Canadian snowboarder
Michael Michalchuk (born April 20, 1977 in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional snowboarder based in Pemberton, British Columbia.[1] Michalchuk has competed in two Winter Olympic Games in 1998 and 2002,[2] along with several world cups but has been often restricted by injury. He is also notable for being one of the first known snowboarders to complete a successful double back flip in a halfpipe competition, has several snowboarding moves named after him and has at times been regarded as arguably the most spectacular, daring half-pipe rider in Pemberton.[1]
Michalchuk stands 5'8" (1.73 m) tall and he rides with a goofy stance.
Snowboarding career
Michalchuk first entered the world professional snowboarding circuit in 1998 at the age of twenty-one after he gained qualification for the 1998 Winter Olympics as a member of the Canadian team. During the games he qualified for the finals with an equal best score but his performance dropped and he eventually finished in 8th position.[3] During the 1998 season he achieved his highest placement during that year's world cup in the United States, finishing third in the half-pipe event.
The following seasons became mostly disappointing ones for Michalchuk after he was plagued by several injuries, including blowing out his right knee and a recurring achilles tendon injury[4] and it was not until 2001 before he could again compete on a regular basis. His only glory during this time came at the end of 2000 when competing in the Nike All Conditions Gear Indoor competition he won first place after landing a "near flawless" double back flip during the quarter-pipe competition and taking home a car and $32,000 in prize money.[5]
In 2001 Michalchuk was injury free and competed in nearly a full half-pipe world cup circuit where he achieved several top-ten positions including taking a third placing during the event in Whistler.
Michalchuk gained 2002 Winter Olympic qualification after a strong performance in Alpe d'Huez, France in early 2002 but after making his second Olympics he performed poorly failing to qualify for the finals in the half-pipe event and eventually finished a disappointing twenty-seventh.[6]
Since the 2002 Olympics Michalchuk has been further hampered by injury and his performances have suffered, between 2002 and 2005 he only achieved a sole top ten placing on the world cup circuit[7] and then took the entire 2006 season off from professional touring.
Double backflip
Michalchuk became the first snowboarder to perform a double back flip in halfpipe competition during 1997 around the time when he first turned professional.[8] After performing the move he gained much media attention and would then often use the move in many professional competitions.[citation needed]
The Michalchuk
The Michalchuk is a pipe trick invented by Michael Michalchuk in the late 1990s and has emerged as his most lasting legacy in modern snowboarding. It's a wildcat-style back flip off the heelside wall of a half-pipe or quarter-pipe.[9]
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