MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2021

51 words :: Allison Kennedy Davies It’s been a long and winding road for Ontario snowboarder Baily McDonald. With indisputable talent in the park and an undeniable drive to succeed, McDonald has already had to overcome some huge obstacles in her career, including an injury that derailed her 2018 Olympic plans. After reuniting with longtime coach Sam Marcotte and his Mount St. Louis Moonstone–based The Senders team, McDonald found her mojo just in time to see the season derailed by the global pandemic. But chatting with McDonald by Zoom, one of her five shar- peis making an appearance, I quickly get the sense that this won’t slow her down much. Like all of us, McDonald is anxiously awaiting her first runs of the season—and she’s focused once again on refining her style and creating some incredible video segments. Mountain Life: Can you introduce yourself to our readers? Baily McDonald: I’m 22 years old and I’m from Barrie. I’ve been snowboarding since I was six years old but started skiing at three. My family and I live in the heart of all the resorts in Ontario, so snowboarding came naturally into my life. ML: Can you take us back to the beginning? How and where did you start snowboarding and when did you start to compete? BM: My first time snowboarding was at Horseshoe Valley Resort. I remember it clear as day. I was sitting at the top of the bunny hill just staring at the terrain park. I wanted to get in there so badly, but I couldn’t even ride down the hill yet (laughs). Once I was able to ride, and it came to me pretty quick, I went right to the terrain park and tried the features. I started competing when I joined The Senders at 15. That’s when I knew I could get to the next level training with them. ML: You made the Canadian team back in 2017 and were poised to head to the 2018Winter Olympics. Can you explain where that plan took a turn? BM: 2017 was my best and my worst year ever. It started out amazing. I won the Canadian Nationals for slopestyle and had an all-around great season filled with progression and results. While I was at an Olympic qualifier in New Zealand at the beginning of September, I took a bad crash on the training day. The conditions we were riding in were not safe: ATHLETE PROFILE PATIENCE & 352*5(66,21b Catching up with The Senders’ Baily McDonald TOP Baily at Perisher Ski Resort, in Australia’s Snowy Mountains. SAM MARCOTTE BOTTOM Baily at Blue Mountain Resort. SUPPLIED BY BAILY MCDONALD