Federica Brignone knew she had a chance as the weather deteriorated on Sunday in Mont-Tremblant.
The 33-year-old Italian braved difficult conditions, as snow piled up in centimeters throughout the afternoon, and she won a second consecutive gold medal in the giant slalom of the World Cup.
After placing sixth in the first run, Brignone posted the second-fastest run of the weekend, 1:04.27, to climb to the top of the podium.
“It’s incredible really, I tried everything on the second run,” said Brignone, a three-time Olympic medalist. I had too much of a gap, but I knew that in these conditions, if you make a difference, you really make a difference… I tried everything. I went to the lines, I was really brave and I made the difference. It was wonderful. I am very moved, happy and proud. »
Brignone became the oldest giant slalom winner in World Cup history on Saturday. On Sunday, she posted a total time of 2:11.95 to sweep the weekend.
“I had never done that,” she said. I hope to have time this evening to realize it, plus it’s really magnificent. »
Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, who won the first two giant slaloms this season, won the silver medal (2:12.28). American Mikaela Shiffrin, leader in the World Cup standings, won the bronze medal (2:12.34).
Slovakian Petra Vlhova slipped from first to fifth position after having the best first run, in calmer conditions.
The temperature hovered around 0 degrees Celsius on a cloudy day in Mont-Tremblant, before snow began to fall before the second descent.
Shiffrin was happy with how she skied under the circumstances.
“I prefer it when it’s sunny,” she said, smiling. When you already feel from the beginning that things are moving… the doors sort of blow up in your face, you don’t see anything. You tell yourself that you just have to fight and try to ski well. I think I did the best I could. »
Valérie Grenier, from Saint-Isidore, Ontario, occupied 11e rank due to a costly mistake on the first run, but she took sixth to finish the event as the fastest Canadian woman.
“The snow wasn’t that bad, it was more the wind that caused the snow to blow up and we couldn’t see much,” she explained. There were one or two doors where I didn’t see the next one. It was a bit of a crazy ride. I went there thinking it was crazy, but it was “fun”. »
Aged 27, Grenier, however, felt she had missed an opportunity, after finishing eighth on Saturday.
“My mistake was costly this morning, so I think if I hadn’t done that, I think it would have been close [du podium], she argued. But everyone makes mistakes, it’s part of the game. »
The local favorite was nevertheless proud of her performance in front of those close to her, and blown away by the support from the crowd throughout the weekend.
Event organizers said more than 15,000 spectators attended the two-day event.
“It’s so nice to see everyone who came here today and yesterday. It seems like I can’t believe so many people came to see us,” Grenier said. It’s so heartwarming… A crowd like that is what makes the race “fun”. »
Cassidy Gray of Panorama, B.C., finished 24e with a time of 2:14.49. She placed in the top-30 for a second straight race after being unable to do so since March 2021.
“It’s really special to me,” Gray said. It gives me a lot of confidence and I know I can do even more. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. »
Quebecers Justine Clément, from Stoneham, and Justine Lamontagne, from Mont-Sainte-Anne, did not avoid the ax and they took the 50th and 53rd ranks, respectively. Sarah Bennett, also of Stoneham, and Britt Richardson, of Canmore, Alta., did not complete their descent.
It was the first time since 1983 that Mont-Tremblant hosted an alpine World Cup event.