A handful of Prince George athletes have made Canadian national teams for winter sports.
Canada’s national snowboard cross team will once again be joined by 23-year-old Meryeta O’dine, while 21-year-old Evan Bichon will be returning to the “nextgen” national development team.
Meanwhile, Canada’s ski cross team will feature Gavin Rowell and Tiana Gairns.
Rowell achieved strong results at the 2020 North American Ski Cross Cup, while Gairns notably finished first in 2018’s North American Cup, and 22nd in the World Cup that same year.
“We don’t cross paths as much with the skiing winter sports, but we’re definitely supportive when we see each other. As for myself and Meryeta, we see each other at lots of competitions and we’re super supportive of each other, as well as everyone we compete with. Everyone is pushing each other to do better,” said Bichon.
He said COVID-19 has interrupted training for most athletes: “Everyone is training as hard as they can for a season they can’t see because there’s no outline for it yet.”
“I’m still pretty much on the same pathway of trying to make the Olympics,” Bichon added, continuing “I requalified along with fellow teammates from Prince George form both snowboard cross and ski cross. Two of our skiers are on the national team, I’m on the national development team which is one step below, and Meryeta is on the national team.”
Bichon intends to reevaluate his professional snowboarding career in 2022, after the next Olympics.
“I am going to give this Olympics everything I have, make it or break it.”
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