Despite the fact that he took most of the season off, Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner managed to become the first Canadian to successfully defend his world championship win for para-snowboarding.
Turner is a double amputee, having lost both legs in a skydiving accident. However, he has not let that keep him down. Turner returned to his lifelong love of snowboarding and made it his goal to ride again. He managed to do much more than that, winning Paralympic gold, winning the world championships in Norway last year, among other accolades in surfing and skydiving.
After success in both the Paralympic games in Beijing last year and winning gold in the world championships, he and his girlfriend sailed down to Mexico from Campbell River over seven months. After some much-needed rest and relaxation, Turner flew home to work on a new project: new prosthetics.
B次元官网网址淢y legs have been horrible,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was in my wheelchair for the majority of the time since last summer. My legs have been fitting poorly. IB次元官网网址檝e had some issues and some minor procedures down in Mexico and itB次元官网网址檚 been a bit of a journey.B次元官网网址�
That being said, he was ready for competition at the La Molina resort in Spain. All Canada Snowboard had in mind for Turner was for him to try and get on a podium. However, Turner said he has B次元官网网址渁 switch that flips. So as soon as it was race time, ItB次元官网网址檚 like B次元官网网址榮crew the podium. LetB次元官网网址檚 try and win this thing.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
And he did win this thing.
Turner placed first in the big final for the snowboard cross event on March 11, successfully defending his world championship title. He also came fourth in the dual banked slalom event. He also managed to do it on brand new legs. After Mexico, Turner worked with a Vancouver-based prosthetist Ricky Chu, as well as BioDapt, a company that manufactures foot and leg prosthetics for athletes. The new prosthetics include improved leg cups, a better attachment system and a foot system that incorporates a mountain bike shock.
B次元官网网址淢ike Schultz B次元官网网址� who got second in at the World Championships last year B次元官网网址� he invented the foot that I use. So he designed it in his farm shop and then, you know got a patent for it and started this company.
B次元官网网址淓ssentially that foot has changed para-snowboarding,B次元官网网址� Turner said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 training with the able-bodied team. I canB次元官网网址檛 beat them, but I can hang with them and it feels really good.B次元官网网址�
An added bonus of the foot is that whenever Turner needs to repair the shock, he can take it to any bike shop.
B次元官网网址淚 had to get the seals rebuilt this year and itB次元官网网址檚 sweet just get into a bike shop get them get them booked in for service,B次元官网网址� Turner said.
While Turner only had the one weekend of competition this year, he is looking forward to some other non-competition activities over the next few months.
B次元官网网址淥ne of my big things since Beijing has been to try and get some more people in sport some younger people in the sport and do my best to mentor them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got some really great young kids that are interested, and actually another guy from the Island B次元官网网址� from Port Alberni.
B次元官网网址淗opefully we can show up with a bigger team next year.B次元官网网址�
Though the snow will melt, Turner expects to be busy this summer. That includes helping out with Operation Pegasus Jump in July.
B次元官网网址淚 look forward to that and hoping to get some like amputees at that event this year,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 not military, but I can show up and help to show that itB次元官网网址檚 possible.B次元官网网址�
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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