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McMorris injured in Whistler backcountry

Star snowboarder resting at Vancouver General Hospital
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Mark McMorris was injured in a crash in the Whistler backcountry on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Canada Snowboard

Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris is resting at Vancouver General Hospital after suffering several injuries in the backcountry on Saturday.

McMorris suffered a fractured jaw, fractured left arm, ruptured spleen, stable pelvic fracture, rib fractures and a collapsed left lung according to a Canada Snowboard release quoting team physician Dr. Rodney J. French.

McMorris underwent two successful surgeries, with a minimally invasive procedure to control bleeding from the spleen on March 25. On March 26, his jaw and arm fractures were surgically repaired.

"While both the mandible and humerus fractures were complicated injuries, the surgeries went very well and both fractures are now stabilized to heal in excellent position. It is too early to speculate on a timeline for Mark's recovery," Dr. French said in a release.

McMorris won Crystal Globes in big air and as the overall FIS Freestyle Snowboard champion in 2016-17.

Canada Snowboard executive director Patrick Jarvis expects McMorris to push for next year's Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, as he recovers.

"We fully support Mark and he is already under the incredible care of the staff of the Vancouver General Hospital," Jarvis said in a release. "Mark has shown incredible resilience and commitment to recovering from injury and we know that PyeongChang 2018 will be a strong motivation for his comeback.

According to a CBC report, McMorris was filming in the Whistler backcountry with his brother, Craig, when the injury occurred.