All Eyes On Us
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver means people will be paying attention to Canadian snowboarding like never before. In their own words, Canada’s top halfpipe contenders talk about their feelings on the Olympics and what it’s like to be in pursuit of one the world’s most sought-after prizes.
You can feel the difference when you wave goodbye to your folks on your way to the Games. This time, unlike any other snowboard competition you’ve been in before, everyone cries. Even your dad cries. Your grandfather tells you he finally understands what this snowboarding thing has been all about. Your friends band together in support. They know, and you know, that this will be unlike any other experience you’ve had in your life.
It’s probably not a scene that would be played out with such emotion as you head to a World Cup event in Stoneham, or a Dew Tour stop in the States. Your folks are always stoked for you, but this is different. This time, the whole world is watching.
As the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver approach, Canada’s female halfpipe riders have been battling it out in snowboard competitions around the world for the opportunity to have that moment. To walk through the opening ceremony to the cheers of a hometown crowd, wearing the more-than-likely dorky team outfits that come with the territory, and best of all, to drop in for a pipe run with the entire country rooting for you.
There’s just a few short months left — and three qualifying events — until the final team lineup is decided and the Games arrive in Vancouver. We have no idea who, or even how many, of our riders will be donning bibs for those Games, only that there’s a small group of girls who have been working very hard to do so. We went to those riders — and a few international riders who will be battling for podium positions in the Cypress Mountain halfpipe — to see what they’re thinking at this critical juncture in their careers and what the Olympic Games mean to them.
On competing as a Canadian at these Games…
“What makes me the most excited about the fact that Canada is hosting the Games is that, first of all, no Canadian has ever won a gold medal on home turf. That adds so much more fire to win. It’s gotta be super exciting, to experience something that big in your own country.” — Palmer Taylor, winner of the 2008 Canadian Open women’s halfpipe contest and contender for the 2010 team.
“After Torino, I knew that Vancouver was the next stop for me since you could feel it was different for the Italians there: the support of the crowd, the media, the noise. It almost felt like a different game for them.” – Dominique Vallee, Canadian national team rider and 2006 Canadian team member in Torino, Italy.
“In Torino, I dropped in right after an Italian rider. It was insane: the grand stands just blew up. It must have been amazing for her. Now with the Games on home turf, I’m pretty pumped to have the chance at that feeling myself.” – Sarah Conrad, Canadian national team rider and 2006 Canadian team member in Torino, Italy.
“I didn’t know till I went to the last Games that the home team enters last at the opening ceremonies. So I can’t wait for that feeling. I think there are going to be so many Canadians showing their pride, flags flowing everywhere, crowds yelling at the top of their lungs, I can’t wait to see that!” — Mercedes Nicoll, Canadian national team rider and 2006 Canadian team member in Torino, Italy.
“It is amazing when your country hosts the Olympic Games, let alone to do well at them. I won the first gold medal for the US in Salt Lake City, and it was an honour.” – Kelly Clark, winner of the gold medal in the women’s halfipe at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
On Vancouver as host city…
“I think Vancouver having the games will be amazing! There is such a great atmosphere there to start with, just imagine the energy while the games are on!” — Torah Bright, member of the Australian national team and 2006 Olympic halfpipe competitor.
“I’m looking forward to ride in a sick pipe with a bunch of awesome riders and wearing the funny national outfits we get!” – Kjersti Buaas, silver medal winner in halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
“Having the exposure for sport in Vancouver, and Canada, is so cool. I hope that the country will get behind the Games and follow the celebrations into the future. Getting the facilities and programs to get people outside and active is priceless.” — Maelle Ricker, two-time Olympian, currently in qualificiation for the 2010 Canadian boardercross team.
On what snowboarding brings to the Olympics…
“I think that snowboarding has brought a fresh face and a fun attitude to the Olympics. Despite so much being on the line, snowboarders still know how to have, find, and make a good time. That’s not to say that the other athletes don’t, not by any means, but snowboarders just do it different sometimes. The same way we see potential jibs, jumps, or places to ride in what looks like a soccer post, shed roof or drainage ditch to non-shredders, we make fun happen wherever we are.” — Tara Teigen, member of 1998 Olympic women’s halfpipe team and television commentator for snowboarding at the 2010 Games.
“I think snowboarders are a bit more supportive to their competitors then in other sports. When we are riding a contest, it’s almost always good vibes, and we are cheering each other on — I think other sports can learn a lot from this. So, now that I have claimed it: everybody, smile, have fun and do your run!” -- Kjersti Buaas
“Having snowboarding as an Olympic sport made the Olympics more relatable. Not everyone goes bobsledding on the weekends, but a lot of people go snowboarding. It is fun to watch sports you are passionate about.” — Kelly Clark
On the topic of fun, the amount of times the media will bring up the Ross Rebagliati incident…
“I imagine it will be as many as however many interviews take place… just an educated guess.” — Alex Duckworth
“They already do and they always will. This story will stay with Canadian snowboarding till the end of time. But in a way, it really put Olympic snowboarding on world map, especially for us Canadians. You just always have to be ready to answer correctly when the mainstream media asks you this stupid question.” — Dominique Vallee
“I think it will continue to be brought up, because whether it was a performance enhancer or inhibitor, it doesn’t change the fact that it is an illegal drug and Olympic athletes should not expose themselves to it.” — Kiersten Higgenson.
On the influence the Olympics has on progression in the pipe…
“When there are medals up for grabs, people get hungry. Before Torino and even right now I’m noticing riders that do a bit of everything start to focus more on pipe to make their team. When you have so many people wanting the same few spots its going to be a battle and progress the sport for sure.” – Sarah Conrad
“I think it pushes halfpipe riders to be better then good, and to be better then great. It pushes us to wanna be on top of the world, which is what you can achieve through winning the Olympics.” — Hannah Teter, winner of the gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino
“Big time. I wasn’t there, but I watched the Torino Games on TV, and compared to other contest riding I’d seen that year, those girls were going huge.” – Alex Duckworth, contender for the 2010 Canadian women’s halfpipe team.
“Personally, I can go both ways. Yes it helps with progression because you know you’re competing with the best, and you want to step up your game so they know to watch out for you. But also you gotta have your tricks dialled down so that you can jump right into your run and land all your tricks.” — Palmer Taylor
And what that progression will mean in 2010…
“I think the girls are going to pull through this year with some pretty impressive combos. Watch out for team China. Yikes.” — Alex Duckworth
“Who knows, I would not count out seeing some 1080s! But soon enough we’ll all see!” — Torah Bright
“Front 900s, back to back 720s, Switch Back 540s and big air.” -- Palmer Taylor
“Tricks that we’ll see in the top-three will include Front 9s, inverts (the usual McTwists and Cripplers), and hopefully some Front 10s and Cab 7s done with style, grabs and amplitude. I would be stoked to see some head-high Back or Switch 9s and Back 7s too!” — Tara Teigen
“I think it will be a good show for sure. Lots of 9s, some 10s, a lot more switch tricks than before, and hopefully, more inverts.” — Sarah Conrad
“Lots of switch tricks and more inverts, styly and big, just like guys do.” — Dominique Vallee
“I think the hype trick for Vancouver will be the Canadian Tornado! Nobody even knows what that is yet, but I heard it’s tricky!” — Kjerstii Buaas
On what the Olympics mean to a snowboarding career…
“I think competing in the Olympics opens the door for an athlete to go beyond the limits of the snowboard world. This means they will get more opportunity to work with corporate sponsors outside of the industry, as well as receive national or international fame.” – Natasza Zurek, member of the 1998 Canadian women’s halfpipe team.
“To some people it’s not that big of a deal, it’s just another contest. I don’t think some people realize how hard it is to get there. But to others, it’s huge! So for a career in snowboarding if you do well, you’re stoked! If not, it’s just another contest.” — Mercedes Nicoll
“Competing at the Olympics is good for your career at all levels. Corporate sponsors are more interested in sponsoring Olympics riders since you get more media attention from all levels, and the people that don’t know much about snowboarding actually hear about you. My 93-year-old grand-father never understood what I did till I went to the Olympics in Torino.” — Dominique Vallee
“It’s a facet of riding that can create so much opportunity. You get to travel the world and compete while making friends. It’s an extra bonus to get the chance to compete at the Olympics in your home country… for some of us right, right in our backyard.” — Maelle Ricker
“At least 100 million people watch the Olympics so it really is like being seen by the whole world.” — Hannah Teter
… And, with that in mind, what snowboarders think of Olympics…
“People inside snowboarding aren’t particularly focused on the Olympics. Our sport is rad for that reason–you can make a niche for yourself without having to prove yourself by going to Turino or Vancouver. It might be the only Olympic sport that has that going on.” – Alex Duckworth
“I think anyone who has tried to ride halfpipe or a bordercross course knows how much guts, effort and strength it takes just to finish the course or pipe run.” – Kiersten Higgenson, contender for the 2010 Canadian women’s halfpipe team.
“All halfpipe riders now want to go to the Olympics if they have that chance, unlike back when snowboarding first got put into the Games and riders were boycotting it. The Olympics is a very special experience unlike any other and it’s totally different being there and living it. Of course if you win or podium and play your cards right, you can be set for a long time. Most Olympic athletes train their whole lives to go to the Games and then their career, depending on how things went there, is over. With snowboarding, there is so much more to it then the Games. So you can have a great life as a rider, Olympics or not.” — Dominique Vallee
On what competing in the 2010 Olympics would mean to you…
“It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and when I started snowboarding, I knew that this was the sport that I was going to the Olympics with — there was no doubt about it.” — Dominique Vallee.
“I fell at the last Games so, making it to these would give me the chance to get some revenge. I’ve been working pretty hard this year to get there, so I want to make my hard work show.” — Mercedes Nicoll
“Personally, I think its stupid to snowboard for one contest. I think some riders put way to much pressure on themselves by just focusing on the Games. Yes, the Olympics are important to me, but there is so much more out there for us in this sport, I just don’t think its right to put all on one run. If I get a spot in Vancouver, I’m stoked, but if not, this probably isn’t the last you’ll see of me.” -- Sarah Conrad
“Competing in the Olympics has been my dream for so long and at this point it would be such a major accomplishment as I am coming back from a pretty devastating back and spinal cord injury. Right after the accident this February I wasn’t sure if I would even walk again so working towards a full recovery and a push for the Olympics is pretty amazing for me.” — Charmaine Ironside, national halfpipe team member.
–
[SIDEBAR BOX]
Snowboarding made its debut as an Olympic sport in 1998, when both snowboard racing and halfpipe were introduced as Olympic sports. It also marked a historic moment in Canadian sport, when Ross Rebagliati famously won a gold medal in snowboard racing, then infamously almost-lost it when he got snookered with a positive drug test. Yes, snowboarding had arrived, its reputation as a punk rock sport cleanly intact. These four lucky ladies were a part of that historic event, representing Canada in women’s halfpipe. Here are their favourite memories of those Games.
“I have a very vivid memory of the pipe finals during which there was a thunderstorm. It was raining quite hard and there were periodic flashes of lightning in the sky. The light quality saturating all the colours, the amount of people present, and the importance of the event made it very surreal.” — Natasza Zurek
“I would have to say one of my best memories is walking into the opening ceremonies. I cried the whole time. I have watched the Olympics since I was a little girl — I couldn’t believe I had made to the biggest sporting event ever. To be a part of it was so amazing … And also, sitting on a love seat having a beer with Wayne Gretzky! It was awesome having him ask me what sport I was competing in, and then I said snowboarding! [Laughs] I will never forget that moment!” — Lori “The Glaze” Glazer
“My favorite memory is of something that happened before we even left Canada. It’s of my parents, particularly my Dad, choked up with tears. A long, wonderful story made very short is that a lot of amazing and generous people came together and sent my parents to Japan to see me compete. They presented the trip package to my parents at my ‘surprise send-off’ and it was incredible. You have to know my Dad — he’s a bit of a softy now, but I don’t think I ever saw him cry before that day. He might make the excuse that he had double pneumonia and that the illness made him emotional, but the truth is that we were all deeply touched.” — Tara Teigen
“Walking into the stadium at the opening ceremonies. I know that sounds cheesy and a typical answer, but it’s true! Being part of that parade of athletes was something I dreamed about, even before I knew that snowboarding existed. I’d always wanted to be an Olympian.” — Maelle Ricker
-end-
