LAKE LOUISE | Marie-Michèle Gagnon is more comfortable than ever in the speed events.
Because she was going through the trials at a furious pace before betting everything on speed in 2018, the pride of Lac-Etchemin could not make the necessary corrections.
“I saw a really good difference last year,” she explained. I had more time between races to train and I was able to correct the situation when a problem was identified. “
“Instead of being good everywhere, I realized that I could be excellent by betting on the downhill and the super-G,” Gagnon continued. I have more potential in speed and this is where I have to put all my energy. It has become more natural this year and I am progressing faster. “
Gagnon loves his new environment. “I feel like I have completely changed sports,” she sums up. New girls, new sites. In technical events, it’s physically demanding. In speed, it is more difficult mentally and the risks are higher. I managed to detach myself between races and make myself happy. I have never been so relaxed as at the Worlds last year, when I used to finish the championship burnt. I should have been up to speed for a while, but I have no regrets. “
Goals
Gagnon does not set goals based on numbers.
“My goals are not based on numbers,” she said. It’s not like in swimming where you set a time goal and have a good idea of the rank [où] you will finish if you succeed. In skiing, there are so many variables that influence the result. My goal is to ski at the level of which I am capable. “
“Last year, I knew I had the potential to do well, but I wasn’t completely confident in my abilities at the start of the season and I didn’t have a great start number,” Gagnon continued. After an 11e A place which was a very good result in a race where I was riding at an intensity varying from 65 to 75 percent, this performance gave me a good dose of confidence. The next race [Garmisch-Partenkirchen], I was on a podium. “
This bronze medal was his first podium in five years and the first of his career in a sprint event. She followed with a 6th position in the world in super-G and 7e and 9e downhill positions to end the season. These were the two best downhill results of his career.
Profitable Camp
Before heading to Lake Louise, Gagnon attended a camp at Copper Mountain, Colorado with the best girls on the circuit.
“This is the best preparation camp I could have had,” she said. It’s a long track with a good degree of difficulty, jumps. There is everything, and this is the place where everyone wants to go. I measured well with the girls which is good for confidence and consistency, but now I have to do it in the race. I have half the job done. “
Her trainer stays home due to vaccine
Marie-Michèle Gagnon showed up in Alberta without her personal trainer.
Because he had not been vaccinated within the time limits required to enter Canada, the Italian Hansjord Plankensteiner remained at home. Present at the last camp at Cooper Mountain because the restrictions to enter the United States are not the same and he was able to obtain an exemption, he will find Gagnon at the next World Cup stop in Saint-Moritz. in Switzerland on December 11 and 12.
“It’s easier when my trainer is there,” admitted the 32-year-old skier who has developed excellent chemistry with her coach, but he remains involved from a distance. To date, things are going well. We will see later. “
Canadian team head coach Manuel Gamper takes over at Lake Louise.
“Mitch didn’t have a great training run on Tuesday, but she still finished in 4e square [trois skieuses plus rapides ont raté une porte], which is a good sign. She is relaxed and in a good state of mind. It’s fun to run around the house when you know you’re ready. “
Good choice
Gamper believes that Gagnon’s decision to go for the speed trials was an excellent choice. “It was the right decision that should have been made before,” he said. She was super fast before injuring herself at Lake Louise in November 2017 and had finished in 12e place in the super-G of the Pyeongchang Games test event. After his injury, we had to start from scratch and rebuild everything. Last season, however, was a turning point with his good results. “