(Lac-Beauport) Sherbrooke’s Marion Thénault dominated the qualifying session for the Lac-Beauport Aerials World Cup.
The team bronze medalist from the Beijing Olympic Games obtained the highest score of the morning at Le Relais Ski Center for her double back somersault punctuated by two twists, or 90.94.
Thénault, who fell heavily between the first two World Cups of the season and who is still recovering from her injuries, indicated this week that she would stick to double maneuvers, which, she believed, would allow her to to qualify for the final, or even the super-final.
The first step is successful.
Thénault, third in the crystal globe ranking, beat Australian Danielle Scott (86.62), who is ahead of her in the general ranking. American Kaila Kuhn (76.86) finished third.
Three of the four Canadians competing advanced to the final, where 12 skiers will compete. Charlie Fontaine finished 10e with 64.74 points, while Rosalie Gagnon (61.10) obtained the last available place.
The surprise of the day came from the American Winter Vinecki. The one who held the yellow jersey before the start of the competition fell on landing and finished 11e. The general ranking should be affected at the end of the day.
The competition continues with the men’s qualifications. Alexandre Duchaine, the best Canadian in the World Cup rankings in fourth place, leads a delegation of nine jumpers, including Miha Fontaine and Lewis Irving, teammates of Thénault during the team competition at the last Olympics, and Émile Nadeau.