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For a lot of teenagers, their Internet friendship with a woman known as "Blue Sky" and "A Beautiful Mind" proved a turning point in their lives. By chatting online they were able to talk honestly about their troubles and receive help in finding solutions to their problems. Many of the young people that "Blue Sky" met in the chat rooms were spending large amounts of time playing online games. Some were so addicted that they were missing school in order to play. By listening to the reasons beneath this behaviour and by offering gentle encouragement, "Blue Sky" was able to help numerous adolescents make the adjustments needed to restore balance in their lives.

When a grateful young net-friend posted an article on the Internet about "Blue Sky" in February 2004, her wonderful work was made known to the public. The national media picked up the story and "Blue Sky", whose real name is Liu Huanrong, quickly achieved fame as China's "Web Mother".

Miss Liu says she does not possess any special abilities; "I just listened patiently and offered some advice. That's all." Perhaps the reason why she is able to understand young people's problems is her experience of overcoming difficulties in her own life. As a teenager, Miss Liu was involved in a fire, in which 91% of her skin was burnt and she lost the use of her hands. However, her self-determination made it possible for her to build a successful life, and she has even found a way to use a computer mouse and keyboard.

Miss Liu's work opened up a debate about how best to help young people control their use of the Internet, rather than be controlled by it. It became clear that young people and parents alike needed someone to talk things through with, and within minutes of going online Miss Liu would have dozens of people waiting to chat with her. But she has a full-time job as an accountant and can only spend about three hours doing her online voluntary work each day. She simply does not have enough time to offer support to all these people personally. The solution is the Web Mother website, which is hosted by Liu Huanrong and provides access to other volunteers who are available to give advice.

NORTHERN TEENAGERS DON'T GET BORED -- THEY GET A BOARD!
Many Chinese young people are discovering the excitement of skateboarding, and skating ramps are being built in some parks. Those who live in northern China also have a chance to try out a different kind of boarding. When the winter freeze puts a stop to most outdoor games, trendy teenagers in Beijing and northern cities head to the mountains to experience the latest cool sport -- snowboarding.

There is so much enthusiasm for winter sports in China that the number of people taking part is expected to grow by ten to twenty times in just five years, reaching between 50 and 100 million by 2009. This has led to the development of many new facilities and there are now more than two hundred ski slopes in China, many of which also have snowboarding runs. Although most mature people choose to ski, many of the younger generation prefer snowboarding because they say it is more creative, faster and there are fewer rules. While skiers slide gracefully down the mountain, energetic snowboarders jump, turn and fly from shallow channels called "half pipe" runs.

Of the total number of Chinese people participating in winter sports, the percentage of snowboarders is higher than in any other country, and companies who supply snowboarding equipment are eager to see this trend continue. Suppliers are doing all they can to promote the sport as a cool and fashionable way of life for China's youth, and one American company is even offering nightclub parties and fashion shows as well as lessons on how to ride the boards.

Unfortunately snowboarding, like all winter sports, is still very expensive. Some young snowboarders work all through their summer holidays just to be able to afford some hours on the snow in winter. For most of us the high cost means that snowboarding is just not possible at the moment. However, it probably will not be long before the other mountainous areas of China such as Sichuan, Xinjiang and Yunnan are developed, and as more facilities become available, prices will almost certainly fall. So who knows? Soon we may all be able to have a go at the hottest sport for cold weather.
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