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Mark McMorris braves
rib injury for bronze

Brady Stark
Contributor

anada’s Mark McMorris snowboarded

his way into the countries’ hearts
with his gutsy performance in the Men’s
Snowboard Slopestyle competition at the
Sochi games. One week before the Olympic
games, McMorris was competing at the
2014 Winter X-Games in Aspen, Colorado.
A medal favourite in the competition,
McMorris had two solid runs that saw him
take second spot going into the final run
of the day. Fellow Canadian Max Parrot
was sitting in the first place spot. Seen as
the best in the world for the slopestyle
discipline, McMorris wanted to capture
first place in order to ride a hot streak
going into the Olympics. The start of his
last run went like clockwork, as he executed
the first two rail sections with ease, but
then disaster struck. McMorris jumped
awkwardly onto the last rail before heading
onto the jump portion of the course. His
body crashed against the rail with such
force that fans and onlookers instantly
knew something was very wrong. Not only
were people worried for his safety but also
for his Olympic hopes. The next day, the
snowboarding world was holding their
breath, waiting to find out the extent of
McMorris’ injuries. McMorris’ Olympic
dreams were in jeopardy when he found
out that he had broken a rib. That’s when
his Olympic story truly began. Going
against doctors’ orders, McMorris vowed he
would compete for his country at the Sochi
games.

Upon arriving at the games, he exclaimed
to the media and his fans that his ribs were
healing better than expected and that he
would once again be a threat for a gold
medal. Having his sport make its debut in
the Olympics was motivation enough for
him to brave the course of Rosa Khotar
Extreme Park. There are three rounds that
the boarders have to go through in order
to have a chance at a medal: qualification,

semifinal and final. Mark McMorris stood
at the starting gate looking as poised as
ever to show why he is considered the best
in the world at what he does, but then
disaster struck again as he fell trying to
complete the last jump. One could see on
his face that all was not well with his body
as every breath looked as though it was a
struggle. Unfortunately, the fall that he had
endured cost him the chance to advance
straight to the finals, but his Olympic medal
hopes were still alive. In the semifinals,
Mark McMorris showed the world what

he was made of and put up one of the top
scores, an 89.25, to advance to the final

day of snowboard slopestyle. The rest of
the field was on notice as the number one
ranked slopestyle boarder was poised to
make Olympic history as the first Olympic
champion in his field. Again, looking calm,
cool, and collected at the starting gates,
McMorris boarded his first two runs like
magic as his height and trick tops garnered
him second place going into the last run of
his Olympic games. In slopestyle, the best
score of three runs is the score that counts.
Seeing that Sage Kotsenburg of the United
States and Staale Sandbech of Norway had
pushed him down to third in the standing,
Mark McMorris put his bravery to the
ultimate test. He started his last run with
some great technical rails and then went
onto the massive jumps that Rosa Khotar

is now well known for, but then his gold
medal dreams evaporated in one fateful
moment as he tried a trick that had not
been attempted before, but ended up falling
on his back and unable to complete the run.
Mark McMorris captured the Bronze medal
and Canada’s first medal of the games. The
bronze medal might as well be gold around
his neck as every Canadian that followed
his journey for the past few weeks knew the
pressure and the pain that he was under.

At such a young age, Mark McMorris is a
shining example of how the Olympics can
bring out the best in people no matter the
obstacles that are in their way.

One Last Shot for
Winter Sports

Laura Mooney
Arts Editor | ote-arts@unbc.ca

lowly but surely the cold weather is

giving way and the once towering snow
piles are diminishing day by day, but that
does not mean that there is not one last
opportunity to experience the best that

Prince George has to offer for winter sports.

No matter your preference, our fair city
does have an extensive range of upcoming
winter events for everybody no matter how
wild or tame your favourite snowy pastime
may be.

For those of you who love to combine
cross-country skiing with a little something
sweet, then the Caledonia Nordic Cross
Country Ski Club's upcoming event is for
you. On 28 February 2014, for the first time
the ski club will be hosting what they are
calling a “Chocolate Race” at their Otway
Road location. The event will consist of,
naturally a cross- country race, followed

by a chili dinner and of course, chocolate!
All participants will be treated to the sweet
surprise at the celebratory dinner, and

if this was not enticing enough it is also

an excellent way to enjoy the beautifully
groomed trails we have right here in Prince
George one last time before the season is
complete. So make sure this is an event you
mark on your calendars.

If you have a bit of a wild streak and are not
afraid to strut your stuff, in a sense, then
experience the brisk winter air one last

time by joining in on the fun at the UNBC
Underwear Run. The three-kilometer run
around UNBC and the
surrounding area
will

feature runners stripped down to

their undergarments, (well, maybe
undergarments over a pair of long johns)
all to support and raise money for “below
the belt cancers.” This is the first year that
UNBC will be hosting the event in hopes to
raise as much money as possible. So if you
happen to love running, love good causes,
and want to get out into the snow for a fun
winter marathon, then grab your briefs and
get out there!

Finally, if ice skating is more up your alley,
and you want to not only experience some
great national talent as well as do some
skating yourself, then come out to the
Canadian National Championships: Short
Track Speed Skating. From 14 March to

16 March 2014, Prince George will be the
host to some of the country's finest up
and coming speed skaters, who will be
duelling for the chance to race in the World
Championship in speed skating. The event
will take place at the newly renovated

Kin One near CN Centre, and will feature
skaters as young as 15, all vying for a

shot at national glory. Plus, if attending a
professional skating event inspires you to
put on a pair of skates yourself, then the
free skate time at Kin One is the perfect
way to show off your skills and dance
around on the ice one last time before the
skates are put away for the season.

So although the birds are returning and
the residents of Prince George are actually
able to see the sun again, by no means
should you count winter

out just yet. There are still

a number of great winter

events and activities for all
winter lovers to participate
in while the snow still remains
on the ground.