It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were stacking hay bales on Cypress Mountain to fill out the Olympic courses and cheering on Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal in downtown Vancouver.
But the Winter Olympics are back and already underway in the sunny resort town of Sochi, Russia, and our little old North Shore is once again represented by a strong contingent of athletes. Five Olympians with strong ties to the North Shore are going for gold this year along with another five athletes who were either born here or spent a number of years here on their Olympic journeys.
Most people don’t need any extra excuse to watch the Olympic spectacle, but if you’re looking for a local angle, set your DVRs to record the exploits of these 10 contenders.
Maëlle Ricker
Sport: Snowboard cross
Schedule: Feb. 15, 11 p.m. qualification; Feb. 16, 1:15 a.m. elimination finals (all times are Pacific).
Born in North Vancouver and raised in West Vancouver, Ricker is one of the North Shore’s most beloved athletes. She became one of Canada’s most beloved athletes as well when she won Olympic gold in her hometown in 2010 to become the first Canadian woman ever to win Olympic gold on home soil. She’s got a tough road to take if she wants to repeat in Sochi after suffering a broken arm less than two weeks ago (see story in Feb. 9 North Shore News) but if anyone can do it, it’s the one known as Mighty Mouse.
Manuel Osborne-Paradis
Sport: Alpine skiing
Schedule: Feb. 8, 11 p.m., downhill; Feb. 15, 11 p.m., Super G.
Born in North Vancouver and raised in Deep Cove, the man known as Manny has been scorching the slopes on the World Cup ski circuit for years, winning nine medals in the process. These will be his third Games and he hasn’t hit the podium yet but he’ll lay it all on the line in downhill and Super G.
“It’s only top three that matters at the Olympics,” Manny told the North Shore News recently. “If I’m fifth or I’m 20th, it doesn’t matter — it’s not top three.”
Georgia Simmerling
Sport: Ski cross
Schedule: Feb. 20, 11:45 p.m. qualification; Feb. 21, 1:30 a.m., elimination finals.
This proud West Vancouverite learned her trade in the North Shore mountains with the Grouse Tyee Ski Club. She competed in alpine as a fresh-faced 20-year-old in 2010 but she’s switched to the rough and tumble world of ski cross for 2014 and has a shot at hitting the podium. She’s already scored a World Cup silver medal in her short time in the new sport and is ranked in the top-10 in the world.
Liam Firus
Sport: Figure skating
Schedule: Feb. 13, 7 a.m., short program; Feb. 14, 7 a.m., free skate.
North Vancouver born and raised, Liam Firus learned his tricks with the North Van-based Vancouver Skating Club. The 21-year-old was a long shot to make it to Sochi after missing much of the 2013 season due to injury but he came back strong in 2014, placing third at the pressure-packed Canadian Olympic Trials to earn a place in the Games.
Michael Janyk
Sport: Alpine skiing
Schedule: Feb. 22, 4:45 a.m., slalom run 1; Feb. 22, 8:15 a.m., slalom run 2.
Born in North Van and raised in West Vancouver and Whistler, Michael Janyk is heading into his third games competing in the technical alpine disciplines. He finished 17th in the slalom in Turin and bumped up to 13th in 2010 at Whistler Creekside. The 31-year-old won a bronze medal at the world championships in 2009 and earned a World Cup silver medal in 2006.
Chris Robanske
Sport: Snowboard cross
Schedule: Feb. 16, 11 p.m. qualification; Feb. 17, 1:30 a.m. elimination finals.
Born and raised in Calgary, Robanske made a permanent move to North Vancouver a few years ago to be closer to Canada Snowboard’s training centre. He’s got another draw too — he’s dating another member of the North Shore extreme scene: national champion mountain biker Micayla Gatto.
Mercedes Nicoll
Sport: Snowboard halfpipe
Schedule: Feb. 12, 2 a.m. qualification; 9:30 a.m. final.
Nicoll was born in North Vancouver, moved to Toronto as a toddler and now calls Whistler home. She competed in the 2006 Games, finishing 27th, and at home in 2010 where she made the halfpipe final and placed sixth.
Spencer O’Brien
Sport: Snowboard slopestyle
Schedule: Feb. 9, 1:15 a.m. final.
Courtenay, B.C., has the biggest claim to reigning slopestyle world champion Spencer O’Brien, but the high flyer moved to North Vancouver in 2009 to keep her close to both Whistler and the airport, two spots she heads to often. She’s got a great shot at Olympic gold as slopestyle makes its debut in Sochi.
Kevin Reynolds
Sport: Figure skating
Schedule: Feb. 13, 7 a.m., short program; Feb. 14, 7 a.m., free skate.
Reynolds was born in North Vancouver but calls Coquitlam home. He’ll join North Vancouver’s Liam Firus and some other guy named Patrick Chan on Canada’s young and hungry men’s figure skating team.
Marielle Thompson
Sport: Ski cross
Schedule: Feb. 20, 11:45 p.m. qualification; Feb. 21, 1:30 a.m., elimination finals.
Another passerby, Thompson was born in North Vancouver but calls Whistler home. She’ll join West Vancouver’s Georgia Simmerling and Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa on a Canadian team that will contend for medals.
