LIVIGNO — Veteran Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, in the wake of a training crash, pulled out of Thursday's big air qualifying at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
"Working in tandem with the Canada Snowboard and Canadian Olympic Committee medical teams, it was decided as a precaution that Mark will skip the big air event to focus his efforts on being fully healthy for slopestyle," the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement.
McMorris was upbeat in the COC release.
“Fortunately, things are looking good for slopestyle, so I’m staying positive and shifting my focus there," said the 32-year-old from Regina. "Huge thanks to the incredible medical staff who took great care of me, and to everyone who reached out with so much love and support.”
Qualifying was scheduled for Thursday evening in Livigno with the final Saturday. Slopestyle qualification is set for Feb. 16 with the men's final two days later.
The COC said McMorris, a three-time Olympic medallist, would speak to the media in advance of slopestyle qualifying.
McMorris won bronze medals in slopestyle in each of his three previous Olympics. He was 10th in big air in Pyeongchang and Beijing.
McMorris was taken to hospital late Wednesday after falling near the end of a training session. He was released soon after and spent the night at the Olympic Village.
"He's up this morning. He's feeling good," Brendan Matthews, Canada Snowboard's vice-president of business development and partnerships, said in a morning availability just metres away from the big air slope where McMorris went down.
Still, Matthews said the decision on whether he would compete was pending more consultation with team doctors.
The ramp in Livigno is imposing — more than 50 metres, living up to the big air name. And concerns were raised when McMorris was taken away on a stretcher, although Matthews said that was routine after such falls. Matthews said it was still worrying at the time.
"It always looks scary when someone takes a hard fall like that, but all things considered, it's good news," said Matthews.
He called it a "freak accident," saying McMorris actually landed the trick he was attempting when it happened. He just caught some loose snow with his heel edge and had a "hard fall."
"In our sport, we like to call it a 'snow snake' that comes up and bites you out of nowhere," Matthews added. "Just a little bit of loose snow that was on the slope. Nobody's fault, but unfortunately, these things happen in an extreme sport like ours."
The Canadian team cannot replace McMorris in the big air qualifying.
McMorris is a respected member of the Canadian team, with 25 X Games medals in addition to his Olympic hardware.
"He's been the best forever," fellow Canadian snowboarder Cameron Spalding said prior to the Games.
"If you ever have any questions for him or just go have a conversation with him, you would never know talking to him that he's one of the best snowboarders that's ever lived," he added. "He's a great dude, and I'm thankful that we get to ride with him a bunch and can learn from him."
McMorris suffered life-threatening injuries after slamming into a tree during a backcountry ride in 2017. He has had a rod placed in his leg, a plate in his arm and another in his jaw as a result of that and numerous other injuries he's endured over the years.
Fellow Canadian snowboarder Eli Bouchard, speaking after qualifying Thursday evening, said McMorris looked "fine."
"The team's taking care of him," he added. "I think he's going to be good."
Bouchard called such crashes "definitely scary."
"But it's part of the game. So if it happens, it happens … You just put some music on (while competing) and try to not think about it."
Snowboard teammate Cameron Spalding agreed.
"Guys are going to take slams. You're going to get hurt. But he (McMorris) is doing well so it's good to see."
Eric Myles, the Canadian Olympic Committee's chief sport officer, also addressed the McMorris crash at a morning COC availability in Milan.
"The most important thing right now, Mark is doing fine," he said.
Myles said Mike Wilkinson, the COC's chief medical officer, and Dr. Rod French, Freestyle Canada's chief medical officer, were working with McMorris.
"We're not going to take a chance for the health of an athlete," Myles said. "We're working with them to put them in the best condition to compete, but also to make a decision if a different decision needs to be taken."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2026.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
