Needless to say, competition within the Canadian men’s team is tough.
“We all want it bad,” said Spalding.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to get there … and do my best to get a medal.”
With Milano Cortina in their sights, the Canadian snowboard team will also adapt each athlete’s training program to ensure riders can balance the 2025/26 FIS Snowboard World Cup circuit beginning in November – which is part of the Olympic qualification period – with Olympic competition in Italy in February.
“It just gets a bit more individualised on what each athlete needs for them to perform their best at the game,” said coach Catton.
“So maybe it won’t be about trying to do every event and win a Crystal Globe, or get the best rank possible, but more about – what is the best thing that you can do to lead up to and prepare for the Games so that they’re riding at their best?
“For some it might be to compete a lot, and for others it might be less competition, or more training, or less training.”
Snowboarders qualify for Milano Cortina 2026 based on their FIS World Cup points during the qualification period between 1 July 2024 and 18 January 2026, as well as points from the 2025 FIS Snowboard World Championships. The Olympic Quota Allocation List confirming who has qualified for snowboard slopestyle will be published on 19 January 2026.
If McMorris qualifies for his fourth Games in 2026 he will join his friend and long-time rival Red Gerrard (USA), whose Olympic selection was confirmed by the U.S. snowboard team in July.