Canadian snowboardcross and freestyle athletes are competing in this year's Winter X Games this weekend (Jan. 23-26) in Aspen, Colorado.
Some key members of the freestyle team will be competing in both slopestyle and big air competitions. Comox Valley athletes taking part include Carle Brenneman (snowboardcross on Jan. 24) and Spencer O'Brien (slopestyle on Jan. 25).
"This event will allow our Canadian athletes to appropriately gauge their competition heading into the Sochi Olympic Winter Games," a Canada Snowboard spokesperson said.
O'Brien will be challenging for the top of the podium when slopestyle makes it Olympic debut at Sochi.
Considered to be one of the world’s most progressive slopestyle snowboarders, O’Brien has competed primarily on the World Snowboard Tour, the world’s largest series of freestyle snowboarding events, which has made her a four-time Winter X Games medalist and 2012 World Snowboarding Champion.
In 2013 Spencer won gold at the FIS World Championships, helping her qualify for the Olympics.
Despite her best efforts, Brenneman is not a member of the 24-person Canadian team heading to Sochi. Canada Snowboard announced the final 19 selections to the team on Jan. 21.
Canada Snowboard earned the maximum of 24 quota spots for the Olympics and each discipline received six. This means a full team will be heading to Sochi aiming for medal success.
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place from Feb. 7-23. The Canadian Olympic Team has set a goal to contend to be the top nation in overall medals won.