'I needed it for sure': Snowboarding opens unexpected doors for Canada's Liam Gill

When Liam Gill felt he didn't belong, snowboarding came to his rescue.

Diagnosed with a language processing disorder and dyslexia, Gill struggled to understand and make himself understood in school.

Toting his snowboard to Calgary's Canada Olympic Park several times a week, Gill would come off the hill buzzing with purpose.

"Growing up, school was tough," the 20-year-old said. "I never understood why I had such a hard time. I'd leave school drained. I kind of felt stupid.

"Snowboarding was a way to prove to myself that I was good at something. It was a huge outlet for me, being a kid. I had something where I felt confident and good about myself. I needed it for sure."

Gill will compete in the season-ending World Cup halfpipe in his hometown starting with Friday's qualification at 2:05 p.m. ET. Saturday evening's final at 9 p.m. ET will be under the lights at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park. Live coverage of the event is available on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

WATCH | Gill guides young snowboarders in N.W.T.:

When Gill competed in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing in just his second year on the national team, snowboarding opened an unexpected door for him.

The only Indigenous male on Canada's team drew the attention of that community.

Gill is a member of the Dene First Nation Liidlii Kue in the Northwest Territories. When he didn't perform the way he wanted to in Beijing, he says their support felt like a lifeline.

"That was the biggest stage I've been on," Gill said. "Kind of put me in the spotlight. I got amazing feedback even though I performed horribly.

Gill's grandmother is from Fort Simpson, N.W.T. He went there soon after the Olympic Games to help youngsters try snowboarding and returned to do it again the following year.

"My first time, I was running up and down this hill holding hands and teaching these kids how to snowboard. The next year, I couldn't keep up with them," Gill said.

When Sunshine Ski Resort west of Banff, Alta., told Gill he could host an event of his choosing, he wanted to get children from N.W.T. there at no cost.