Calynn Irwin

Biography

Calynn Irwin was just 16 when she competed at her first World Cup event in December 2005 in Whistler. That came after she had finished fifth at the 2005 FIS World Junior Championships in April. But during the summer of 2006 she suffered a concussion that took her away from snowboarding for two years. During her time off, she realized that snowboard was her passion. She returned to the World Cup circuit in February 2009 at the test event for Vancouver 2010.

In 2012 Irwin earned her first medal at the Canadian championships, finishing third behind Mercedes Nicoll and Katie Tsuyuki. Irwin recorded her best World Cup result in February 2011 when she finished 10^th in Stoneham, Quebec. She came close to matching that in December 2017 when she placed 11^th in Secret Garden, China. Irwin has also competed in World Snowboard Tour events. In March 2016, she finished 10^th at the highly competitive Burton US Open. Irwin made her Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018.

A little more about Calynn…

Getting into the Sport: Started snowboarding after the first halfpipe was built at Georgian Peaks resort for the Canadian championships in 1996… Comes from a skiing family and her parents wouldn’t let her snowboard until she was eight but she was so determined that she’d be trying tricks after the lifts closed… Has wanted to be an Olympian since snowboard became an Olympic sport at Nagano 1998… Outside Interests: Enjoys playing tennis and biking… Studying classical and ancient studies at Queen’s University… Supports Camp Amici, a charity that helps to send underprivileged children to summer camp… Makes neckwarmers when she has the time… Social media manager for Camp Oconto… Odds and Ends: Favourite Olympic memory is watching Maëlle Ricker and Mercedes Nicoll compete on TV while at university… Always travels with her polar bear Paul…