It was the sport of snowboarding that changed Kate White's life.

'It gives you direction and it gives you freedom,' she told council at its Monday evening meeting.

Though the drinking age in the Yukon might be 19, White noted, there's not likely a 15-year-old who hasn't had a drink at some point. When you're a teenager, she added, there are often two groups: the athletic active types and those who aren't.

It was at 16 that White's life changed and she discovered snowboarding. It was then she had something to focus on.

For someone like White, who enjoys solo pursuits more than team sports, snowboarding is a good fit.

It also allows for team pursuits with ski and snowboard teams, she told council.

Now, White is working at Mount Sima and saving up for a trip to Australia.

In Whitehorse, Mount Sima provides a place for snowboarders and downhill skiers to do their sports.

'It's a really important community thing,' she told council of Mount Sima.

The non-profit Great Northern Ski Society, which operates the ski hill, has asked the city for an annual $40,000-grant to help with operational and insurance costs.

No money has been allocated to the ski hill in the proposed budget, which is set to be voted on Jan. 26.

The gallery of council chambers was overflowing with snowboarders, skiers and Sima supporters last night in a last-ditch effort to convince council to approve the grant.

Sima officials have said the hill, which is needed to host the 2007 Canada Winter Games, could potentially close if the city doesn't approve the grant.

As ski and snowboard enthusiasts packed the gallery some wearing snow goggles, ski and snowboard clothing and one even bringing his snowboard council was told what benefits the ski area has brought to the community.

Some even brought signs to show their support for Mount Sima. They were told by the city's director of administration, Rob Fendrick, that under the city's procedures bylaw, no signs were allowed in council chambers.

The signs sat in the hall for most of the meeting.

Tylor Nichol, who coaches the snowboard team, noted the last time he 'checked,' the Yukon was trying to attract tourists.

'Mount Sima may not be Banff or Whistler but (it is) visited by tourists,' he said.

Another delegate noted he's convinced people visiting during the winter months to take in Mount Sima.

The hill also provides winter employment at a time when there are not many jobs available, council heard.

Nichol was asked by Coun. Yvonne Harris whether the snow-making machine has made a difference for the team. Nichol noted there's way more snow on the hill this year than there has been in the past thanks to the artificial snow-making, which was done for a week before the ski season started.

Former city councillor Dan Boyd, who also previously sat on the Mount Sima board, recalled the history of Mount Sima going back to 1989, when the city commissioned a study on the development of a ski hill.

'The community rose to that challenge,' Boyd said.

While the city said it would support the hill, it was noted it didn't want to be directly involved with funding the operations. The hill was to be operated by a volunteer board.

'We cannot count the sweat equity (that has gone into running Mount Sima),' Boyd said.

There's nothing volunteers haven't done to make ends meet for the hill over the years, council was told. That includes fundraising efforts in addition to lift ticket charges and other initiatives.

Some unfortunate events, including rising insurance costs like the city is facing, have hit the hill.

'It's hard to get going each year,' Boyd said, later noting the hill came close to not opening this season.

While Mount Sima will be receiving funds from the Canada Games to make improvements for the 2007 event, those funds can't go to operating the facility, Boyd said.

He was asked by Coun. Doug Graham if the hill experiences more of a 'cash flow' problem than funding problem at the beginning of the season. Boyd said if Mount Sima has a good year, it's easier to get up and running in the following season. Last year was a bad year for the hill, making it more difficult to open this year.

He also pointed to the city's policy of supporting youth. Approximately 80 per cent of Sima users are youth, he noted.

'The adults are basically paying their own way,' he said.

While adults pay $27 for a full day pass, youth aged 13 to 19 pay $20 for a full day pass. A full day lift ticket for a child age six to 13 is $15.

Half day passes are also available for a cheaper price.

Children under six and people over 65 ski free.

Coun. Dave Austin questioned society president Kevin Rumsey on whether the board had considered raising the price of lift tickets to bring in more money. Rumsey noted it may be something the society has to do, though it hasn't been considered yet.

Some supporters noted it may be difficult to charge more, given the small size of the hill.

Others told the city it would be getting a great return for a small amount.

One delegate noted this is one facility that doesn't need a roof and heating.

The hill has made a huge contribution to his family life, he told council. The father pointed out he can't think of any other sport the entire family enjoys.

'It's also a great thrill,' he said.

Physical education teacher Paul MacDonald said he recently spent $19 on a half day pass at Mount Sima, where he hung out with some at-risk youth who were there for the day.

Skiing and snowboarding can help provide healthy lifestyles, he said.

'We're lucky to have this facility,' MacDonald said.

After the meeting, Mayor Ernie Bourassa said the city has also received letters and e-mails against supporting Mount Sima. He would not, however, comment on the contents of those letters and e-mails.

'I think if someone wants to publicly publish those letters, they're free to do so,' he said.

The mayor noted it seems the hill will do fine operationally this year, but where Mount Sima needs money is in the initial start-up.

'So if that means bridge-funding .... that may be something we could look at,' he said.

Bridge-funding could take the form of a loan.

Bourassa was asked if he is worried the society may not pay back a loan, given the difficulty the hill had paying back the $395,000-loan from the Yukon government that was forgiven last month. Bourassa replied, 'We're not going to loan them half a million dollars.'

He pointed it out it 'behooves' societies running facilities to make sure they know how the finances work.

Earlier in the meeting, Rumsey and another board member, Karen Lammers, were questioned by council members about the hill's finances.

Lammers noted the loan the government has forgiven doesn't mean Sima's books are balanced.

There were some years the hill wasn't able to make a payment on the loan, she said. Though it was factored into the budget, it didn't always get paid.

'I heard some very disturbing comments from Mr. Rumsey and Miss (Karen) Lammers tonight,' Bourassa said. 'They basically said that they have no idea how their finances work.'

The budget is set to come back to council on Jan. 26.

'Council will now have to go away and consider what they've heard here tonight, and at the next (regular) council meeting, we're going to have to make some tough decisions,' Bourassa said.