BOWSPRIT | For this first home snowboard cross World Cup of his career, two-time Olympic medalist Éliot Grondin wants above all to have fun in front of his many friends and family members, who will be present at Mont-Sainte-Anne on Saturday to see in action.
• Also read: Snowboard Cross World Cup: 4th place for Eliot Grondin
The Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup is the first international snowboard cross event to be held in Quebec since Worlds 2013 in Stoneham.
“I can finally race in Quebec in front of my family and friends,” Grondin said after a practice run. There was never too many people cheering me on, so I don’t know if there’s more pressure or not.
“All I want is for there to be a lot of people. When this is the case, running becomes more fun for all runners. »
Grondin competed in his only World Championship on Canadian soil in 2020 in Big White, British Columbia. He finished second on January 25 and ninth the next day.
This home stop comes at just the right time for Grondin, who has finished fourth, ninth and fifth in his last three games. In Veysonnaz, Switzerland, he reached his first final since December last Sunday.
“We’re starting to find last season’s Eliot imagined the Beauceron. I’ve had a big season full of changes and I’m starting to get back on top. I just want to keep having fun and keep going in the same direction. I don’t really care about the result. I want to perform at my best and the result will follow. »
Cheap course
Maëlle Ricker believes that the course lends itself very well to Grondin’s style.
“With a really technical start, it’s a great track for Eliot,” said the Canada team’s assistant head coach and gold medalist at the Vancouver Olympics. It’s going to be really good. »
Even if he prefers to wait for the first to four descents that will take place tomorrow before making a categorical decision, Grondin also believes he could end the game well at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
“If I can get off to a good start and save myself, maybe I can create a good gap at the end of the course. I’ll have a better idea when the four of us go downhill. »
Grondin likes what he has seen of the course so far.
“With bigger jumps and modules, it’s a fun course where riders can have a little more fun.
“I was the first to bottom in today’s testing and kudos to the people who built the course. It’s a course that’s more impressive than difficult. I would have loved to have made my World Cup debut on a course like that. »
“With a technical start that we haven’t seen in a long time, he will push the riders out of their comfort zone,” continued Grondin. There are some tricks to work on along the course and not too many slippery moments. The best runner will be able to win and we are not entitled to a strategic race. »
Healthy variety
Grondin is happy to switch to a new board, even if the switch has brought some challenges.
“It took me a while to get used to it because I used to ride my old one, but it was the right decision. It can be quite risky to make such a big change early in the season, but we’re moving in the right direction. »
“I struggled to get what I needed, which isn’t normal at my level,” Grondin added.
“I can do tests and feel the team behind me for development. It’s a matter of time and my worse results than last year have nothing to do with the quality of my boards. There are many other factors that need to be considered. »