(Sportcom) – Mikaël Kingsbury claimed his third victory of the season in the Moguls World Cup on Friday in the individual competition in Alpe d'Huez in France.
The worker from Deux-Montagnes also achieved the 83rd victory of his career in the big white circus thanks to his 86.55 points in his last appearance on the track. Kingsbury was accompanied on the podium by his teammate Elliot Vaillancourt (77.44). It is his first top-three placement in the World Cup. The Japanese Ikuma Horishima (77.32) completed the podium.
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The last time two Quebecers stood on the first two steps of the podium at a moguls world championship dates back to February 23, 2019, when Kingsbury defeated Philippe Marquis in singles in Tazawoko, Japan.
“When I heard Ikuma score in the starting gate, I didn't want to miss this great opportunity. And I didn’t want to let Elliot win that easily,” Kingsbury said with a laugh as the silver medalist sat to his left during a video conference.
When Kingsbury's victory was confirmed, he hugged Vaillancourt, but it was Vaillancourt who let out a scream of joy at finally standing on a World Cup podium.
“When I crossed the finish line, I knew that it was at least a matter of first or second place. It’s special because it’s been a long time since we’ve done this,” Kingsbury continued.
In his first two individual victories this season, he won by an impressive 5.47 and 9.11 points. His performance on Friday once again left no doubt.
“I try not to give the judges the opportunity to deduct points from me. “And it’s an advantage to start last because you know what everyone has done,” argued the yellow jersey wearer, adding that his consistency was also a good explanation. The results are incredible, but I know that I can be even better at skiing and that I have more speed that I could bring to the individual. I’ll put on the gum I need.”
What’s more, the “King of Moguls” said at this point he was in better health and shape than last year. We wonder who can stop his already moving train, which now has 660 points in the ranking of the two disciplines, 100 more than Horishima.
“The Mermaid” has calmed down
Vaillancourt, 24, was crowned junior parallel mogul world champion in Italy in 2019. He had to train for quite a while in the World Cup before landing on an international senior podium.
On Friday he pointed to his first super final last season at the Deer Valley World Cup, which was influential in his result on Friday.
“I have an excitable temperament and one of my trainers called me the mermaid because I was always distracted by a lot of things that I couldn't control. It took me several years to learn to focus on what I could control. […] Today I had the opportunity to put into practice what I learned last year,” he said.
“I didn’t want to come to the top [avant la super finale] like a ball of energy. Compared to last year in Deer Valley, where I just completely lost my nerve, I managed to stay calm.”
Vaillancourt was ahead of Kingsbury in the elimination table for the parallel event Idre Fjäll last weekend, but it was the veteran who scored more points. Kingsbury suspected things would soon unravel for his young teammate, who would likely revert to his old nickname “Moose.”
“After my descent, I sat comfortably in my temporary leader's seat at the end of the track and tried to enjoy it, but I didn't think I would stay there until the man I call Mr. came to me. [Kingsbury] “Come and smash me,” the silver medalist continued. But if there's anyone to beat me, it might as well be the all-time champion. So it’s an incredible day and I’m extremely happy!”
Julien Viel, Gabriel Dufresne and Louis-David Chalifoux finished 10th, 21st and 25th respectively. In the women's event, Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert did not finish the event, with Ontario's Berkley Brown the country's top representative with a ninth place finish.
The parallel events will take place on Saturday.