Three contenders from Quebec experienced their World Cup baptism this evening in Saint-Côme.
If Ashley Koehler thought for a while that she could break into the top 16 and secure a place in the finals, Joey Dubuc and Charles Beaulieu had a quick exit. However, the three members of Canada's Next Gen team had one thing in common.
“On my first start I was a little stressed at the top of the mountain and was hoping to do a little better, but I'm happy with my experience,” said Beaulieu, who went off the track after the first jump. It's even more fun to play this first World Cup at home in front of my loved ones. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Dubuc agreed. “It was really fun and there were a lot of emotions up on the mountain,” he said. There was stress, but I felt good. It was really fun skiing in front of my family. I controlled my speed in the first section, but lost control after the first jump.”
A productive sector
Like Julien Viel, Elliot Vaillancourt and Louis-David Chalifoux, who studied at Mont-Sainte-Anne before making the senior national team, Beaulieu is continuing his training at the country's largest freestyle ski club.
“It excites me to push even harder and I would like to see myself in the World Cup with them,” said Beaulieu. Its a lot to do. I don't know what's in the water in Mont-Sainte-Anne. I don't have the answer.”
In addition to the four men, Koehler will also wear the colors of the Mont-Sainte-Anne Club after making his relay debut. She finished 18th, chased away by Canada's Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert, who started last, and Kazakh Anastassiya Gorodko.
The Canadian team's hopefuls will be back in action on Saturday in the parallel mogul race.