Don McMorris beaming with pride at son’s podium joy

The Olympic experience is different for the McMorris family this time around.

Usually members of the family are at the bottom of the slope filled with nerves as Canadian snowboarding star Mark McMorris aims for medal glory.

But with COVID-19 impacting world travel, Mark’s parents, Don and Cindy, were huddled around the TV with friends late into Sunday night as Mark took bronze in the men’s slopestyle competition at the Beijing Games.

“We are not there in person, which is very, very difficult, but that’s the new reality,” Don said the morning after. “But we’re very proud. He rode the way he wanted to. (We) wished the results could have been a little higher, but (it’s) pretty darn good to be on the podium.

“Him being there, then qualifying, that was the biggest pressure point. You know, he rode well. That last ride was the best he could give and then it is up to the judges. I think he is satisfied because he knows that was his best run and we knew. I may not agree with the judges, but that is Olympic sport.”

Mark was fifth among 12 competitors after the first of three runs Sunday. The Regina product moved up to fourth after the second run and wound up third behind teammate Max Parrot and China’s Yiming Su after the third and final round.

McMorris has had his fair shares of battles in his journey to the podium.

He broke a rib before the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and then suffered near-fatal injuries prior to the Olympics in Pyeongchang. He still won bronze in slopestyle in each of those Olympics.

The run to these Games, even with the uncertainty over COVID, was better.

“This was four years of being healthy, for the most part,” Don said. “When he was going into the Games, he was strong mentally physically and mentally. That showed in his riding. He literally had his best run ever.

“The judges all thought it was the third place (but) we all thought it was first place.”

And a proud dad says he never tires of seeing his son achieve what he has been able to do, despite coming from the famous flat prairies.

“He is very happy just to represent Canada and just prove himself over and over again,” Don said. “I’m sure he is a little disappointed but as one person texted me, how can you be negative about an Olympic medal? Not many people get them, let alone three of them.”

And even though his parents weren’t alongside Mark for the journey this time around, it is never less tense to watch him soar feet into the air.

“It is so nerve-wracking to watch and it really comes from two different perspectives,” Don said. “Cindy is worried about him getting hurt and I’m worried that he doesn’t win. And as all parents do, we are no different than anyone else, we want him to accomplish his dreams.”

Mark has another chance at a medal when he competes in the men’s big air competition next weekend.