Mark McMorris Cleared for Slopestyle After Crash

McMorris ready to return to Slopestyle action

Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris gets green light to compete in Milano Cortina Games' slopestyle event after concussion.

“I had a lot of fun today. It's nice ⁠to get the hang of a course in such perfect weather...”

Mark McMorris, Canada's three-time Olympic bronze medalist in snowboarding, has been cleared to compete in the men's slopestyle event at the Milano Cortina Games. He suffered a concussion, bruising on his pelvis, and strained abdominal muscles after a crash during big air practice on Feb. 4, but is now feeling “pretty darn good” and is ready to get back on the board.

McMorris, who's 32, has battled injuries throughout his career, including a 2017 crash that left him with a broken jaw, ruptured spleen, and collapsed lung. Despite this, he's optimistic and trusts his riding abilities, saying “I just try to move forward with positivity.”

The slopestyle event is set to begin on Feb. 16, and McMorris is aiming for a fourth Olympic medal.

Mark McMorris felt “pretty darn good again” after a training run on Friday, grateful for over a week of recovery from his crash. The Canadian snowboarder is cleared to compete in the men's slopestyle event, starting Monday.

“I had a lot of fun today. It's nice ⁠to get the hang of a course in such perfect weather,” McMorris said under sunny skies in the Alpine town of Livigno. “It's easier to make ‌friends with a course when it's like this outside.”

Mark McMorris, the 32-year-old Canadian snowboarder, is set to compete in the men's slopestyle event starting Monday. He's a familiar face on the podium, having won bronze medals in this event at Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, and Beijing 2022.

Mark McMorris is bringing home an Olympic bronze medal. This was him fighting for his life just 11 months ago. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/skKTsCwfez

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) February 11, 2018

Despite his impressive track record, McMorris has faced numerous challenges, including a horrific 2017 crash that left him with a broken jaw, left arm, ruptured spleen, pelvic fracture, rib fractures, and a collapsed lung. However, he's bounced back from these setbacks, earning him a reputation as one of the most resilient athletes in the sport.