Ten snowboarders announced to Team Canada for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games
VANCOUVER (December 22, 2023) – Canada Snowboard and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s snowboard team nominated to compete at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The Team Canada snowboard team for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games is:
Athletes:
Halfpipe:
Felicity Geremia (Calgary, Alta.)
Lily-Ann Ulmer (Calgary, Alta.)
Slopestyle/Big Air:
Eli Bouchard (Lac Beauport, Que.)
Amalia Pelchat (Whistler, B.C.)
Neko Reimer (Rossland, B.C.)
Avery Spalding (Havelock, Ont.)
Snowboard Cross
Olivier Gagné (Lac-Etchemin, Que.)
Rose Savard-Ferguson (Baie-Saint-Paul, Que.)
Anthony Shelly (Whistler, B.C.)
Hannah Turkington (Whistler, B.C.)
The athletes were selected for the team based on their results from eligible FIS competitions and standing on the World Snowboard Points List during the qualification period.
The team will head to Gangwon 2024 with significant international experience. Seven of the selected snowboard athletes have competed at an FIS Junior World Championship, while Felicity Geremia, Lily-Ann Ulmer and Eli Bouchard have also competed at World Cup events. Bouchard placed 15th out of 53 athletes at the Big Air World Cup in Edmonton in early December, after having placed fourth in his qualification heat. At the 2023 Canada Winter Games, Bouchard won gold in both the big air and slopestyle events.
“I am truly honored to be selected to participate in the Youth Olympic Games in South Korea,” said Bouchard. “Representing my country on such a prestigious stage is a dream come true, and I am eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with this incredible experience. The support from my snowboarding community and the chance to showcase my skills on the international stage fill me with gratitude and excitement. I look forward to giving my best and making my country proud at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.”
Hannah Turkington, who won gold in snowboard cross at the 2023 Canada Games in PEI, earned a top-10 result at her first FIS Junior World Championship just three weeks later. She looks forward to building on her successful junior career during the Youth Olympic Games.
“Having the opportunity to represent Canada at the Youth Olympics has been a goal of mine for four years. This is the accumulation of a huge amount of hard work and training,” said Turkington. “I am incredibly appreciative of all those who supported me to reach this goal, including my family, coaches, trainers, and physio. I’m also grateful for the outstanding Canadian athletes who are great role models for me, especially Meryeta O’Dine.”
The Gangwon 2024 snowboard team also includes the 2023 National Junior Champion in slopestyle, Avery Spalding, as well as eight athletes who medalled at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Sixteen-year-old Anthony Shelly, who won a silver medal at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, has been an avid competitive snowboarder for 10 years, and is excited to perform on the Youth Olympic Games stage.
“I have been doing snowboard competitions since I was 6, and I feel like each event I’ve done has led to stronger and better performances at the next event,” said Shelly. Last season I was able to compete at the Junior World Championships, and while my result was not what I wanted, I really value the chance to see the next level and test myself there. I continue to attend events across the spectrum of snowboarding competition, from grassroots to FIS, in banked slalom, snowboard cross and freestyle disciplines. All of these experiences since I was 6 have really brought me to this place of being part of Team Canada for the 2024 Youth Olympics.”
Team Canada has won five Youth Olympic Games medals in snowboarding, including a silver in slopestyle and bronze in both half pipe and big air from Liam Brearly at Lausanne 2020 and two gold medals in slopestyle from Audrey McManiman and Michael Ciccarelli, both at Innsbruck 2012. To date, Team Canada has converted three Youth Olympic snowboarders into Olympians – Audrey McManiman, Tyler Nicholson and Liam Gill.
“We’re grateful that snowboarding maintains its place in the Winter Youth Olympic Games, providing a unique platform for our rising athletes,” said Kim Krahulec, Canada Snowboard’s High Performance Director in the speed disciplines. “We have a strong contingent of athletes who have worked hard to reach this level of competition. Their dedication and passion for snowboarding is truly commendable, and we are excited to witness their performances on the Winter Youth Olympic Games stage. As we approach the event, we invite everyone to join us in cheering on Team Canada and celebrating the skills they bring to their craft, making this Games a memorable showcase of snowboarding prowess.”
Snowboarding events will take place at Welli Hilli Park Resort. Snowboard cross will be contested on January 20 – 21 (Days 1 and 2), while slopestyle/big air will take place from January 24 – 28 (Days 5 – 9). The halfpipe event will be the final snowboard event of the YOG, and will take place on February 1 (Day 13).
“Congratulations to Team Canada’s Gangwon 2024 snowboard team,” said Lisa Weagle, Team Canada’s Gangwon 2024 Chef de Mission. “You’ve put so much hard work into your snowboard careers thus far, and I hope you’re able to soak in every moment on the hill in South Korea and make incredible memories as members of Team Canada at these Youth Olympic Games!”
Team Canada’s snowboard team alternate athletes, coaches and support staff for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games are:
Jacob Lebel (Sainte-Marie de Beauce, Que.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)
Anne Sophie – Schonbeck (Montreal, Que.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)
Maddox Matte – (Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard, Que.) – Alternate Athlete (Non-Travelling)
Dave Balne (Oakville, Ont.) – Technician, snowboard cross
Karine Daze (Calgary, Alta.) – Coach, halfpipe
Elisabeth Schwabl-Côté (Grandy, Que.) – Coach, snowboard cross
Quinn Thomas (Calgary, Alta.) – Coach, slopestyle and big air
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are the world’s largest multi-sport event for high-performance young athletes aged 15 – 18. Gangwon 2024 will begin on January 19 and will end on February 1, 2024 and will feature 1900 athletes. Gangwon 2024 will be the fourth edition of the Winter YOG and the first in Asia. It will have a fully gender-balanced sporting program, and will feature seven sports, 15 disciplines, and a total of 81 events.
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.
The latest Team Canada Gangwon 2024 roster can be found here, and additional press resources can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Rich Hegarty, Communications Specialist
Canada Snowboard
E: rich.hegarty@canadasnowboard.ca
Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Gangwon 2024 Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca