Jules Lefebvre was the only Quebecer to qualify for the second run in the parallel giant slalom presented Friday at the Blue Mountain World Cup in Ontario. A fall on his second run, however, destroyed his chances of participating in the elimination rounds in front of the Canadian fans.
“I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed,” said the Montrealer, 29e of the day to the final classification.
After signing on 15e time of the red course on his first run, Lefebvre was then beaten by the blue course on the second occasion. He crashed out of a gate before making his way back to the finish line, except the damage was already done.
“The conditions were difficult and I have a lot of difficulty when the conditions are not optimal,” he continued. We haven’t had a lot of snow in Quebec so far, but it’s even worse here and, personally, it’s been a challenge. On the other hand, I have only myself to blame, I just have to be better, regardless of the state of the surface. »
Poland’s Oskar Kwiatkowski shrugged off track conditions to win the second World Cup of his career. In the grand finale, he defeated Austrian veteran Alexander Payer, who earned his third medal of the campaign.
The podium was completed by the Italian and vice-world champion Roland Fischnaller, 42 years old.
“There were a lot of unexpected traps and a lot of athletes got caught. On the other hand, some old foxes did very well and this is where we see that the experience pays off! laughed Lefebvre.
Ontarian Ben Heldman had the best Canadian result finishing 20e. For their part, Justin Carpentier, Arnaud Gaudet and Émile Gaudet could not pass the first qualifying stage.
Of the lot, Carpentier passed the closest, concluding 35eat 0.43 s from the 32e and last place giving access to the next round. Seventeenth in the parallel slalom disputed on Thursday, Arnaud Gaudet finished 42ewhile his older brother Émile is in 46e square.
On the women’s side, Aurélie Moisan and Anne-Laurie Bettez were also stopped from the start, finishing respectively at 21e and 25e ranks of the event won by the German Ramona Theresia Hofmeister. Julie Zogg (Switzerland), with silver, and Daniela Ulbing (Austria), with bronze, also made it onto the podium.
The Alpine Snowboarding World Cup circuit will take a break until March to make way for the World Championships which begin Feb. 19 in Bakuriani, Georgia.
However, it would be surprising to see Jules Lefebvre in action during these worlds. The Olympian of the Beijing Games will instead focus on activities in the Nor-Am Cup circuit and in his studies in software engineering at Polytechnique Montreal.
“My goal for this year is really to secure a place in the World Cup for next year. The bulk of my season is coming in the next few weeks and I feel ready”, concluded the one who should obtain his baccalaureate next December, after which he will turn all his attention to obtaining an Olympic ticket for the Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.