Jane Emerick
Special to The Chief
After returning from Italy, all four of Squamish's Olympic snowboarders are vowing to compete in 2010 despite disappointing results in Torino.
Maelle Ricker of Squamish was poised for a medal in the women's snowboard cross final when she fell and finished fourth. She said her result would only make her want to do better in 2010.
"I have to compete in the next Olympics, that race will haunt me for the rest of my life if I don't," she said. "It is just going to push me that much harder."
Ricker said the Canadian Olympic snowboard team, which brought home one bronze medal, did not perform up to its potential, something she thinks was the result of poor mental preparation.
"I think we could have done better," she said. "We obviously have the physical skills we just didn't put it together on the day."Justin Lamoureux of Squamish competed in the men's halfpipe and although disappointed with his 21st place finish he is calling the Olympics "one of the craziest and funnest trips" he has ever been on.
Lamoureux said he would definitely be back representing Canada in four years time.
"Yeah, of course I will be back. They're happening in my hometown," he said.
Competing in the women's half pipe and snowboard cross, Squamish resident Dominique Valleé, said she is having too much fun to stop what she is doing and plans to compete in the next Olympics.
"I am having a really good time with the whole thing," she said.
Competing in the men's snowboard cross, Tom Velisek of Squamish said he was disappointed he did not qualify for his event's finals. According to Velisek, prior to the event he made the mistake of over training.
"Anything other than podium or first place is disappointing, but my legs had no energy and no strength," he said. Despite his results Velisek is confident of his future in the sport.
"Yeah I'll be around in 2010 and if things go well 2014 too," he said.
