Canada’s Olympic snowboard slopestyle and big air team has been finalized with the selection of six athletes, including Mark McMorris and Laurie Blouin. Joining them on the team are Eli Bouchard, Francis Jobin, Juliette Pelchat, and Cameron Spalding.
Mark McMorris, hailing from Regina, will be participating in his fourth Olympic Games in Italy this coming February. The 32-year-old has previously claimed bronze in the men’s slopestyle event at the last three Winter Games.
Expressing his gratitude, McMorris stated, “It’s incredibly special to be representing Canada at my fourth Olympic Winter Games. Every time I get the opportunity to wear the maple leaf on the Olympic stage, it means a lot, and I’m grateful to still be competing at a level where I can do that. Being one of the veterans on the team now is something I really embrace — sharing my experience, helping guide the younger riders, and trying to set the standard both on and off the hill. It feels like a full-circle moment, and I’m proud to be part of this team.”
Laurie Blouin, from Quebec City, will be making her third Olympic appearance. The 29-year-old athlete secured silver in the women’s slopestyle at the 2018 Olympics and currently holds the seventh position in the World Snowboard points list.
Additionally, debutants in the upcoming Olympics will include Spalding, Bouchard, Jobin, and Pelchat. Spalding, a 20-year-old from Havelock, Ont., claimed the FIS Crystal Globe in snowboard slopestyle for the 2024-25 season, achieving victories at two World Cup stops. He is presently ranked seventh in the World Snowboard points list.
Unfortunately, Liam Brearley, the reigning slopestyle world champion, will not be able to compete in the upcoming Winter Games due to an injury that necessitated surgery.