X Games Saturday: McMorris breaks career medal record with gold
The action continues in Aspen, Colorado on Day Two of X Games as Team Canada athletes hit the slopes. Canadian skiers and snowboarders collected three medals on Friday, and had a similarly strong showing in Saturday’s competition.
McMorris becomes all-time medal record holder for Winter X Games athlete
Mark McMorris earned his 21st career X Games medal after putting up a gold-medal performance in the men’s snowboard slopestyle.
Despite already being promised a podium position heading to his final race, McMorris executed a near-perfect run to win the event in Aspen on Saturday.
With the win, McMorris now owns the record for most medals for a Winter X Games athlete, passing the U.S.’ Jamie Anderson’s total of 20.
McMorris will compete in his third Olympics in Beijing 2022.
Oldham goes back-to-back on the podium
Megan Oldham took the podium for the second straight day, taking bronze in the women’s ski slopestyle on Saturday in Aspen, Colorado.
Her final run moved her from fifth place to third, and featured never before seen tricks from Oldham.
The 20-year-old Parry Sound native collected silver in the Big Air event on Friday.
READ : Laurie Blouin, Olivia Asselin and Megan Oldham on the X Games podium
France’s Tess Ledeux took gold, while Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud took home silver.
It’s the fourth medal of the weekend taken home by Canadian women.
Teal Harle claims his first X Games medal
In the men’s ski big air final, Teal Harle landed on the third step of the podium after posting a best two run time of 91 points. Americans Alex Hall (94) and Mac Forehand (92) finished in first and second, respectfully. This is Harle’s first medal from the X Games.
Finishing just off the podium was Canadian Edouard Therriault. He earned a best two run time of 89 points to finish in fourth position.
Parrot on the podium
Big Air specialist Max Parrot returned to X Games after missing Aspen 2021 to earn his 11th big air medal. In the men’s snowboard big air final, he posted 81 points in his best two runs to win the silver medal. Parrot’s best tricks were a Cab triple cork 1800 Weddle and a frontside triple cork 1800 Weddle.
To date Parrot has won eight gold and six silver X Games medals.
Currently, the 27-year-old is gearing up for his third straight Olympic Games. At PyeongChang 2018, Parrot won the slopestyle silver with a clutch final run that pushed teammate Mark McMorris to bronze.
READ: 19 snowboarders nominated to Team Canada for Beijing 2022
Norwegian snowboarder Marcus Kleveland finished ahead of Parrot with gold and 82 points. Rene Rinnekangas of Finland rounded out the podium with bronze after posting 80 points. McMorris finished off the podium in fourth position with 49 points.
