Laurence St-Germain is excited at the dawn of a new Alpine Skiing World Cup season. After carving out a place among the elite in the specialty last year, the slalom rider from St-Ferréol-les-Neiges has long teeth in this Olympic year.
“Last year I was consistent, getting four top-10s and brushing against it in other races. I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished, the 27-year-old skier recently said. This season, I want to get closer to the top-5 in the World Cup and I am aiming for a podium at the Olympics.
“I’m happy with my physical training and all my preparation on snow. I can’t wait to see where I rank among the best compared to last year. ”
And to kick off its season, St-Germain is delighted to return this weekend to the resort of Levi, Finland, where it finished sixth and eighth respectively in last year’s two slaloms.
“I know the track well and we have two more races there this year. I hope to do even better this time. ”
And unlike last year, spectators will be at the finish line this time, which adds to the excitement for St-Germain.
The performance of her teammate Valérie Grenier, who took seventh place in the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, in raising the curtain of the season last month, is also a great source of motivation.
Having experienced her Olympic baptism at PyeongChang in 2018, St-Germain is aware that she has yet to secure her qualification for Beijing and that her World Cup results will be decisive – she needs a top-7 or two top-15s to confirm his place.
“I don’t really focus on qualifying goals because my personal goals are way beyond that. I know that if I am satisfied with my races, it will allow me to qualify. I focus more on each race. ”
The American Mikaela Shiffrin set the tone for a season that promises to be very tough by winning the giant slalom in Sölden ahead of her rivals, the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami and the Slovakian Petra Vlhova.
Last year, Vlhova, winner of the big crystal globe, had achieved the double in Levi.
After the two races in Levi, the white circus will move to North America with a stop in Killington, Vermont on November 27 and 28 for a giant slalom and a women’s slalom. And the resort in Lake Louise, Alta., Will host two downhills and a super-G from December 3-5.