USA’s Sides making strides in snowboard

“I set my goals based on where I am at in my riding experience and build upon it little by little,” he said. “Setting the smaller goals allows me to achieve them faster”.

After serving 12 years in the US Marine Corps, James Sides is looking to represent his country again, this time at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games. After a great 2015-16 season that led to his first medal with bronze at the IPC Snowboard World Cup Aspen, the 33-year-old is confident he can move up the podium.

“I feel pretty good about [the upcoming season],” Sides said. “It’s only my second year competing, so I was very happy with my results [from last season].”

Despite trying snowboarding a couple of times before, Sides got really involved after his injury in 2012 while conducting a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device mission that resulted in the loss of his right hand and blindness in his left eye.

To make it to the US Paralympic team, the Marine veteran knows it is all a matter of getting points and podium finishes. To do so, he has his own tricks:

“[I will be] training on snow as much as possible and trusting in my coach to get me where I need to be,” Sides said. “I need to work on my line choice and sharpen some banked slalom skills.”

While competing both in snowboard cross and banked slalom, Sides prefers snowboard cross, a discipline he finds more fun and less technical. It also allows him to give his best with his “goofy” style of riding.

Already into his offseason training, the US snowboarder’s aims for the 2017 World Championships are clear:

“Of course [I aim] to get a podium finish. But top-five would be a great finish,” he said.

Inspired by adaptive athletes who have laid the foundation before he came in the sport, Sides went from amateur to professional snowboarding in just two years.

“I set my goals based on where I am at in my riding experience and build upon it little by little,” he said. “Setting the smaller goals allows me to achieve them faster”.

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics will feature a record-breaking 10 snowboard medal events and participation of over 100 athletes.