Introducing Garmin’s First Sponsored Snowboarders: Mark McMorris and Silje Norendal
Garmin is sponsoring medal winning snowboarders Mark McMorris and Silje Norendal as well as being the official action camera sponsor of the Burton US Open in Vail, Colarado. The event is a snowboarding competition for men’s and women’s slopestyle and halfpipe.
Both sponsored riders are equipped with Garmin VIRB action camera, as well as a fēnix 3 multisport watch for McMorris and a vívofit® activity tracker for Norendal. We’re hoping to get some great footage, images and data from them, although unfortunately Silje is out of the competition. Mark however, is still in!
“We’re thrilled to have these riders as Garmin’s first sponsored snowboarders,” said Jon Cassat, Garmin vice president of communications. “Garmin has products that can make snow sports more memorable, and these high-profile athletes will help showcase our action cams and wearables to skiers and snowboarders everywhere.”
Mark and Silje have been using Garmin wearables and the VIRB action cameras as part of their training on and off the mountain. Both riders will be able to capture and share content with VIRB, and with the camera’s unique built-in GPS, they’ll be able to overlay data like heart rate, elevation and speed into their videos, creating even more dynamic content and proving how impressive their tricks really are. The fēnix 3 and vívofit that they wear on their wrists will also give them valuable fitness information on and off the hill, and they’ll be able to use Garmin Connect™ to analyse their data and improve performance.
About Mark
Originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, Mark McMorris has made a name for himself as one of the top snowboarders in the world. As the first-ever snowboarder to successfully complete a backside triple cork 1440, and first snowboarder in X-Games history to score a 98.00 in Slopestyle, Mark is considered a legend in the snowboarding world, and he’s only 21. This winter has already proven great for Mark, winning first place in Slopestyle and Big Air at the 2015 Winter X-Games in Aspen, and finishing second at the Burton European Open. Last winter was no different. Mark finished second in Slopestyle at the Winter X-Games in Aspen, and despite a crippling crash leaving him with a fractured rib, he still competed in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games just days later, ending up with a podium finish and a bronze medal.
About Silje
Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Silje is becoming a recognisable name and face on both sides of the Atlantic. She’s no stranger to big wins, after taking home the gold in Slopestyle at the 2013 Winter X-Games in Tignes, and the 2014 and 2015 Winter X-Games in Aspen. Silje also finished on the podium at huge events like the Dew Tour Mountain Championships and Burton’s High Fives in NZ, as well as an impressive 11th place finish at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Aside from the prestigious achievements, it’s Silje’s style and work ethic that really stand out, both on and off the hill. Whether she’s doing smooth frontside rodeos over the biggest tables in the park, or posing on the cover of fitness magazines, there’s a style and grace with Silje that can’t be ignored.
