Pollard on board for Paralympics selection

Bunbury snowboarder Sean Pollard believes he has done enough to earn selection for this year’s Winter Paralympic Games.

The 26-year-old is hopeful of receiving the call about his selection for the March event in the coming weeks and is busily preparing for the possibility, having flown out to Canada on Sunday for the Big White 2018 World Para Snowboard World Cup Finals, which start on February 5.

Pollard lost his left arm and part of his right arm in a great white shark attack while surfing at Esperance in 2014 and has spent the past two years working towards his goal of Paralympic Games selection.

He told the South Western Times that two top eight finishes at World Para Snowboard slalom and cross events last year had given him the best chance to be selected in the Australian team.

“It has been a crazy three years, so to be where I am at now is kind of unbelievable,” he said.

“To think I could be at the Winter Paralympics in a few months is crazy.”

Pollard said snowboarding had filled a hole in his life left by surfing and skateboarding, which he used to do in his younger years.

“I had the skills (for snowboarding) before, so I had to just transfer those skills,” he said.

“It took a few days to get used to being strapped in.

“But it is good fun now.”

Pollard said he did not have high expectations on himself if he was to head to the Paralympics.

“I just want to ride well and do my best,” he said.

“I haven’t been before, but if I get a top eight finish I will be happy.”

Pollard said the snowboarding course would be one of the biggest he had tackled.

“It will be really pushing the sport and the limits,” he said.

“I am excited to see it and get into it.

“Obviously there is going to be a lot more media pressure around it and it will be a bit more serious.

“Hopefully if I just concentrate on my riding, the results will come.”

Pollard said despite his inexperience in the sport, he was not counting himself out of medal contention.

“Anything can happen on race day, so you never say never,” he said.