After a frightening crash and compression fracture in her spine ended her season early last spring, this year Meryeta O'Dine is taking a new approach to the coming winter. This year, she is going to enter into the Freeride Big Mountain competitions to expand her knowledge and passion for snow sports.
"I'm really excited this year to be putting my hand into a new aspect of snowboarding, as I've been solely focused on snowboard-cross. I have not been able to connect to other aspects of snowboarding that I love and reflect on a different process that can make me a better snowboarder. Because for me this year, snowboarding is about a lot more than placing your best, its about reconnecting to the joy of finding your best."
Her recovery plan and many months of intense physical training has paid off. O'Dine achieved her lifetime best results SBX National Team standardized physical fitness testing, surprising her entire technical team after injury and deciding to train in Prince George.
Missing the end of the previous season meant she landed 14th overall in the World Cup standings for 2019.
"This season I have less and more going on. I'm focusing on refreshing myself between World Cups, not just physically but mentally. Anyone in their right mind will be excited to show up for their dream job, but you won't be able to do your dream job if your head's in the game and your emotions are elsewhere. Family illness affected me deeply last season, and it's up to me this year to reconnect with myself, my passions and my process."
This year's World Cup circuit will hold eight races, hosted in various countries throughout Europe, including China in February, which will be a great preview for the 2022 Winter Olympics venue. The exciting addition of the snowboard cross team event in the Olympics provides another opportunity to race with Canadian teammates.
"The test event in China is an exciting event especially because we can use it as a mock build up to the Olympics. We get to learn the venue, the snow, and conditions while we're there and try to capture the Olympic balls-out feeling on the course we're riding."
Currently, O'Dine is the only Olympic athlete living and training in Prince George. Government funding only covers a small portion of racing costs. Even with sponsorships and a full-time job, it's still difficult to cover all of the costs.
As a result, she's holding a fundraising evening at the Kinsmen Hall next Saturday that will include a buffet dinner, a comedy show featuring her mom Virginia O'Dine plus special guests, a silent auction, followed by a dance.
Tickets are available for purchase at Grizzly North Auto Shop.
