The same classification, two different analyses. On Friday, para-alpine skiers Frédérique Turgeon and Alexis Guimond both finished fourth in the super-G standing categories at the World Cup in Saalbach, Austria. If Turgeon was disappointed with her day, Guimond saw encouraging signs for Saturday’s race.
Frédérique Turgeon has added her name to the list of people weakened by a virus that runs in the Canadian team. That wasn’t his main hurdle on Friday, however. It was rather the race that was put on hold for long minutes just before it started on the course.
“I waited a long time and the communication was bad. I was told several times that I could go and it was really disconcerting. They (the officials) apologized and mistakes happen, except that unfortunately I was the one who was in the starting gate,” revealed the paraskier, adding that she felt relatively well before the race.
This delayed departure not only had repercussions in his mental preparation, but also physically. Turgeon, who skis on one leg, explains that she has to manage her energy differently than many of her competitors.
“I have to preserve the strength in my leg, so I had to sit down, take my ski off, untie my boot, reattach it, put my ski back on… After all this on-off, the concentration was gone and I didn’t was not in my running zone. […] It’s one of those days where nothing goes, but that’s okay. I’m going to move on, ”added the one who mentions having been too direct in her racing line.
The Germans Anna-Maria Rieder and Andrea Rothfuss (+0.06 seconds) achieved the double ahead of the French Aurélie Richard (+1.44 seconds). The delay of the Quebecer was 1.73 seconds.
“I skied really badly with everything that happened, but I’m still not doing so badly,” she concluded.
It was Thursday that the virus hit Alexis Guimond hard, he who had all the same started the downhill where he was ranked fourth. Friday, in the super-G, the Gatineau resident earned the same ranking when he fell 2.82 seconds behind the winner, Frenchman Arthur Bauchet. Silver went to Swiss Robin Cuche (+1.32 seconds) and bronze to Austrian Markus Salcher (+1.97 seconds).
Fortunately, the Paralympian has started to recover in the last 24 hours.
“I felt pretty good this morning when I woke up, so I felt like I had enough energy and potential to be on top (of the podium). My mentality this morning was to win. Unfortunately, I didn’t reach my goal, but honestly, I still had a great super-G run, despite a few mistakes. »
Turgeon and Guimond will complete the Saalbach World Cup on Saturday with the holding of a second super-G.