Five years ago, Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner wasnB次元官网网址檛 expecting that one day heB次元官网网址檇 be in a training camp getting ready to go to the Paralympic Games.
Turner has always been active in action sports B次元官网网址� skydiving, surfing and he has been a snowboarder his whole life. Five years ago things changed. Back in 2017, Turner was recovering from a sky diving accident and doctors had to remove his right leg.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost five years now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淩ight off the bat I wasnB次元官网网址檛 super motivated to compete in the Paralympics.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 think I was going to be able to snowboard, so I thought if I was going to be going to the Paralympics it would have to be in a wheelchair and wheelchair sports, which I really enjoyed and were really fun, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 snowboarding.B次元官网网址�
Turner was an avid snowboarder before his accident and transitioning to para snowboarding was not as difficult as he thought it could be. He is able to snowboard with the use of prosthetics, and had to relearn how to ride through adapted boards, boots and bindings. Most of TurnerB次元官网网址檚 learning curve was more about learning how to live as an active double amputee.
B次元官网网址淚t was just a matter of managing the pain and skin problems. Once I was able to learn how to be an active amputee and manage the adversity that comes with thatB次元官网网址� the snowboarding part I know what to do, IB次元官网网址檝e done it my whole life. I just had to adapt it a little bit,B次元官网网址� he said.
He has been working with a Comox Valley-based board building company, Kindred Custom Snowboards and Skis, through his journey. Finding adaptations for his gear was important for getting comfortable on the board again, and heB次元官网网址檚 been working to get onto more standard gear. Another bonus is being able to get new gear on quick turn around when it gets damaged.
B次元官网网址淚 broke a board in the world cup over the weekend and Evan (Fair from Kindred) was on it the next day,B次元官网网址� Turner said. B次元官网网址淗e put a board together and actually just put it in the mail today. IB次元官网网址檒l be able to break it in and ride it here in training before Beijing. You just donB次元官网网址檛 get that kind of service anywhere.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪nowboarding has always been my number one thing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was my job, my career, my passion, itB次元官网网址檚 been everything for me. Once I realized I was going to be able to snowboard B次元官网网址� I had my second leg amputated (in 2018), which gave me the opportunity to snowboard again B次元官网网址� it really became a big goal. ItB次元官网网址檚 been the last three years that IB次元官网网址檝e been pursuing that.B次元官网网址�
At the end of last yearB次元官网网址檚 snowboarding season, Turner started competing on the world cup circuit, and since then he has amassed enough points to make him one of the top athletes in his field. Last week he was awarded the para snowboard cross Crystal Globe, which goes to the top points earner in the season. That puts him in a prime position for the Paralympics, which start in Beijing next month.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty happy with how IB次元官网网址檓 sitting right now, and I feel really good,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had a great season. It was a tough start, but I was able to start putting it all together at the end of the season. I just won a couple of world cups in the last week here and world championships in Norway a few weeks back was a huge one for me. I hope I can just keep the momentum going here into the one that really matters.B次元官网网址�
Five years ago, being a world class athlete about to go to his first Paralympic games would not have been on TurnerB次元官网网址檚 mind.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a wild yearB次元官网网址� the entire experience is going to be so cool. IB次元官网网址檝e never been to China, IB次元官网网址檝e never been to the Paralympics, so itB次元官网网址檒l be a wild experience,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try to take it all in, enjoy it and not put too much pressure on myself.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty rare. Not the standard path people take.B次元官网网址�
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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