(Beaupré) “Eliot is so focused and consistent that a bomb would almost fall next to him as he descends and he wouldn’t move…”
Dominique Maltais’ image perfectly sums up Eliot Grondin’s dream day at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Snowboardcross World Cup on Saturday afternoon.
The snowboarder from Saint-Marie won the third success of his career there in front of a few hundred spectators committed to his cause.
“It’s my first World Cup victory this year after a difficult season and [ça se passe] at home, reacted the freshly crowned winner. »
I had to pinch myself a lot during the day to stay in the present moment. I think it worked well.
Eliot Grondin
Grondin was respectively ahead of the Austrian Jakok Dusek and the Spaniard Lucas Eguibar, no less than the last two world champions in the discipline.
First qualified the day before, the 21-year-old Quebecer won three of his four elimination waves, dominating the most important end to end, the final, where he resisted the comeback in extremis from Dusek, who crossed the line almost ass over head.
Grondin waited for the finish photo to be decided before raising his arms while his friends from Beauce, several of whom were brandishing a card bearing his face, were already celebrating at the edge of the track.
“I had seen out of the corner of my eye the Austrian who was coming back strong; actually, I didn’t know who it was. I saw it fall, I thought it would probably be me [le vainqueur]. But you never know until the result is official. I saw the little photo-finish sign. So it’s a matter of waiting, but I was practically convinced that I had just won. »
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Eliot Grondin and Jakob Dusek crossing the finish line
The double Olympic medalist built his confidence as the week progressed on the course called “Bataille royale”, the official name of the event, the first snowboarcross presented on Quebec soil since that of Stoneham in 2013.
“I knew I was doing great all day and all week here. It was just to really be fluid in the corners and not fight with others and lose speed. I took the lines to bring the speed in the last part. In the grand final, it happened that I was up front. So I didn’t have to fight for the lines. »
A change of equipment during the heats was also beneficial, as he had to adapt to a new brand of boards at the start of winter. “That’s why we saw the speed accelerate a little for me”, underlined the one whose last victory dated back to that of Veysonnaz, in Switzerland, a year earlier.
Author of another excellent start in the final, Grondin crossed his fingers that his lead held. “I was just hoping the other guy didn’t catch me. I was up front and I was like, OK, go as fast as you can, stay small and hope he doesn’t come back on you… I’m glad it worked out. »
The hero of the day was eager to find his parents and his brother Ishmael, who were attending one of his World Cups for the first time.
Her mother was incredibly calm. She felt like she was at a Quebec Cup, back when her teenage son dominated older rivals.
“I’m really less stressed than for a remote World Cup, noted Mélanie Turcotte. We will need more in Quebec! I was super relaxed. It’s as if it were natural, it’s silly to say! It’s like I knew he would win today. It was written in the sky. »
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Eliot Grondin and his mother Mélanie Turcotte
His father was much less calm. “I was really stressed! admitted Jean-Francis Grondin. It’s like a dream. The script is perfect. First in qualifying, he won his downhills… Everything is fine. »
The reward of the parents, who allowed their son to miss school to follow the World Cups played in Stoneham in the early 2010s: a beautiful big smile on the podium. “It’s expensive,” summarized Mr. Grondin.
Maltese, a conquered public
At the time, Dominique Maltais was an idol for the young Eliot, who developed a special relationship with the double Olympic medalist. She had the pleasure of analyzing his runs live and presenting him on the podium on Saturday.
Her voice almost cracked… “I had shivers in my legs and butterflies in my stomach. He’s a protege and I was a bit sold commenting on the race, that’s for sure. »
Maltais underlined “the great wisdom and the great potential” of the young man who is already in his sixth season in the World Cup.
He didn’t get distracted, he had only one goal in mind and he had fun and a smile from start to finish. And here’s the result. We are very proud of it.
Dominique Maltese
With the 100 points associated with his victory, Grondin jumped from eighth to fourth place in the season’s cumulative standings. He is 71 points behind the leader, the German Martin Nörl, relegated to the small final on Saturday (7e).
“I’m not watching the race for the globe,” said Grondin, who nevertheless had his eyes on Sunday’s event which will be held at the same place, the ninth and last on the calendar of the season.
“I’ve done 50% of the work and I’ll have to start over tomorrow. »