Q & A with Kyle Mack
Former Rice student competing in the Winter Olympics
By George Mamatas
Chieftain Staff
ence as much as I can and
go check out as many other
events as I can because I
will be there for 24 days.
What is it like to be
competing in your fi rst
Winter Olympics?
It’s an honor. I’m so
excited to be competing
on such a big stage, not
only just for me but for my
country and all the people
that have supported me
throughout my career.
During your two years at
Rice, what was it like try-
ing to balance school and
snowboarding?
It was really hard, but Brother Rice
was very cool with it and the teachers
always helped me out, so it was fun.
And I thank them for giving me the op-
portunity to do it.
What got you into snowboarding?
My dad got me into snowboarding
when I was 3 years old. We went up to
Boyne Mountain and I fi rst tried skiing
but took a hard slam and didn’t want to
ski again. Daycare wasn’t an option in
the Mack family, so my dad put me on a
snowboard and I never looked back.
Have you been in touch
with any of the other US
Snowboarders?
Yeah, I ride with all them
all the time. One of my
good friends is Red Gerard,
who I’ve grown up with for
a while, so I’m excited to go
with him.
Growing up, who were some of your
role models?
My dad is my biggest role model to
this day, but [also professional snow-
boarders] Danny Davis and Nicolas
Müllur.
Did you play any other sports growing
up?
Yeah, when I was growing up, I
played hockey and football. I played
hockey until about 2nd grade, but it was
taking up my weekend and that was
the only time I could go snowboarding.
And I played football until 8th grade at
Our Lady of Refuge.
What are you most looking forward to
in the Olympics?
Just the whole experience. I’ve heard
so many good things about it and it’s a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. (Hope-
fully a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity
and, if I’m still going when I’m 28, a
third time). I’m going to try and experi-
B ROTHE R R IC E H I G H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
P AG E 12
Is there anyone in the
Olympics you’re look-
ing forward to competing
against or seeing?
I compete against all these guys all
year long, so it’s just another event. I’m
just looking forward to doing what I
INSIDE
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F E B R U A R Y 2018