Deprived of the Crystal Globe for the first time in ten years last year due to an injury that caused him to miss two World Cup starts, Mikaël Kingsbury feels ready to regain his property.
Whether it’s an Olympic year or not, the mogul specialist attaches as much importance to the World Cup as he does to the Olympics.
“The Crystal Globe is as important as the Games and it would be special to restart another streak,” said the 2018 Pyeongchang Games gold medalist, who leaves for Sweden on Thursday for final preparation for the start of the season. the season.
“I won nine straight titles and was left with an injury,” added Kingsbury. I missed two races. My two World Cup victories were not counted in the standings, otherwise I would have won the World Cup title. “
Already prequalified for the Beijing Games due to his World Cup victory in Kazakhstan last March and his two World Cup wins in Deer Valley upon his return to competition, Kingsbury need not worry about his results.
No pressure
“I’m in the best possible position and I just have to make a final (top 16),” explained the freestyle skier from Deux-Montagnes, who has 65 career World Cup victories to his name and 93 podiums. . It takes the pressure off, but on the other hand, I never put any pressure on myself because I know I have the level to be at the Games. I focus on the process and the qualification is done by itself. I am looking in the short term to reach the top of the mountain. The Olympics are the top of the pyramid, but I set myself a lot of small goals. “
The World Cup will start on December 4 in Ruka, Finland. It was on the same track that Kingsbury broke two vertebrae in his chest region last year during a training run in preparation for the start of the season.
A “special” track
He had fractured his T4 and T5 vertebrae, an injury that kept him on the sidelines for four weeks and put the brakes on his streak of 107 consecutive World Cup starts.
“Yes that’s where I got injured and yes I want to take my revenge, but it’s a track which is really special and where I achieved several firsts. I won my first career podium in 2010; I signed my 50e career victory and got my 100e departure [2019]. I won eight races in ten starts at Ruka. I have many fond memories of this place and I can’t wait to go back, ”said the 29-year-old hard worker.
Kingsbury also believes that he is at the top of his game both on his boards and physically.
“I’m in better shape right now than before my injury. My back is stronger than it has ever been and my injury is behind me. I learned a lot about myself while I was gone, including how to peak at the right time. My level of skiing and motivation is at the highest level, ”he said.
Due to the quarantine still required in September, the 2014 Sochi Games silver medalist missed the start of the national team’s camp at Mount Hood in Oregon, but he claims to be at the desired level.
“I arrived later than the national team because I waited until the criteria to come back to the country were less severe, but I did the same volume as the guys. Physically and mentally, I am at the desired level ”, assured Kingsbury.
With 65 World Cup wins on the clock, Kingsbury has climbed to the top of the podium in his last five starts at Ruka.