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General formatting any tidying. Use convert template consistent with MOS:FOOT., typo(s) fixed: April 20, 1977 → April 20, 1977,

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{{Short description|Canadian snowboarder (born 1977)}}

'''Michael Michalchuk''' (born April 20, 1977, in [[Victoria, British Columbia]]) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] professional [[snowboarding|snowboarder]] based in [[Pemberton, British Columbia]].<ref name=autogenerated2>[https://archive.today/20130115122255/http://www.canoe.ca/2002GamesTeamCanadaBiosA2M/michalchuk.html CANOE 2002 Games – Team Canada – Mike Michalchuk]</ref> Michalchuk has competed in two [[Winter Olympic Games]] in [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998]] and [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]],<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/mike-michalchuk-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417225155/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/mike-michalchuk-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Mike Michalchuk Olympic Results |accessdate=9 April 2020}}</ref> along with several world cups but has been often restricted by injury. He is also notable for being one of the first known [[snowboarders]] to complete a successful double back flip in a halfpipe competition, has several snowboarding moves named after him and has at times been regarded as arguably the most spectacular, daring [[half-pipe]] rider in Pemberton.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

Michalchuk stands {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} tall and he rides with a [[footedness|goofy stance]].

==Snowboarding career==
Michalchuk first entered the world professional snowboarding circuit in 1998 at the age of twenty-one after he gained qualification for the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] as a member of the Canadian team. During the games he qualified for the finals with an equal best score but his performance dropped and he eventually finished in 8th position.<ref>[http://classic.mountainzone.com/olympics/nagano/up2-12.html MountainZone.com {{!}} Olympic Halfpipe Snowboarding]</ref> During the 1998 season he achieved his highest placement during that year's world cup in the [[United States]], finishing third in the [[half-pipe]] event.

The following seasons became mostly disappointing ones for Michalchuk after he was plagued by several injuries, including blowing out his right knee and a recurring [[achilles tendon]] injury<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/special/thegames/saltlake/athletes/snowboarding/michalchuk.html | title=Athlete Profile - Michael Michalchuk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033458/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/special/thegames/saltlake/athletes/snowboarding/michalchuk.html | archive-date=2007-09-30 | website=www.theglobeandmail.com}}</ref> and it was not until 2001 before he could again compete on a regular basis. His only glory during this time came at the end of 2000 when competing in the ''Nike All Conditions Gear Indoor'' competition he won first place after landing a "near flawless" double back flip during the quarter-pipe competition and taking home a car and $32,000 in prize money.<ref>[http://snowboard.mountainzone.com/2000/boarderlines/acg/html/ Boarder Lines: Mike Michalchuk on snowboard.mountainzone.com]</ref>

In 2001 Michalchuk was injury free and competed in nearly a full half-pipe world cup circuit where he achieved several top-ten positions including taking a third placing during the event in [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]].

Michalchuk gained [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Winter Olympic]] qualification after a strong performance in [[Alpe d'Huez]], [[France]] in early 2002 but after making his second Olympics he performed poorly failing to qualify for the finals in the [[half-pipe]] event and eventually finished a disappointing twenty-seventh.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/hi/english/snowboarding/newsid_1743000/1743370.stm BBC SPORT {{!}} Winter Olympics 2002 {{!}} Snowboarding {{!}} French flavour hits snowboarding]</ref>

Since the 2002 Olympics Michalchuk has been further hampered by injury and his performances have suffered, between 2002 and 2005 he only achieved a sole top ten placing on the world cup circuit<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/613.html?sector=SB&competitorid=40011&type=result&category=WC&season=ALL&sort=&discipline=ALL&Submit=Search |title=FIS-Ski - biographie |access-date=2007-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930114032/http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/613.html?sector=SB&competitorid=40011&type=result&category=WC&season=ALL&sort=&discipline=ALL&Submit=Search |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and then took the entire 2006 season off from professional touring.

===Double backflip===
Michalchuk became the first snowboarder to perform a double back flip in halfpipe competition during 1997 around the time when he first turned professional.<ref>[http://www.methodmag.com/162.html?&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3135&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=154&cHash=f11ff05bd2 Method Snowboard Magazine: Flashback: Mike Michalchuk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044107/http://www.methodmag.com/162.html?&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3135&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=154&cHash=f11ff05bd2 |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> After performing the move he gained much media attention and would then often use the move in many professional competitions.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===The Michalchuk===
The Michalchuk is a pipe trick invented by Michael Michalchuk in the late 1990s and has emerged as his most lasting legacy in modern snowboarding. It's a wildcat-style back flip off the heelside wall of a half-pipe or quarter-pipe.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.snowboard-coach.com/Michalchuk.html | title=🎖️ FastLoto Azərbaycan⚡ Populyar onlayn kazino oyunu }}</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20130115122255/http://www.canoe.ca/2002GamesTeamCanadaBiosA2M/michalchuk.html Michael Michalchuk 2002 Olympic profile]
*{{Cite web | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/special/thegames/saltlake/athletes/snowboarding/michalchuk.html | title=Athlete Profile - Michael Michalchuk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033458/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/special/thegames/saltlake/athletes/snowboarding/michalchuk.html | archive-date=2007-09-30 | website=www.theglobeandmail.com}}
*{{FIS|S=SB|ID=40011}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044107/http://www.methodmag.com/162.html?&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3135&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=154&cHash=f11ff05bd2 Flashback on Michalchuk career]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michalchuk, Michael}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian male snowboarders]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Victoria, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Olympic snowboarders for Canada]]
[[Category:Snowboarders at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Snowboarders at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]

Michael Michalchuk - Revision history

imported>Gaius Cornelius: General formatting any tidying. Use convert template consistent with MOS:FOOT., typo(s) fixed: April 20, 1977 → April 20, 1977,