Despite not making it onto the podium, Eliot Grondin finally made it back to the finals at the Veysonnaz Snowboard Cross World Cup in Switzerland today.
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The snowboarder from Sainte-Marie de Beauce, who was second in his three elimination rounds, was confident when he appeared in the starting gate of the grand final, but a first-corner collision ended his podium hopes or even victory.
“It feels good to be back in the finals, but it’s disappointing to finish 4th,” said the two-time Olympic medalist from the Beijing Games, who had not reached the finals since December’s World Cup of Two Alps . I had a good start and was fast, but a collision slowed me down.
First out of the first corner, Grondin met Italy’s Lorenzo Sommariva, the eventual Silver medalist. “The Italian put his hands behind my back and pushed me to the net,” he said. I managed to stay upright, I don’t know how, but I lost a lot of speed. I’m just happy to have finished the race in one piece.”
Grondin believed the Italian should have been penalized but the officials decided otherwise. “In my opinion he pushed me too much but the decision rests with the officials. It also depended on who you were talking to and what angle you were viewing the battle from. If he hadn’t hooked me I probably could have held the lead to the end but we’ll never know.”
Grondin and the Canadian team will return home on Saturday for the final World Cup of the season, which will be held at Mont Sainte-Anne from March 24-26. The Beauceron is not asked to return home.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been away and it’ll be cool to sleep in my bed a few nights before competitions,” he said. I want to end a pretty difficult season on a high. I have a new board and it is taking some time to customize. I wasn’t fast in Spain last week but this time I had good speed. I’ve been coming back strong for a few races and it bodes well for the World Cup at home where my whole family will be there for the first time.
An 8th place for Audrey McManiman
For her part, Audrey McManiman was 8th after qualifying 3rd. “I saw myself in the grand final,” she said. I was confident and knew my board was planing well. I got my best qualification but maybe it was a bit of stress I’m not used to.