Mark McMorris finishes 3rd in return to Big Air competition
Canadian snowboarder earns medal despite fall in final run at World Cup event
Canadian Mark McMorris earned a bronze medal at the World Cup snowboarding Big Air competition in Milan, Italy on Saturday.
It was the 22-year-old's first appearance since breaking his femur at the Air and Style event in Los Angeles on Feb. 21.
McMorris posted his highest score of the competition in his first run, earning 92 of a possible 100 points.
Calm, cool and relaxed, Canada's Mark McMorris scores 92 to slide into 2nd with 2 jumps left <a href="https://t.co/FFCfz8qiw6">https://t.co/FFCfz8qiw6</a> <a href="https://t.co/q5EHfd5qxD">https://t.co/q5EHfd5qxD</a>
—@CBCOlympicsThe 2014 Olympic snowboard slopestyle bronze medallist was in second place after his opening jump, and picked up 81 points in his next attempt.
But if anyone is up to the challenge, it's <a href="https://twitter.com/markmcmorris">@markmcmorris</a>, who remains in 2nd after 2. The last jump is up next! <a href="https://t.co/dG9kEkvANV">https://t.co/dG9kEkvANV</a>
—@CBCOlympicsMcMorris fell on his third attempt, but his total of 173 for his two best jumps were enough to keep him on the podium.
McMorris goes for broke and, well, breaks. A fall on his last jump lands him in 3rd overall. More to come. <a href="https://t.co/QKcObte8Vi">https://t.co/QKcObte8Vi</a>
—@CBCOlympicsNorway's Marcus Kleveland took gold with 188 points, while Belgium's Seppe Smits earned silver with 178.5.
On Friday, Teal Harle of Campbell River, B.C., finished fifth in the skiing big air competition with 166.40 points.
Kai Mahler of Switzerland won gold with 179.80 while Norwegians Oystein Braaten and Eirik Sateroy took silver and bronze respectively.
With files from The Canadian Press