Mark McMorris’ Resilience in Livigno
In Livigno, Italy, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris has proven his resilience as he competes for a chance to secure a fourth Olympic medal in slopestyle. On Sunday, despite initial concerns over an injury sustained earlier during the big air qualifiers, McMorris finished impressively in third place out of 29 competitors. His performance has secured him a spot in the upcoming final, which is currently slated for Wednesday, where he will be accompanied by fellow athletes Red Gerard, the 2018 champion, and Su Yiming, who won silver in 2022.
Intense Competition Ahead
The intense competition is shaping up to be stellar, featuring renowned snowboarders like eight-time X Games victor Marcus Kleveland, rising star 17-year-old American Ollie Martin, and top-rounded qualifier Dane Menzies from New Zealand, a nation rapidly making its mark in action sports. However, the spotlight largely remains on McMorris and the unexpected alterations to the schedule that shook up the qualifiers.
Challenges and Adaptations
At 32 years old, McMorris, a seasoned competitor with three Olympic bronze medals under his belt, faced a setback after a significant fall in the qualifiers earlier this month. Fortunately, he has been cleared to compete and was initially set to begin on Monday. However, due to an impending storm, organizers advanced the schedule, making last-minute changes that disrupted training for all athletes. Commenting on the adjustment, McMorris reflected,
“It made for a better level of riding. But I was in the mindset of where, like, as many days as I can have, the better.”
Despite the rushed circumstances, McMorris was able to dive right into action, executing a series of complex maneuvers including a 1620-degree spin, a triple cork, and a 1440-degree spin, which ultimately secured him a spot in the top three. On the other hand, Gerard faced his own challenges; after an unsteady start on his first run and a shaky landing on his second, he managed to execute difficult tricks but still found himself receiving a score of 70, placing him in 11th and sweating through the qualifiers.
Gerard expressed dissatisfaction with prior judging errors he experienced at the last Olympics that prevented him from reaching the podium, and indicated that he would reevaluate his submissions for the final, particularly the upper section of the course, based on the judges’ reactions.
Uncertain Conditions Ahead
However, as the final approaches, the looming storm clouds bring uncertainty about what competition conditions may develop. Known as the snowboarding event most affected by inclement weather, slopestyle riders must be prepared to adapt to potentially sudden changes.
Menzies recounted how he learned of the qualifier shift while stretching in the sauna, pushing him to promptly prepare for his runs. With the storm on the horizon and the final set to unfold, riders will have to stay alert and make swift adjustments in this unpredictable environment.
