On Thursday, March 16, now two-time Paralympic medalist Tyler Turner came home from Beijing, welcomed by a surprise group of his friends.

The Campbell Rivr resident was fresh off his first ever Paralympic games, where he won gold in the snowboard cross event, and took home an unexpected bronze in banked slalom. While he was focused on placing well in snowboard cross, the banked slalom placement was a welcome surprise.

B次元官网网址淚 put a lot of pressure on myself for the gold in snowboard cross,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen it came to banked slalom it was all bonus. I had already accomplished what I went there for. I struggled for most of the season in banked slalom. As a bilateral amputee, the banked slalom is a trickier event for me to try to get from the toe edge to the heel so fast, so many times.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 was just kind of leaving it all out on the playing field there and giving it everything I had. If it all worked out and came together, maybe IB次元官网网址檇 be able to sneak up on the podium. ThatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what happened,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen I looked up and saw that I was on the podium, at least for that moment, I was very surprised.

B次元官网网址淭hen watching the rest of the riders go through was extremely nerve-wracking, but when I did solidify my spot up there on the podium I wasB次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 knowB次元官网网址� I never thought that could happen. It was a really good run. That bronze felt just as good as that gold.B次元官网网址�

TurnerB次元官网网址檚 experience started five years ago after a skydiving crash. However, the Paralympics werenB次元官网网址檛 always on his mind.

B次元官网网址淚 was actually kind of put off by the Paralympics,B次元官网网址� Turner said. B次元官网网址淚 personally, for the first six months to a year, thought it was stupid, less than and confirmed that I would be disabled for the rest of my life.B次元官网网址�

That changed when he watched the 2018 PyeongChang games from his hospital bed.

B次元官网网址淭hat kind of was the first step to seeing that these guys are absolute elite athletes competing at the highest level, just given the opportunity to do it with people with the same challenges,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought it was really cool. There were no participation ribbons being given out.B次元官网网址�

He still, however, was unsure of his prospects. TurnerB次元官网网址檚 legs were amputated at different stages in his recovery. After his first operation, he did not really see competing as an option. It was only after his second leg was amputated and he first stood on two prosthetics that his mind began to change.

B次元官网网址淢y first time standing up on my snowboard, I knew there might be a chance,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f I could put my head down and train hard and push for the two years before the games.B次元官网网址�

Nevertheless, Turner said that he had experienced and continues to experience dark days. The mental trauma of an accident like his takes a toll, no matter how much time has elapsed.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 love breezing over that. ItB次元官网网址檚 part of the story,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he mental battle of going through trauma like that lasts so much longer. It still lingers daily.B次元官网网址�

Looking back now, however, he said one piece of advice he would have for his past self would be to have patience.

B次元官网网址淚f you try and force it, itB次元官网网址檚 only going to be frustration. Look to small, achievable goals so you can be proud of your accomplishments as you go forward,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淛ust put your head down and keep trudging forward. YouB次元官网网址檙e going to get knocked down, but you have to get back up and put one foot in front of the other. itB次元官网网址檚 not pretty, but keep plowing forward. Eventually you can look back over five years, and itB次元官网网址檚 pretty incredible what youB次元官网网址檝e accomplished.B次元官网网址�

At the moment, Turner is looking forward. HeB次元官网网址檚 going to continue working to promote para-snowboarding. But, heB次元官网网址檚 also got surfing on the mind, including competing in the US Open of Adaptive Surfing.

B次元官网网址淏eyond that weB次元官网网址檒l (take our sailboat) head south and west, and hopefully go around the Pacific.B次元官网网址�

RELATED:

marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on and follow us on