Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris has always had an amazing ability to quickly recover from significant injuries. His comeback from a near-fatal crash in the B.C. backcountry earlier this year is just the latest example.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 feeling really, really good,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔or what happened, IB次元官网网址檓 doing way better than I thought IB次元官网网址檇 be doing at this point in time.B次元官网网址�
McMorris suffered breaks to his jaw and left arm, a ruptured spleen, a stable pelvic fracture, rib fractures and a collapsed left lung when he crashed off a jump on March 25. He was airlifted from Whistler to Vancouver and underwent emergency surgery to control bleeding and repair his jaw and arm.
B次元官网网址淲hen you get injured usually itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址極h man IB次元官网网址檓 so bummed, but I canB次元官网网址檛 wait until the next time I can snowboard,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� McMorris said. B次元官网网址淭his time I was like, B次元官网网址業 canB次元官网网址檛 wait until the next time I can move again or like 芒鈧珺次元官网网址� live.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hat (crash) was just gnarly.B次元官网网址�
The Regina native called it a B次元官网网址渉uge freak accident,B次元官网网址� adding his snowboardB次元官网网址檚 edge unexpectedly dug in on the soft snow. He couldnB次元官网网址檛 stop himself from drifting too far left and into the tree.
B次元官网网址淚 just whacked it out of mid-air,B次元官网网址� McMorris said. B次元官网网址淚t was not a small tree and (it didnB次元官网网址檛 have) branches on it. I hit it all on my left side. I did a front-side 360 and as I turned around it was just like right there. And then it was just B次元官网网址� boom. I broke everything, like 16 bones or something in one hit. ThatB次元官网网址檚 like a car crash.B次元官网网址�
The 2014 Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist was with his older brother Craig, also an elite snowboarder, and credits him for taking charge of the situation.
McMorris was out cold for about 45 seconds. When he regained consciousness, his mind was racing.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檇 ever snowboard again when I was laying there after I hit that tree,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was awake and was waiting. As soon as the helicopter got there (90 minutes later) I went to sleep. I remember the whole time waiting, just trying to survive because (I) ruptured (my) spleen and all that and my jaw was just hanging. I was puking. I thought I was going to die 芒鈧珺次元官网网址� literally.B次元官网网址�
After spending 10 days in hospital, McMorris was quite limited physically for about a month. He started the rehabilitation process in the Vancouver area and currently spends at least 2-3 hours per day on a B次元官网网址渉eavyB次元官网网址� gym routine and hydrotherapy work.
McMorris, 23, was on a liquid diet for six weeks B次元官网网址� mostly smoothies and soup B次元官网网址� and has put back on most of the weight and muscle he lost over the spring.
B次元官网网址淚t hurts so bad and I hate it every time,B次元官网网址� he said of the rehab sessions. B次元官网网址淏ut when I leave IB次元官网网址檓 so happy. IB次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址極K thatB次元官网网址檚 one step closer to doing what I actually love and what brings me ultimate joy.B次元官网网址� Also it brings me everything IB次元官网网址檝e been able to experience in life.
B次元官网网址淚t all comes from snowboarding and maybe being who I am. But I am who I am because of snowboarding at the end of the day.B次元官网网址�
There is no firm timeline in place for a return to the slopes. HeB次元官网网址檚 tentatively looking at the fall but doesnB次元官网网址檛 need to rush back for Olympic qualifications as he has a provisional spot on the team for the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Games.
McMorris, who sat down for a rare extended interview this week while in town for promotional work with Cheerios, said he has been buoyed by the tremendous support he has received from fans around the world.
B次元官网网址淭he energy from everybody motivates you to heal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淟aying in the hospital and getting seven zillion texts a day or emails or Instagram (messages) or whatever. It was like, B次元官网网址極K these people believe I can do it, for sure I can do it.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
McMorris broke a rib just 11 days before the 2014 Games and suffered a broken left femur last year. In both instances, he was back competing earlier than expected.
He earned World Cup Crystal Globes last season in the new Olympic discipline of Big Air and as the overall champion. If his rehab and recovery continue as planned, McMorris will likely be a medal favourite in both Big Air and slopestyle competitions in South Korea.
B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 be average,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 need to be like a super-human again. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檝e been working towards.B次元官网网址�
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
