in these kids with this type of experience. They hope to give them something positive despite the pressures of gangs and drugs around them, organizers said. Many of the program participants come from lower income and single-parent homes, they added.
"We're building a pattern. We're showing them there's a bigger world than the four corners of your neighborhood," said Laurie Nelson, Ski Jamin Co-Founder.
Finch hopes the kids who participated in Friday's lessons remember their experience.
The slopes have had a influence on his life, he said. This is his way of giving back.
"I'm trying to create a platform that will allow local kids with talent to be able to get out in the snowboard industry and possibly have a career in the snowboard world," said Finch.
Andy Finch will be at China Peak on Saturday and Sunday, February 25th and 26th.
Saturday is the Andy Finch Park Qualifier and Sunday is Andy Finch Family Day, when Family 4-packs are just $99.
Click on the related links for more information on Finch's visit and the Ski Jamin program.