Mercedes Nicoll, Calling it a Career

 

I wouldn’t be my authentic self if I didn’t over share!

That being said I’m writing this as a journal entry.

Dear Journal,

Looking Back

Looking back, snowboarding has been in my life for over 20 years. To put it into perspective, Chloe Kim, 2018 Halfpipe gold Medalist, wasn’t even born when I was competing at my first World Cup in 1999. Back then snowboarding had FIS, but TTR was ISF and myself, Kelly Clark, Kjersti Buass and Torah Bright were the young ones on the halfpipe scene.

For more than half my life I’ve been traveling the world competing in halfpipe and celebrating with friends. There have been a lot of up’s and downs, but I have no regrets!

‘My first memory of Mercedes goes back to high school, we were at a World Cup in Japan and three of us try to get on the two person lift and thought we were hilarious. It’s been a joy to snowboard and compete against her for the last 20 years.’  Kelly Clark multiple Olympic medalist friend/family

Me, Lori Glazier, Maelle Ricker

‘20 years ago, I met this young Grom from Whistler, she was this presence and strength that was busting out of the first massive Super Pipe at Broam Ridge. Her style was unmatched, especially at such a young age.’ Stacey Burke, National Teammate and friend/family

Looking through all my photos, I wouldn’t change anything. From trips to Japan, New Zealand, Korea (before 2017), Europe, Finland, Sweden, South America and more. I traveled with teammates who loved getting in the halfpipe, we dealt with injuries along the way and partied hard. I have the best of friends all over the world now because of my choice to snowboard, for that I’m thankful and grateful for each and everyone of them!

‘There’s an extremely short list of people that have gone to 4 Olympics for halfpipe, and Mercedes is on that. Most people would have quit, but Mer’s determination carried her to 2018 and a stomped run. Sometimes you compete to win and other times you compete against yourself. Mercedes has done both with a smile on her face and giggles left in her wake. ‘ Justin Lamoreux 

2006 Olympics

Along my Journey I’ve:

• Made friends/family all over the world
• Had and will continue to have countless snowboard trips
• Done countless halfpipe competitions
• Been to countless parties
• Had countless injuries
• Had countless laughing attacks
• Shed countless tears
• Fought countless internal battles
• Faced my fears head on
• Struggled to find a path
• Been taught to teach others
• Been on World Cup podiums
• Been on top of the National podium 5x
• Represented Canada at 4 Winter Olympic Games

Korea 2005 Sarah Conrad, Me, Dominique Vallee

‘Mercedes was my best friend, travel partner, roommate, motivation and confidente on tour for about a decade. She’s taken every low and made it into a success. 4 Olympics is just her beginning. I’ve seen her blossom into the women that she is today.’ Dominique Vallee, National Teammate and friend/family

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Goals vs Dreams

You know the last four years of my journey, getting back on snow was the hardest part of my life so far, but I knew getting back on my snowboard was my main goal. The funny thing about the Olympics is everyone always says they dreamt of going to the Olympics. For me the Olympics has not been a dream, it was an attainable goal that was going to happen, and that was that!

‘You’re very stubborn aren’t you!’ Sam Danniels (Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team) said to me after 2014

The last couple days, surrounded by a sea of Olympians, I listened to the word ‘dream’ be passed around. I had a bit of an ‘ahh haa’ moment.

Dreaming, scared me, the world is so big, how am I going to choose what’s next for Me? All I know is that if I’m going to ‘dream’, I’m going to dream BIG! I mean, I sign that on kids posters, so I might as well get to it myself!

What’s unreachable? All I can say is now is my time to dream, but having that athlete mentality in me, I think I’ll set some short term goals first!

‘Mercedes has dedicated her life to snowboarding and her passion has brought her to 4 Olympics games. Not an easy feat. I’m so inspired and proud of her!’ Kimmy Fasani, friend/family

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Mixed Emotions

Since the end of the 2010 winter season I’ve been half preparing for this day, yet eight years later, I feel completely unprepared. I’m feeling a lot of mixed emotions at the moment, some times I’m in full out tears, sometimes I feel complete joy and closure.

2018 Canadian Olympic Halfpipe Team

Coming from the celebration in Ottawa with all the winter Olympians, I was so stoked to be around my Olympic Family again. Yet I would find myself crying on their shoulders a day later at the GamePlan summit. The waterworks only seemed to come out after I’d uttered the words ‘I will not be competing in halfpipe anymore’.

I’m still trying to figure out where these emotions came from; was it saying it out loud, sharing with friends that have been through this before, was I just scared shitless, am I grieving, is it closure that’s making me so emotional, is it that I’m going to miss my Olympic family and team mates or is it the fear of the unknown? What is this new rollercoaster of emotions?

‘After 8 years traveling around the world with this girl, I can safely say Mercedes is one of the most entertaining and fun people I’ve ever met. Even on the greyest of days, her distinct and uncontrollable giggle would light up the room.’ Sarah Conrad National Teammate friend/family

Then there are the people that let you know that you’re going to be great at whatever you do. Ugh, thanks? I don’t even know how to take that, what a copout, no advice, just you’re going to be great! Cool, what am I going to be great at? Being a Sagittarius I put an optimistic swing on things so these comments made me realize, dang someone believes in me, I need to believe in me! I will be great at whatever I do.

2010 Olympics

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When You Know You Know…

My friend and teammate Dominique Vallee has been telling me for the last eight years

‘You’ll know when you’re done!’ Dominique Vallee

In eight years I hadn’t grasped that feeling or urge once. I was beginning to think Dom and others that had told be the same thing were a little crazy. January 2018, at our second to last event in Aspen the pipe was pure ice, I’d had a bad result and yes, I was crying, thinking I may have missed my chance at the Olympics and I was wondering what was I doing competing against 17 year olds.

2018 Olympics

I always told myself I didn’t want to leave competing in halfpipe not riding to the best of my ability, but I had to land that stupid backside 900 before I was done. In January, before the Olympics, I was getting a feeling that my love for competing in halfpipe was coming to a close. In the back of my head, I knew  before the Olympics had started, that it was going to be my last contest in halfpipe.

Reflecting back, it’s good I knew the Olympics was going to be my last contest, because it allowed me to face my fear of the backside 900 head on, I had to do it or live with regret. At the 2018 Olympics I realized Dom wasn’t crazy, I knew I was done competing in halfpipe.

‘Mercedes has had an incredible snowboarding career, it’s been amazing to see her progress, persevere and yet never lose sight of having fun. Her groundedness and pure love for the sport is refreshing and inspirational to say the least.’ Kelly Clark

Is it hard to say goodbye to competing in halfpipe? 100% yes! But I felt great closure from the 2018 Winter Olympics where I faced my fears head on and landed the trick that took me out for two years. I’m happy and healthy. I’m proud to say it’s my choice, not an injury that is closing the door on my competitive halfpipe career.

‘I can only congratulate you on making this decision and going out with a smile on your face and a career to be truly proud of. ‘ Alix Nicoll (mama bear)

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Skills That Come with Being an Olympian

I said I’m unprepared but remember I’ve just spent more than half my life with an elite family, so my standards are pretty high. I have been putting one foot forward into ‘real life’ for eight years now.

Speaking Engagement/RBC Olympian

I’ve been asking questions to anyone willing to answer, I’ve had the time for self discovery, realizing that us Olympians aren’t just athletes, we’ve got a lot of skills that transfer to what we like to call ‘real life’. We constantly push our limits, we get out of our comfort zones on the daily, we have to try new things and put different perspectives on tasks, we have to be good listeners and take coaching, we learn to listen to our guts, we are good leaders, we know our bodies better than anyone (thanks injuries), we are open to exploring, traveling, meeting new people, asking for help (working on that), we’re bold and most times we’re being bolder!

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How I’m Planning for my Future

The beauty about snowboarding is that it’s a lifestyle, I’m one of the lucky ones, I get to continue in my sport. Alex Gough said it best,

‘It’s not like I’m going to pick up a luge and do it recreationally’ Alex Gough, Team Canada Luge 2018 Bronze and Silver medalist, friend/Olympic family

TEDxYouth

There are things I know I’m going to do. I’m going to continue to snowboard; Whistler Blackcomb has the Ride with an Olympian program that I’m part of and love doing, please sign up to come ride with me this winter. I hope to help the next generation of halfpipe riders progress through mentorship or coaching. I’m still part of Canada Snowboard Athlete Council giving a voice to the athletes. I will always try to giveback to my community and country. I’ll keep public speaking and sharing my story. I really enjoyed being the host of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) and hope to do more on camera work. I will use all the skills I know I have to push my limits to be the best whatever task comes my way.

‘Mercedes has become a strong powerful women and proof that with hard work and dedication you can achieve anything in life!’ Roberta Walker Mentor/friend/family

Whistler Valley Girls with Antoine Malingrey & Ryan Regehr

‘Mercedes is always giving back to the community. She often is visiting schools to inspire kids to overcome hardship and get out and be active. She is always down to ride with the next generation of rippers and share her experiences and knowledge.‘ Stacey Burke

I’m trying to keep depression away by keeping busy, as you can see from my instagram stories. I’m starting to plan ahead, well more than a week ahead, I’m listening to advice, I’m being bold, reaching out to meet people learning from their experiences in business or transitioning from sport to ‘real life’, I’m saying YES to new opportunities even though they may scare me. I’m taking notes on life and learning that no one has their life figured out. I’m learning transitions from jobs/school/sports happen all the time to EVERYONE!

That’s the big takeaway, I said I feel unprepared, but it’s more feeling uncertain of what’s next. BREAKING NEWS, no one knows what’s next! I’m just going to have to be brave and deal with the unknown.

‘From the lows and disappointment of injury and to the elation of personal best at the Olympics she has been a positive inspiration and leader among our snowboard community.’ Tim O’Brien, CS board member friend/family

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THANK YOU

I hope the next generation and generations to come choose to take the leap and set big goals to follow their path. I’m proud of my accomplishments and at the 2018 Winter Olympics, I felt great closure with my competitive snowboard career. I’m happy to say that it’s my choice, not an injury or not qualifying for the national team that has taken me out of competing in halfpipe.

The honour of being asked to be in the front row!

Thank you to everyone that has helped me over my competitive halfpipe career. Thank you to my family, friends and teammates over the years for putting up with me, I love you all, probably more thank you know.

‘Even through her sense of humour you could see her determination and focus which always inspired me to push more in my own snowboarding. Next season will not be the same without her.’ Calynn Irwin National Teammate friend/family

xoxo

Mercedes