A Campbell River Para snowboarder is on top of the world today after winning his first World Championship gold in menB次元官网网址檚 snowboard cross in Lillehammer, Norway.
Tyler Turner took the gold in a dramatic final race in the SB-LL1 event at the event on Friday. It was TurnerB次元官网网址檚 second medal of the World Para Snow Sports Championships. He took home bronze in the dual banked slalom event last Friday.
Turner is relatively new to the sport. He lost his legs after a 2017 skydiving accident, but that has not slowed his competitive drive. Turner also won the gold in the 2021 World Cup in Colere, Italy.
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B次元官网网址淭his is amazing, and I am so happy to have put it together and make it happen today,B次元官网网址� said Turner after the race, in which he beat reigning Paralympic champion, Mike Schultz from the USA, into silver and his compatriot, Tyler Burdick into bronze.
The previous two-time world champion Chris Vos from the Netherlands fell during the event and came fourth.
B次元官网网址淭hey [the finalists] have pushed the level so far,B次元官网网址� Turner said. B次元官网网址淚t is really awesome to race against them. They are the best of the best. I hope I can keep this rolling for the Paralympics.B次元官网网址�
TurnerB次元官网网址檚 win has another local connection. One of his sponsors, Kindred Custom Snowboards and Skis, makes hand-built snowboards and skis in Merville. Angie Farquharson and Evan Fair, the owners of Kindred watched TurnerB次元官网网址檚 race on Friday.
B次元官网网址淗e blew them out of the water, it was amazing. He did so well. It was amazing,B次元官网网址� said Farquharson. B次元官网网址淗e passed someone! It doesnB次元官网网址檛 always happen. At that sport, the first out of the gate is usually the winner, so watching him pass that guy in the cornerB次元官网网址� it was a very exciting race.B次元官网网址�
Kindred has been working with Turner for years, from before he had his accident. The connection is more than just a sponsor/athlete relationship, it goes back to when Fair and Turner were growing up together.
B次元官网网址淭hey actually both moved out to Vancouver Island together,B次元官网网址� Farquharson said. B次元官网网址淭y moved out here to ride Mt. Washington and Ev followed him. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how I met Evan, through Ty. ItB次元官网网址檚 this really full circle journey. ItB次元官网网址檚 the dream to support him. We would support his journey no matter what we were doing, it just so happens that they really pair well.B次元官网网址�
The custom gear manufacturing that Kindred does lends itself perfectly to TurnerB次元官网网址檚 needs. He is a SB-LL1 rider, which is the classification for snowboarders who have moderate impairment affecting knees or legs, loss of one leg above the knee or the loss of two legs below the knee. These riders have affected balance, and have reduced feedback perception from the edges of their boards. This affects the control of their boards, and affects the ability of riders to navigate bumps and uneven terrain. SB-LL1 is a competition class that will be included in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Since he is a double amputee, his board has particular specifications so he can perform at the highest level.
B次元官网网址淲e do little things like build foot plates that create a cant to compensate for the prosthetics. They basically give him the ability to stay more balanced. His gait changed when he had his legs amputated. There are adjustments that need to be made so that he can ride balanced,B次元官网网址� Farquharson said.
While many of the riders at that level are on custom boards, Farquharson said it is nice to see the local brand represented at the world stage. Turner is not the only rider on a Kindred board, his teammate Lisa Dejong from Biggar Sask. is also on a Merville-made board. Dejong has also been bringing home medals from Lillehammer over the past few days.
Turner hopes to compete in the 2022 Paralympic games, a hope that started as soon as he began to recover from his 2017 accident.
B次元官网网址 of TurnerB次元官网网址檚 final run can be found at , starting at the .
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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