Ricker - the first female Canadian athlete to win Olympic gold on home soil when she claimed the title at Vancouver 2010 - made her Games debut at Nagano 1998 and is set to appear at her fourth Olympics in Sochi, having missed out on Salt Lake City 2002 due to injury.

"We definitely have an amazing group and an amazing team, and to be a part of it is great," said the 35-year-old, who was crowned 2013 world champion in Quebec last January.

"We have strong athletes in all the disciplines and I'm very honoured and excited."

She is joined by fellow snowboard cross athlete and 2013 World Cup gold medal winner Chris Robanske, who will be making his Olympic debut.

Three other athletes will also making their first appearance at a Games and all are competing in the slopestyle discipline, which is on the Olympic programme for the first time in Sochi.

Mark McMorris, who took World Championship silver in Quebec, and Sebastien Toutant will be strong medal contenders in the men's event, while 2013 world champion Spencer O'Brien will be among the gold medal favourites in the women's competition.

Mark McMorris will be among the medal favourites at Sochi 2014 as slopestyle makes its Olympic debut ©Getty Images