Quebec snowboarders have had a resounding start to the year. Sébastien Toutant grabbed the gold, while Laurie Blouin took bronze in slopestyle on Saturday afternoon at the World Cup in Calgary.
Sébastien Toutant had two beautiful, gentle descents in the final. It was the first of the two that earned him the top spot and, at the same time, his first gold medal of the season. He obtained 86.86 points.
The native of Repentigny let out a victory cry after his second run, as he made sure to get on the podium. A big smile appeared on his face a few minutes later when the final standings were released.
“I couldn’t ask for better. […] It’s a perfect day! », He exclaimed in interview with Press a few hours after his victory.
Norwegian Mons Roisland (84.50) and American Luke Winkelmann (83.20) completed the men’s podium.
“Seb Toots,” as he’s known, is still on the hunt for a spot on the Canadian team for the Beijing Olympics. And this ordeal was of great importance. He had to place in the top four to stay in the race.
“Of course I had a lot of pressure, he said. It took me absolutely a good result to have a chance to return to the Games. It’s a stress I’m not used to. […] It’s not just the Olympics, it’s just that we’re a month away from going there and I really needed to perform. Winning today gives me a bit more freedom. ”
There is only one World Cup event left before the Canadian Olympic team is officially announced. And it will take place January 6-8, in Mammoth Mountain, California. “If I can have a good result there, that’ll make sure I go to the Games 100%,” said Toutant.
In Beijing, he would have the opportunity to defend his Big Air title won in 2018 in PyeongChang. The snowboarder also feels “well physically and on [son] board “For the next few weeks, he said.
I think that [mon résultat de samedi] will take a little bit of stress away from me. It’s going to be a little easier for me to think about the Games. Already there, I prepare myself every day, but it is sure that for the Olympics, there are figures that I will have to practice a little more to arrive as prepared as possible.
Sebastien Toutant
It was Toutant’s third World Cup event this season. He finished in 39e place in Chur, Switzerland, and in 23e up to Steamboat Springs, Colo., both times in Big Air.
Blouin in third place
Laurie Blouin had missed one of her landings on her first run in the final, placing sixth. She recovered well in the second, achieving a perfect run. “A breathtaking descent! », Suggested the commentator on the spot in Calgary.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Laurie Blouin
The Olympic medalist from PyeongChang had 75.73 points, good for third, behind Japan’s Kokomo Murase (77.58) and Miyabi Onitsuka (77.18).
The Stoneham native is used to performing well on Canadian soil. She won gold in 2020 in Calgary.
It was his second World Cup event this season. By early December, she had completed 23e at Big Air in Steamboat Springs. It also concluded at 11e rank at the Dew Tour competition, Dec. 18, at Copper Mountain.