(Mont-Tremblant) All neighbors in the same building in Montreal, the Dufour-Lapointe did not see each other during the Holidays, confinement requires. The unpacking of the gifts was done virtually, each in their home.
The Mont-Tremblant World Cup therefore took place as a reunion for the parents and their three daughters on Friday.
After a little hug that seemed to do them the greatest good, the two youngest, Chloe and Justine, continued their quest for the Beijing Olympics. Silver medalist in 2014, Chloé is aiming for a fourth participation. Gold medalist in 2014 and silver in 2018, Justine is heading towards her third Olympic Games.
It’s not enough to claim victory, but they took a step in the right direction on Friday. Especially Justine, who finished ninth, by far her best result of the winter in singles.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Justine Dufour-Lapointe during her descent, Friday
“We have had extremely difficult last months,” Justine testified. Physically, mentally, to go through it all. When I got here, I just said to myself: I don’t want to let go, I don’t want to give up. I will continue to fight until the end. Even though it’s hard, even if it’s not yet perfect the way I want it to be, I don’t let go. I know that I am capable of doing it. I have it in me, this descent. ”
In Final 1, the younger sister made a jump of an amplitude that surprised her a little at the top of the course, which made her land “on her heels”. This error hurt her, but did not prevent her from continuing her descent with great dynamism.
Crossing the line, the 27-year-old clenched a fist and let out a little cry of satisfaction. While waiting for the notes, she was smiling as in her heyday, those which allowed her to climb almost 50 times on the podium in the World Cup.
“When I got to the bottom, it looked like I had already forgotten my descent. I didn’t even know what I had done right or wrong. That’s what I like about my performance right now. I am really present. I give it my all, and it comes with risks. […] I like to share my pride. “
Even though I made a mistake, the rest was really good. My ski was exactly as I wanted it to be.
Justine Dufour-Lapointe
Chloe, she regretted an imbalance on the landing of the second jump which made her tumble at the 14e rank, she who had completed the qualifications at the seventh step.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, Friday, at Tremblant
“Before the second jump, my choice was: I slow down as I’m used to – my comfort zone – or I go hard. I decided to go all out. I think I misjudged the height I was going to take. But I am proud of myself. I am proud to have pushed. I want to get into the top 6. It’s by doing descents like that that I’m going to get there. It’s a big dose of confidence that I had today. ”
Second in age among the 40 competitors, Chloé, 30, therefore draws a “positive result even if the result is not this [qu’elle] hoped[t] “:” It’s really grains of salt here. Dosage. This third result among the best 16 since last winter also allows him to climb a level in the Olympic selection process.
Focus on this Saturday
In qualifying in the morning, the skiers had to deal with a hiatus of a good hour due to heavy fog, which forced the organizers to condense the program for the rest of the day.
The change did not hurt Anri Kawamura, the 17-year-old Japanese prodigy who scored his second World Cup victory after Idre Fjäll’s last month. She beat the French Perrine Laffont, Olympic and world champion who had won the two previous events at Tremblant. American Tess Johnson completed the podium, her second of the season.
Looking for a first medal in nearly two years, Justine Dufour-Lapointe wants to join the battle for the second competition this Saturday.
“I still have a few details to settle in order to have a cork perfect, landed in the boots. This is where this descent will really pay off. I am very confident that I will be able to do it tomorrow [samedi]. ”