Canadian Para snowboarder Alex Massie targets Beijing podium in memory of late coach

After a mid-February training run at a ski hill north of Barrie, Ont., the Canadian snowboarder Alex Massie paused to acknowledge the memory of his coach and close friend, the late Mikko Wendelin.

Whatever happens at the Beijing Paralympics, where Massie is one of four likely medal contenders on a talented Team Canada, he will do it for Wendelin — a vital part of the international Para snowboard community who passed away suddenly in 2019.

"Hopefully, we can go to this Games and honour him by doing something special," said Massie, 26, who studied under Wendelin with two other elite boarders in an international training group known as "Team Unicorn."

"As long as I can ride every single race clean and not have any mistakes top to bottom, I'll be happy with that. But a medal would obviously make that the best."

"I definitely believe that everyone on Team Canada is a medal contender," said Massie, who paired with newcomer Tyler Turner of Campbell River, B.C., to win gold in the men's team event in Lillehammer. He also won silver in banked slalom.

"If only there was a couple more people on our team, there might even be a chance for a Canadian sweep."

WATCH | Alex Massie takes silver in Lillehammer:

A key reason for Massie's success was his decision to train with Wendelin after a solid-but-unspectacular 10th-place showing in men's LL2 banked slalom and 11th place in snowboard cross in his Paralympic debut in 2018 in Pyeongchang.

As part of the Unicorn training group, he appeared to find a new gear. 

Massie won the Crystal Globe in 2019 as season champion on the World Cup circuit and finished just out of the medals in snowboard cross at the world championships that year.

For the rest of Team Canada, the guidance of Greg Picard —