The new FIS snowboard cross season is upon us and Prince George, B.C. will be well-represented.
Meryeta O'Dine, Evan Bichon and Colby Graham will join nine of their Canadian national team peers on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Les Deux Alpes, France for the inaugural snowboard cross race of the current International Ski Federation (FIS) campaign. They will be lining up against some of the world's best, including defending Olympic champions Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria and Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States.
O'Dine, 25, is known for winning two bronze medals at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing earlier this February: one as an individual and one in mixed team snowboard cross with Eliot Grondin of St-Marie de Beauce, Que. (Grondin, the defending Olympic silver medallist in the men's event, will also be racing this Saturday). O'Dine has conquered significant adversity in her career and life, including multiple injuries and the tragic death of her brother, Brandon, two years ago. An untimely concussion prevented her from competing in the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Bichon, 24, was a Canadian national team alternate in Beijing. He has three top-15 World Cup finishes under his belt: 12th and 13th in Krasnoyarsk, Russia and another 13th place in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Bichon now lives in North Vancouver and has his eyes set on the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia from March 2-4.
Graham, 21, is part of Canada's NextGen snowboard cross program. He will be looking to build momentum off of a successful Nor-Am Cup tour last season when he finished first, third and second in his most recent three races. Graham too hopes to qualify for World Championships and achieve a top-16 result on the World Cup circuit this year.
Visit the FIS website for more details and CBCSports.ca for streaming options.
