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Mark McMorris

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Mark Lee McMorris
McMorris in 2016
Personal information
Full nameMark Lee McMorris
Nickname(s)Sparky,[1] McLovin',[2] McRib[3] The Closer[4]
Born (1993-12-09) December 9, 1993 (age 31)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
AgentFramework[5]
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[6]
Weight72 kg (159 lb)[6]
Websitewww.markmcmorris.com
Sport
CountryCanada
SportSnowboarding
Events
  • Big Air
  • Slopestyle
Turned pro2010
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Sochi Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Pyeongchang Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing Slopestyle
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Aspen Big air
Silver medal – second place 2013 Stoneham Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2019 Utah Slopestyle
Winter X Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 Aspen Big air
Gold medal – first place 2012 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2013 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2015 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2015 Aspen Big air
Gold medal – first place 2016 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2017 Norway Big air
Gold medal – first place 2019 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2020 Hafjell Big air
Gold medal – first place 2022 Aspen Slopestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Aspen Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2011 Aspen Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2013 Aspen Big air
Silver medal – second place 2013 Tignes Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2014 Aspen Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2016 Aspen Big air
Silver medal – second place 2019 Aspen Big air
Silver medal – second place 2020 Aspen Big air
Silver medal – second place 2020 Hafjell Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Aspen Big air
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Aspen Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Aspen Slopestyle

Mark Lee McMorris (born December 9, 1993) is a Canadian professional snowboarder who specializes in slopestyle and big air events. A three-time Olympic bronze medallist, he placed third in each of the 2014 Winter Olympics, 2018 Winter Olympics, and 2022 Winter Olympics in the slopestyle event. While filming for Transworld Snowboarding's "Park Sessions" video in March 2011, Mark became the first person to land a Backside Triple Cork 1440. More recently, on April 28, 2018, Mark landed the world's first Double Cork off a rail, the Front-Board Double Cork 1170, with a melancholy grab. Mark McMorris has won a record-setting 22 X Games medals,[8] In 2012 and 2013, Mark won back-to-back gold medals in Winter X Games in the slopestyle event.[9] In 2023 he defended his Winter X Games gold medal in the men's slopestyle to set a record for the most Winter X Games medals with 22.[10]

He has also appeared in many videos for Transworld Snowboarding, Burton, Red Bull, CBC,SUBWAY, and Shredbots.

Career

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Early career

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McMorris at a FIS World Cup event in Quebec City.

McMorris competed at his first FIS Snowboard World Cup during the 2009–2010 season, placing eighth in the big air event in Quebec City.[11] He followed up with a World Cup victory in slopestyle in Calgary.[12] At the Winter X Games XV in Aspen, Colorado, he won a silver medal in the slopestyle competition finishing behind fellow Canadian Sebastien Toutant.[13] He won gold at the 2011 World Snowboard Tour's Air & Style competition beating out Peetu Piiroinen, Werner Stock, and Nils Arvidsson in the final.[14] In 2012, McMorris won double gold at Winter X Games XVI. McMorris won gold in the big air event and the Slopestyle event. It was the first double gold at Winter X Games since Shaun White had in 2009.[15]

2014 X-Games & Olympics

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Mark McMorris has won a record-setting 22 X Games medals, four US Open Championships, and three Olympic medals.[8]

In the 2014 Winter X Games, McMorris placed 2nd behind fellow Canadian Max Parrot in the Slopestyle event. McMorris' hopes of a 3rd consecutive gold medal were dashed when he tripped on the rails, crashed, and fractured a rib during the 3rd and final run of the event. Despite the injury, McMorris still competed in the Winter Olympics in Sochi.[16] As McMorris arrived in Sochi, he said he felt remarkably good, stating, "The amount of progress I've made since I broke my rib on Saturday has been unexplainable. I didn't believe I could be on this path, going this fast. At the same time, walking around an airport is different than going snowboarding and taking impact."

At the Olympics, McMorris fell on his first qualifying run and failed to make it through directly to the final with his score on his second run. In the semi-finals, he put up one of the top four scores to qualify for the final. There, he again fell on his first attempt. McMorris' second run was good enough to put him on the podium and win bronze. It was a tough couple of weeks for McMorris with his injury and a flood of different emotions. He said that "To get on the podium is just a dream come true. I can't explain this. I've just been through a roller coaster over these last few weeks."[17]

Injuries

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In February 2016, McMorris broke his right femur at Shaun White's Air + Style Big Air in Los Angeles. He attempted to do a frontside triple cork 1440, but in his landing, his toe edge was caught, which caused him to flip and break his femur. He had a long recovery, starting at Fortius Sport & Health in Vancouver. He was back snowboarding in July 2016 in Australia with some friends. A series of four episodes following his recovery was produced by X Games and aired in October 2016.[18]

2018 Winter Olympics

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In 2017, McMorris went boarding in the backcountry at Whistler, British Columbia with some friends in late March 2017. He hit a tree and suffered serious, near-fatal injuries, and was in the ICU in Vancouver.[19] His brother, Craig McMorris, spoke to The National shortly after the accident and described what had happened: "There was a fog [...] coming in and out, and Mark, unfortunately, drifted a little bit too far left, [...] we're hitting a feature, and he goes a little too far left and ends up in a clump of trees."[20] McMorris suffered a fractured jaw, a fractured left arm, a ruptured spleen, a pelvic fracture, rib fractures and a collapsed left lung. He underwent two successful surgeries.

McMorris returned to snowboard competition and competed for Team Canada during the 2018 Winter Olympics, only eleven months after his accident. He placed third in Men's Slopestyle behind fellow Canadian Max Parrot and the American gold medalist Red Gerard, earning his second consecutive Olympic bronze medal.[21] Following his long journey from injuries to a return to the podium, McMorris said that "Canada definitely had my back 100 percent, and I felt that. It was definitely motivating, and it gave me a little extra boost and energy to do my very best, and it feels really good when you end up doing well. I’m feeling really honoured to be on the podium again."[22]

2022 Winter Olympics and 2023 X-Games

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McMorris was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team in Beijing.[23][24][25] On February 7, 2022, McMorris won a bronze medal in the slopestyle event, at the 2022 Winter Olympics, his third consecutive in the event.[26][27]

At the 2023 Winter X Games McMorris defended his gold medal in the men's slopestyle to set a record for the most Winter X Games medals with 22, breaking a tie with Jamie Anderson of the United States.[10]

Personal life

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McMorris was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and is the son of Saskatchewan provincial politician Don McMorris, a grain farmer, and Cindy McMorris, a nurse.[9][28] His older brother, Craig McMorris, is also a professional snowboarder.[29] McMorris attended Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School.[30] McMorris also competed in wakeboarding before devoting himself to snowboarding. He is dating Connor McDavid’s wife’s best friend, Liv Hall and was photographed at their 2024 nuptials. He has several tattoos, including one of sheaves of wheat representing the province of Saskatchewan.[28] In 2006, when Mark was only 12, he rode his wakeboard around Lake Wascana pulled behind a dragon boat for 3.5 km in attempt to set a Guinness World Record.[31] He was asked to take part after an event in Regina.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Snowboarder (2015). "2016 #1 Men's Rider of the Year Mark McMorris". Snowboarder.
  2. ^ Dean, Josh (January 31, 2013). "The Next Shaun White?". Rolling Stone. No. 1175. p. 24.
  3. ^ DiManno, Rosie (February 8, 2014). "Canadian Olympian Mark McMorris finds bronze mixed blessing". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Travis Persaud (2018). "Go behind the scenes of Mark McMorris's double cork 1170". Red Bull.
  5. ^ "Mark McMorris". Framework. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Profile". Canadian Olympic Committee. December 27, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  7. ^ "Mark McMorris Profile – Bio". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Meet Mark McMorris, the most decorated athlete in snowboard history". Red Bull. February 3, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Regina snowboarder wows fans with trick". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 8, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Mark McMorris breaks record for most Winter X Games medals with slopestyle gold". CBC Sports. January 29, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "Korpi caps gold weekend at World Cup". Postmedia News. January 24, 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Meyers, Sean (January 30, 2010). "McMorris wins slopestyle gold". Postmedia News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024.
  13. ^ MacDonald, Nancy (November 1, 2011). "Canada's queen of the slopes". Maclean's.
  14. ^ Larsen, Melissa (February 7, 2011). "TTR 6 Star Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck won by second-place Winter X slopestyle winner Mark McMorris". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011.
  15. ^ Mesley, Wendy (January 29, 2012). "A Canadian athlete struck double gold at the Winter X Games in Colorado". The National. ProQuest 918653451.
  16. ^ "Mark McMorris faces uphill battle to recover in time for Olympics". CBC Sports. January 27, 2014.
  17. ^ Kate Petterson (February 8, 2014). "Mark McMorris wins bronze in slopestyle snowboarding". CBC Sports.
  18. ^ X Games (November 8, 2016). "The Process". X Games. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016.
  19. ^ TransWorld SNOWboarding (April 3, 2017). "Mark McMorris Backcountry Injury : UPDATE". TransWorld SNOWboarding.
  20. ^ CBC Television (March 27, 2017). "Mark McMorris suffers serious crash". The National (CBC).
  21. ^ "America gets 1st gold medal of 2018 Olympics thanks to 17-year-old Red Gerard". SBNation.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  22. ^ Ben Cousins (February 11, 2018). "'Canada had my back': Mark McMorris on his journey from hospital bed to podium". CTV News. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  23. ^ Nichols, Paula (January 19, 2022). "19 snowboarders nominated to Team Canada for Beijing 2022". www.olympic.ca/. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  24. ^ Dichter, Myles (January 19, 2022). "'Strongest team in all of snowboarding': Canadian squad named for Beijing Olympics". www.cbc.ca/. CBC Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  25. ^ "Toutant, McMorris, Parrot, Blouin return as Canada's Olympic snowboard team announced". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  26. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (February 7, 2022). "Canada's Max Parrot claims Olympic gold, Mark McMorris gets bronze in snowboard slopestyle". National Post. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  27. ^ Dichter, Myles (February 7, 2022). "Snowboarder Max Parrot soars to Canada's 1st gold medal at Beijing Olympics, McMorris adds bronze". www.cbc.ca/. CBC Sports. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Branch, John (September 15, 2013). "'Like a Hurricane in the Air': Mark McMorris, Olympic Snowboarding Gold Contender". The New York Times. pp. SP1. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  29. ^ "Feature Footy: Mark and Craig McMorris". Snowboard Canada. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  30. ^ "LeBoldus Student is snowboard World Cup winner" (PDF). Regina Catholic School Division Director's Communiqué (16). Regina Catholic School Division: 5. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  31. ^ a b Polischuk, Heather (September 2, 2006). "Festival Begins with a Roar". Regina Leader-Post.
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