Bad news for the men competing in the Moguls World Cup this season: Mikaël Kingsbury has polished his weapons and he is ready.
The “King” of moguls, winner of all crystal globes in the discipline and in the general classification from 2012 to 2020, does not intend to ease off as he begins his 13e season on the circuit.
And his opponents who would hope that Kingsbury put all his eggs on the defense of his Olympic title in Beijing, next February, will have to get used to the idea: his Olympic preparation will begin at the World Cup in Ruka, Finland, at the start. of December.
“This is the third time that I start a season of an Olympic year: I know what to expect, he said in videoconference, Wednesday, on the eve of flying to a training camp. of 10 days in Sweden. The goal is to start the season well, but really to be at the top at the end of January or the beginning of February. To get there, it’s important for me to start the season on the right foot. “
“I have always been good at the start of the season. I’m not just thinking of the Olympics, but of having a good competition in Ruka. I’m a guy who likes to go one competition at a time, so I put all my focus on Ruka, then it will be Sweden, then France. After a short break, we will begin the North American portion. We will probably take another break before the Games. I want to be on top of my game in Beijing. “
The forced break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic last season, in which Kingsbury only played in the Deer Valley World Cup, forcing him to temporarily cede his throne to Australian Matt Graham, will have been to him salutary. He does not believe that this time off the slopes will come to haunt him this season.
“It was kind of a good time for my career to take this break. I am 29 years old and have been doing this for 12 years. I believe that my muscle memory is developed enough to allow me to be at a good level even without having taken part in so many competitions. I feel very good now. My ski is doing well and so is my body. I am exactly where I want to be. “
Another bad news for the opponents
“Last summer I didn’t realize how much my body needed a break. I skied non stop for almost 12 years. It allowed me to take a step back and establish my goals more clearly for this season. It’s pretty obvious what I want, but in order to be an Olympic champion and win every time you show up in the starting gate, you have to make sure you tick multiple boxes. These breaks have been good. I was able to spend more time in the gym this summer. This way, it will take me less time to regain my level on the snow. “
Kingsbury will also start a fourth season under the guidance of coach Michel Hamelin.
“We got to know each other a long time ago, on the development team. He was already my competitor, when he coached Alexandre Bilodeau. It’s the fun to work together. He brought me to a new level. “
While thinking of collecting points on the circuit of the World Cup, Kingsbury will show his colors by skiing practically all the season the downhill which he intends to present in Beijing. No surprise, therefore, for his opponents.
“Most people know what jumps I can do,” he explained. I also have a lot of guns in my back pocket. It is clear that the double full-1080 (a perilous double with three full twists) is the jump I won the most often and remains the downhill that I think will win the Olympics. Now I will also see what strategy my opponents use at the start of the season. “
“I have the 1440 which is going really well lately, I constantly land it. It takes less energy to do. I worked on a lot of jumps with edge holds. These jumps are the most difficult in terms of difficulty coefficient on the circuit. It’s not my Plan A, but I know they’re ready and if I need to use them, they’re there. But for now, I’m focusing on dual full-1080. “
“In terms of points, out of 20, I’ve already been able to get 19 points, so I’m getting almost the maximum in jumps and I’m able to be fast with this downhill. So you keep technical errors to a minimum. It’s still my potential best score, but if I take risks, if someone has received a big score, I have options to stand out. “
The silver in Sochi and gold in Pyeongchang medalist will try in Beijing to become only the second hard worker, after the French Edgar Grospiron, to climb a third time on an Olympic podium.
Mentor
Over the years, Kingsbury has lost the contribution of the veterans of the freestyle ski team: the Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau, Vincent Marquis, and even Alexandre Bilodeau. In fact, it is now up to him to act as a mentor to Laurent Dumais, Gabriel Dufresne, Kerrian Chunlaud and Brenden Kelly. It’s a role he loves.
“It’s still an individual sport where I have to worry about my stuff first. But our team spirit is really strong. All my teammates know my door is always open. Many come to ask me questions, on the technique or on the psychological aspects of the sport, and it always makes me happy to answer them. “
“My biggest role as a mentor is in my actions. In the gym, I always give my 100%, and in the mountains, I always love what I do. It’s the fun to be in the position where I am: I am the oldest, I have the most experience. It’s gratifying to help someone and to see that a little thing that seems obvious to you can help another skier improve. People from other countries sometimes come to ask me questions, but I will always favor my teammates! “
While trying to beat them.