When his result appeared on the screen, Mikaël Kingsbury closed his eyes for a few seconds, disappointed. For the first time in his healthy career, the “King” of moguls did not reach the World Cup super-final on Saturday morning in Idre Fjäll, Sweden.
A week after winning the gold medal at Ruka last weekend, Mikaël Kingsbury has, for a very rare time, stumbled in the World Cup.
The native of Deux-Montagnes, who finished qualifying in third place, was the 14e to start in the final. He made an obvious mistake landing his first jump and was awarded 81.16 points, good for eighth. Only the first six skiers reached the super-final.
“What happened was that I arrived a little short in my double-full. In addition, there is snow that has fallen. I think it stuck a bit to my landing, which made me lean forward. In a track like that, it’s not forgiving. ”
Coming to the bottom of the track, Kingsbury had little hope that his mistake hadn’t been too obvious and that he would make his place in the top six. But when he saw his descent on the giant screen, he thought: “this is going to be hard”.
“I wasn’t surprised, just disappointed,” he explained. I would have liked it to pass but I am aware that with errors like that, it does not pass in the super-finals. At the time, it takes me about 5 minutes. I am disappointed and a little angry with myself. Not towards the judges, because they have to do their job even if we don’t agree with them all the time. This is life in a judged sport. ”
I take risks, like in every race. It is a track which is different than usual, which is quite flat. It’s hard for the best skiers to really stand out.
Mikael kingsbury
Japan’s Ikuma Hiroshima (88.49) won the gold. The Swede Albin Holmgren (87.81) grabbed the silver, while the French Benjamin Cavet (85.06) finished on the third step of the podium.
Gabriel Dufresne (78.91), from Joliette, and Kerrian Chunlaud (78.58), from Sainte-Foy, for their part finished at 14e and 15e ranks.
“We bounce back”
The last time Kingsbury was off the World Cup podium was on January 18, 2019, in Lake Placid, USA. He had finished 5e. He has since won 13 gold and 4 silver on the circuit.
It’s boring, but at the same time, in an Olympic year, it comes at a good time.
Mikael kingsbury
The skier will still have several chances to get back on the podium before the most important competition of the season, in February. From Sunday, still in Idre Fjäll, he will take part in the mogul event in parallel. He is not worried about what will happen next, he who felt “good and confident” at the top of the course before his descent.
“I’ve had poor performances before,” he said. We can say that it is. I have to stay positive. I know I do good skiing. Normally it’s still my strength to be able to be clutch when it matters. Today it was just a lack of judgment. ”
“It’s boring, it’s disappointing, but I don’t have to stop there. I have to learn from these mistakes and come back stronger. If it’s to happen, better if it happens now than later in the season. ”
On the women’s side, three Canadian skiers reached the final. Whistler, BC native Sofiane Gagnon (79.49) was the best performer with a 9e square. Berkley Brown (78.24) and Maia Schwinghammer (75.12) finished 11e and 16e, in order.
It was the Japanese Anri Kawamura (85.99) who was crowned gold. The French Perrine Lafont (84.63) and the Australian Jakara Anthony (84.55) climbed on the second and third step of the podium.
The Dufour-Lapointe sisters did not qualify for the final; Justine finished in 20e place and Chloé, in 24e square.