Quebecers dominated Friday’s qualifying session for the Snowboard Cross World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
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The Canadian team coaches felt earlier this week that this was a course that suited Éliot Grondin well and they were right.
As for the main interested party, he preferred to wait for the qualifications before deciding definitively, but he agreed to the verdict of his coaches.
“I like the start, underlined the Olympic vice-champion with a slight smile. Leaving is my strength. If I can get off to such a good start on Saturday in the race and keep pushing, it will be possible for me to stay at the front, from start to finish. »
With bib number one, Grondin will have the privilege of choosing the right door for each race in the elimination table of 32 runners.
Beyond the start, Grondin was delighted with the course as a whole.
“It’s the most beautiful course of the season. I hope Mont-Sainte-Anne will become an annual stop. This is also the wish of all runners. »
Even if he is playing his first World Cup at home, the Beauceron snowboarder wants to keep his routine.
“I didn’t feel any particular emotions when I took the start. Yes, I’m at home, but I’m preparing as if we were in Europe. »
The presence of young people from the Quebec team brought back good memories: when he showed up at Stoneham in the 2010s to attend the World Cup. “If I’m here now, it’s because I went to watch races at Stoneham when I was younger,” he said. I had stars in my eyes when I saw Dominique Maltais. I ran into Dom earlier. I hope I can inspire as many young people as possible. »
A first for McManiman
Not wanting to be outdone by her compatriot, Audrey McManiman also dominated the qualifying session. She was showing her best smile when she met the media.
“It’s the first time I’ve finished first in qualifying,” she said. I’m really happy and it’s really exciting to wear bib number one. »
“I knew I had a chance to put in a good time because they had fixed the course after the men’s qualification and I was the first to go, but I didn’t think I would finish first. student in kinesiology at Laval University. I had the perfect track to set a good time. »
A perfect descent?
“I made two small mistakes. The snow was sticky and I let my board go. I had to avoid being too aggressive in the turns. I focused on doing smooth turns. The start being crucial, the athletes had to give their all in the first moments of the race.
“We had no room for error, explained the only Canadian to slip into the Top 16. There are good holes and it is possible that you lack speed if you lack synchronization or miss the transitions. It’s a more technical start than in the world championship. »
An Italian in the Canadian clan
BEAUPRÉ | The taste for adventure allowed Snowboard Canada to land a renowned co-head coach who worked with a four-time world champion and an Olympic medalist during his career.
Olympian at the 2006 Games in Turin and 2010 in Vancouver and with an 11-year career on the World Cup circuit, Italian Simone Malusa turned to coaching when he hung up his board.
He notably led the Spaniards Lucas Eguibar who won the world championship four times and Regino Hernandez, winner of bronze at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018. “I wanted to experience a different culture, underlined Malusa to explain his decision to join the Canadian team last June. The dynamic is easier in Europe due to the logistics and travel being easier and I wanted to see how I could move a North American team forward. »
Back next year
Malusa shares command with ex-Olympian Maëlle Ricker. The 49-year-old Italian is happy with this first season. “It’s a challenge I’ve wanted to take up for years,” he said in excellent French. There are a lot of logistics and Canada really deserves its good results. »
“I will be back next year to carry out our big project, to continue Malusa. This big project is to win medals at the Milan-Cortina Games in 2026.”
Malusa could thus participate in the Games in his native country under the Canadian colors. ” THE jobit’s the job, he summarized. When I accept a challenge, it becomes my country. It’s funny because I’ve always had good results in Canada as a runner. I remember a victory in Whistler. I have fond memories of Canada. »
Not worried about Grondin
Malusa is in no way worried about Eliot Grondin who had a rocky season after winning two medals at the Beijing Olympics in February 2022.
“His talent remains the same. In a post-Olympic year when motivation is more difficult, Eliot experienced episodes with four or five races (collisions) and had to adapt to new material. Angry after the events, Grondin understands the decision of the FIS.
“I understand the decision that respected the rule, but the rule is not well written. Sometimes you need an incident like that to wake people up. Our meeting on Wednesday will help change things. »