Second in the Crystal Globe race last year, Eliot Grondin is feeling ready for the next snowboard cross season and is aiming for new heights.
Back home after a month-long camp in Switzerland where he was able to get back to the snow, the 20-year-old snowboarder believes he can do even better.
“I finished second overall last year and want to bring home a Crystal Globe this year,” said Grondin. It won’t be easy and it will be a big battle every race, but I got better with good summer training and had a good camp in Europe. I have grown again and am maturing physically. I see the difference. “
In this Olympic year, Beauceron also has an eye on the World Cup circuit.
“If I stay healthy I want to fight for a podium in all races,” he said. I also want to do well at the Games. My qualification is not official, but it looks great. “
“Even though this is an Olympic year, I don’t want to bet everything on the Games,” continued Grondin, who had a dream season last year with a bronze medal at the world championship and his first career victory.
“The Games remain a race like any other even though everything around it is bigger. I want to dominate from the first race to the last. “
Grondin is aware that he will be eagerly awaited after his successes in the last campaign.
“I’ll have a bigger target,” he imaged. It’s perfect like that because I like it. Last year at the start of the season, I couldn’t be seen fighting for the podium. I can still improve because I still have a lot to improve, especially my consistency. “
World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne
Used to performing far from home, the snowboarder will have the opportunity to demonstrate his talent at home this year. Quebec will indeed host a stage of the World Cup. Initially scheduled for the Massif de Petite-Rivière-Saint-François at the end of January, the World Cup will instead take place at Mont-Sainte-Anne from February 25 to 27.
“It’s going to be a first for me to run in Quebec and I’m really looking forward to performing in front of my family and friends,” he said. I’m going to want to fight for the win. It’s going to be the first race after the Games. ”
Quebec has not hosted a World Cup stop since February 2015 when Stoneham hosted the world elite. The world championship was held at the same place in 2013. Snowboard Canada wishes to hold a World Cup stage in the Quebec region for several years. Mont-Sainte-Anne and Le Massif will be involved.
Valuable experience
Launched in the Olympic jungle in 2018 in Pyeongchang when he was only 16 years old, Grondin believes he is better equipped this time around.
“In 2018, I was very young and I had a great experience. I did not have the level and no expectations. I was brought in to learn about the Olympics and gain experience. “
The youngest athlete in the Canadian delegation, Grondin finished 36th in South Korea.
After another camp in Europe which will take him to France, Switzerland and Austria, Grondin will start his season during the test event from November 26 to 28.
“It will be my first experience in China and I will be able to discover the Olympic course and the environment. “