Prince George’s Meryeta O’Dine is heading to the Beijing Olympics as part of Canada’s snowboard cross team.
Canada Snowboard and the Canadian Olympic Committee have nominated 19 snowboarders to represent Team Canada at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
The athletes and coaches nominated are:
Halfpipe:
Brooke D’Hondt (Calgary, Alta.)
Elizabeth Hosking (Longueuil, Que.)
Derek Livingston (Aurora, Ont.)
Michael Slaughter (Arkansas, USA) – Coach
Brian Smith (Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, Que.) – Coach
Parallel Giant Slalom:
Megan Farrell (Richmond Hill, Ont.)
Arnaud Gaudet (Montcalm, Que.)
Hannes Mutschlechner (San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy) – Coach
Ingemar Walder (Innervillgraten, Austria) – Coach
Slopestyle / Big Air:
Jasmine Baird (Georgetown, Ont.)
Laurie Blouin (Québec City, Que.)
Brooke Voigt (Fort McMurray, Alta.)
Mark McMorris (Regina, Sask.)
Max Parrot (Bromont, Que.)
Darcy Sharpe (Comox, B.C.)
Sébastien Toutant (L’Assomption, Que.)
Adam Burwell (Regina, Sask.) – Coach
Elliot Catton (Collingwood, Ont.) – Coach
Jeremy Sheppard (Pemberton, B.C.) – Coach
Chris Witwicki (Calgary, Alta.) – Coach
Snowboard Cross:
Zoe Bergermann (Erin, Ont.)
Tess Critchlow (Big White, B.C.)
Meryeta O’Dine (Prince George, B.C.)
Audrey McManiman (St-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Que.)
Eliot Grondin (Sainte-Marie, Que.)
Kevin Hill (Vernon, B.C.)
Liam Moffatt (Truro, N.S.)
Maëlle Ricker (Vancouver, B.C.) – Coach
Jake Holden (Halton Hills, Ont.) – Coach
Chris Robanske (Calgary, Alta.) – Coach
The 19 riders qualified for Team Canada based on their performances across the Olympic Qualification window.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to the qualification series of World Cups and other major events. Some disciplines were forced to extend their international qualification window due to a large number of event cancellations whereas other disciplines remained as per usual.
“It doesn’t feel real yet,” said Brooke D’Hondt, who will make her Olympic debut. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and couldn’t be more excited to represent my country in Beijing!”
Max Parrot had pre-qualified for the slopestyle/big air team based on his results from the 2020-21 winter season. The remainder of the men’s slopestyle/big air team battled for the last three spots within a group that could have had a number of additional podium contenders.
The Canadian slopestyle/big air team is one of the most formidable on the planet. Within the selection window, every single athlete was on the podium at a World Cup or X Games at least once.
“It’s definitely been a tricky qualification process. In years past, I had already qualified the year prior but then ran into some hiccups with injuries. And then this one, it’s been a lot of COVID issues and missed events, cancelled events. I’ve had some ups and downs this season, but I came through earlier in the year and was able to lock up my spot on the team. It feels good, battling the adversity as per usual.” – Mark McMorris
“I’m really happy, it seems like 2018 was yesterday and now it’s crazy that we’re already looking ahead to the next Olympics,” added Laurie Blouin. “I’m really happy to be able to ride, to have fun, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
Beyond podiums, the entire team has shown their potential, with all 19 athletes listed having hit a top-10 or better result in a World Cup or major international event.