Snowboarder Eliot Grondin's dream season continued on Sunday at the Sierra Nevada Snowboard Cross World Cup in Spain as he won a seventh medal in as many races, further extending his lead at the top of the standings.
The Beauceron has been a gold medalist four times since the start of the season and this time he left the top step of the podium to his French friend Merlin Surget, who achieved his first victory of the year, but his silver medal satisfied him. He had also won silver at the same place 24 hours earlier.
“Of course I would have liked to win, but he drove really well and blocked me in the last corner,” he said. He was the strongest and there wasn't much I could have done about this descent. I came second to a really good friend who had a difficult start to the season. I haven't missed a single podium this season. I can’t be disappointed.”
“Sometimes I pinch myself and don’t realize what’s happening to me later,” the 22-year-old snowboarder added. Since the races follow each other at a good pace, I don't have time to express my emotions. After my second place on Saturday I had to forget everything and start from scratch.”
The crystal ball at home
With five races to go, including the final two held at Mont-Sainte-Anne on March 23 and 24 to close the season, Grondin sits at the top of the standings with a comfortable lead of 301 points over his nearest rival. The Austrian Alessandro Hämmerle had a difficult weekend with a 15th and a 9th place.
Is Grondin thinking about his coronation, which could take place at home in front of his family and friends? “I race for myself and don’t think about the crystal ball,” he said. I know that if I do my best, I can compete with him. With five races on the calendar I should be fine, although some things could change, but I don't want to just think about the Globe.
An unprecedented consistency
Although he finished the 2023 season strongly, notably winning a stage in Mont-Sainte-Anne that allowed him to finish second in the rankings, Grondin had a difficult start.
This year it is as regular as a Swiss watch. “Because there are so many things you can’t control, it’s hard to always do your best,” he said. That's why I'm really happy to have been performing so consistently since the start of the season. Today I was tired and had less energy. I wanted to have fun, ride a nice course and enjoy the nice temperature. I wasn’t thinking about winning.”
His problems last season were not in vain. “I learned a lot,” said the double medalist from the Beijing Olympics. As a career progresses, one is bound to experience more difficult moments. My opponents, all of whom are ten years older than me, have all experienced this situation before. I arrived better prepared. When I finished 2023 strong, I was on fire in training.”