Alaska snowboarder Nathan Paré, a native of Bethel, was disqualified in the quarterfinal round of the Olympic snowboard cross competition after drawing strong attention with a spirited run.
Paré, who earned acclaim for advancing through the early rounds at the Winter Olympics, was competing among the world’s top snowboard cross athletes when officials ruled that he violated a racing rule during Wednesday’s quarterfinal heat. The disqualification came after video review and consultation by the race jury.
Snowboard cross, a high-speed head-to-head racing discipline where competitors navigate jumps, rollers, and banked turns, demands precision and timing. In the quarterfinal, Paré appeared to be in contention to advance to the semifinals when the call was made.
The disqualification ended Paré’s bid for an Olympic medal, but his performance drew praise from supporters in Alaska for his competitive drive and accomplishments on the international stage.
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Following the round, Paré posted a message of thanks to fans and family for their support throughout the Games and vowed to continue pushing forward in his athletic career.
The Alaska community, especially in Bethel and among winter sports enthusiasts statewide, has rallied behind Paré in recent years as he rose through competitive snowboarding ranks to represent the United States at the Olympics.
