Just because she’s in Tuscany doesn’t mean Laurence St-Germain doesn’t already have her sights set on the Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Taking advantage of a final rest period before the final sprint to Méribel, the skier from Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges followed the women’s combined event with attention, which opened the event on Monday. Her sisters Marie-Michèle Gagnon (10e) and Valerie Grenier (14e) have returned to slalom on a track that St-Germain will see again on February 18.
“It gave me a little reminder,” she said. Yes, I skied there last year, but that was in March [11e aux finales de la Coupe du monde]. I want to watch videos of my run to give me an idea of how it was going. Of course I will talk to them, especially about the quality of the snow. »
Due to a rocky winter, she will not have the advantage of a favorable bib. She currently occupies the 19e rank of the starting list in the World Cup, she who has regularly spawned with the first 10 in recent years. The condition of the Roc de Fer track will therefore be an important factor in the first round.
Fortunately for the representative of the Mont-Sainte-Anne club, her last race was her best of the season. She still feels the good vibrations of her seventh place at Spindleruv Mlyn, in the country of Ester Ledecka.
“The only difference is that I did two runs that lived up to my expectations, especially the second, she explained. I started really well from the start of the course. The other rounds, it took me a good 15 gates before getting into the rhythm and attacking. It’s really two runs where I skied to my full potential. »
Apart from his ninth place at Levi at the start of the season, St-Germain had never managed to stick two good runs.
“It was a bit difficult! Even with my coaches, I felt… not that they didn’t know how to motivate me anymore. I wasn’t in a panic because I know I ski well. It was more like: “Ah, you finish a run 15e, even if you haven’t skied to your potential. Ah! you skied this section well, even if it was not complete.” There was always a little “even if”…”
“It gives me energy”
After her good performance in the Czech Republic, she declared that she fully understood what still separated her from the best. Long video sessions allowed her to compare herself to Mikaela Shiffrin, the lady with 85 victories, and to the German Lena Duerr, winner of this last slalom.
“With Shiffrin, there were sections where I found my position to be similar, but it was much more direct, more upright [dans le parcours]. Same thing with Lena Duerr, even if we have a completely different style. It may look silly, but I have to travel 40 to 50 cm [de plus] at every door. On 60 doors, that makes a big difference. That’s what I really tried to improve. »
The student in biomedical engineering at the University of Montreal wants to be transported by the atmosphere which seems to reign in Savoy, especially after the victory of the child of the country Alexis Pinturault in the combined on Tuesday.
PHOTO DENIS BALIBOUSE, REUTERS
Alexis Pinturault
In her first participation in the Worlds, in 2019, she took advantage of the large audience in Äre (Sweden) to rank sixth. In Cortina, in 2019, “where there was no one and no atmosphere”, she ended up at 17e rank.
“It really helps me to have the world and to feel that people are happy to see us. I also experience it every year as a spectator at the Mountain Bike World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne. To feel how I look forward to seeing the competition and the athletes perform. To feel the same excitement towards our sport, it motivates me and gives me energy. »
While she doesn’t see Worlds as an opportunity to redeem an otherwise difficult winter, she concedes the stakes add additional stress.
This is one of my strengths as an athlete: I handle pressure well. Actually, I say as an athlete, but at school too. I am sometimes a bit last minute! So it helps me perform under pressure.
Laurence St Germain
Cautious, St-Germain does not set a goal, preferring to focus on execution. Still, is a podium possible? “I think so, I think I can really surprise myself. »
For that, she will first have to win a “little fight” inside with her confidence.
“I am able to ski well and compete with the best. I know that if I do that, the result will follow. Which ? I am surprised! »
After her Tuscan break, St-Germain and her teammates will head to Valle d’Aosta to resume snow training before arriving in Méribel on Wednesday next week.
A victory that unites
PHOTO PIERRE TEYSSOT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Valérie Grenier in Kranjska Gora, January 7
Laurence St-Germain thinks “to have lost a year of [sa] life” by following the unfolding of the race which led to the first victory of her teammate Valérie Grenier in the giant slalom of Kranjska Gora, on January 7. “We didn’t really have the same path, but we rubbed shoulders on the Quebec circuit. Val is one of my best friends. It sure motivates me to see everything she went through to achieve her goals. It proves that when you want and you put in the work, it pays off. It definitely motivates me to work harder. This success also reflects on the Canadian collective. “It really bonded our team. We feel that even if we are underdogs, we are capable of being among the best. »
Simon Drouin, The Press