Qualifying was initially delayed by three hours due to strong winds. When the Chur World Cup resumed in Switzerland last Friday, freestyle skier Édouard Therriault attempted a few warm-up jumps before retiring from competition. The weather conditions were just too dangerous for the reigning vice-world champion in the big jump (Big Air).
Mother Nature had already changed the skiers’ plans earlier in the week, even forcing the cancellation of a day of training.
The Chur World Cup was the first outing on the 2021-2022 calendar. The conditions were perfect at the start of the day, but they quickly deteriorated. When it came to the second wave of men’s qualifying, which included Édouard Therriault, the wind picked up and began to blow non-stop.
“Few people could make a successful landing. Despite everything, I did the practices, but it was really not fun. There were so many winds, it was scary at the end! »Said the athlete from Lorraine.
The event was therefore postponed for a few hours. Then, the organization decided to relaunch the activities.
A little surprised, Édouard Therriault all the same put on his boots again and sprang up a few times from the top of the imposing structure erected for the occasion. Nothing to convince him to go further.
“The sun has set and the snow has started to freeze. So there was more speed and the wind was dangerous. It was to flip a coin with speed, ”he described.
“I didn’t mess around with that. I listen to myself, I know my limits and when I feel good, that’s where I ski well. I didn’t think it was worth it. I choose my battles and this was not one of them. I watched the qualifications, the final, it was great fun, but not it was not my competition. It was too dangerous for me. ”
Three other skiers have drawn an end to this event.
The athletes were finally entitled to two attempts rather than three in the grand final. The Austrian Matej Svancer triumphed in front of the impressive crowd gathered in the evening, ahead of the Canadian Teal Harle and the Norwegian Birk Ruud.
The best is yet to come
A few days after this first World Cup, Édouard Therriault did not regret this abandonment.
“The ramp wasn’t forgiving and I thought long term. I have a big season coming up and it’s not a competition that will make me miss the rest of my schedule. It was really not worth the trouble ”, justified the one who is still in search of a first podium in the World Cup.
The Quebecer has also said he is ready to undertake this “big season”, described in this way in particular because it includes the Beijing Olympics. He had a good preparatory camp in Italy and said he was full of confidence.
“I was really ready! It’s only October and it’s the start of the season, we’ll get more snow. There is going to be a lot of skiing! With the past year, I know how I operate. When I feel good, this is where I ski well. It is a trust that you earn, that you create. I’m biding my time and looking forward to the next competitions, ”said Édouard Therriault.
The latter was back in Quebec the day after the World Cup in Chur for the grand premiere of his film. Edjoy The Movie, which was presented as part of the IF3 Festival.
He will now prepare for the World Cup in Stubai, Austria, and then tackle the rest of the Olympic qualifiers with his usual calm.
“There is a good English sentence that describes this: Less is more. What’s simple is what’s best! ”