(Mont-Tremblant) If Valérie Grenier received all the attention due to her performances and local affection, another Canadian was able to emerge from the shadows this weekend, in Mont-Tremblant.
Before arriving in the Laurentians for the presentation of two giant slaloms, Cassidy Gray had only managed to complete two rounds twice.
The first time, at the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, in January 2021, where she finished 26th. Then, in March 2021, she took 27th place in Jasna.
Since then, the 22-year-old athlete has been trying to find his bearings, but above all to get used to the rhythm and caliber of the World Cup circuit.
The conditions for the first round were the best of the entire weekend. The snow was compact and hard, while visibility was very good. Gray skied flawlessly on his first run. She finished in provisional 23rd place.
However, the conditions changed dramatically between the two rounds. As if Mother Nature wanted to offer an additional challenge to skiers. The snow started to fall. Large flakes straight from the factory. To add to this, the wind was strong enough that we began to doubt the life expectancy of the inflatable structure installed above the finish line.
“It’s like out west, it always snows there, so it’s a bit like home,” the British Columbia athlete explained with a smile after his second run. Descent during which she caught her feet in the third sector. She was also the victim of a slight hesitation at the entrance to the last slope leading to the finish line. Enough to take precious tenths of a second off his final time.
Gray ultimately took 24th position, just like the day before. “It’s really special, it gives me a lot of confidence and I know I can do even better than that. So I can’t wait to see what happens during the season,” she explained in Vigneault’s language.
Sarah Bennett was undoubtedly the best Quebec hope of the day. When she came out of the blocks, the crowd was jubilant.
However, the celebrations ended quite quickly, since in the middle of the course, the skier from Stoneham fell. The hardest part was not necessarily seeing her slide in the middle of the slope, but rather meeting the eyes of a young skier who would have liked to do better in front of her own people.
Bennett had also suffered a fall the day before. She is the only Canadian representative to never have crossed the finish line.
“I found the skiing I had in training and for me, that’s what feels good. Finally, I had a section where I felt good,” she said, trying to hold back tears.
Thus, the 22-year-old Quebecer was still able to find positives despite her two poor performances. “I was confident, I was going there, I was looking for the turn, I was the one driving my skis really well. »
But, as she reminded us, falls are “part of the game.”
Her teammate Britt Richardson also ended her day on her butt. In her case, however, the end was cruel, as she was four doors away from qualifying for the second round. Her time would have been enough, but she straddled the inside of a door.
“I’m not sure what happened. When I ski, I forget everything as I go. I only remember taking a bump and going on my back so close to the finish line,” she tried to clarify.
Fifteenth the day before, the 20-year-old skier believes, however, that “the level was there in the upper areas”, even though the most complex portion of the course. Hence the disappointment of having ruined his race at the very end.
Like Saturday, the two Justines were able to greet relatives and friends in the slowdown zone at the end of the course.
Same as the day before, Lamontagne closed the rankings, in 53rd position. But just finishing the race on both skis was enough for the 21-year-old.
“Today, there were girls going out, there were places that were a little trickier. I’m happy to be here, and it’s definitely special to cross the finish line. I am very happy. »
And after competing in Levi and Killington, the experience acquired over the past month is significant. “These are the most difficult tracks you can have. There are the surfaces, we start from a little further away, the course is a little more difficult, so that’s all that. »
Her compatriot Justine Clément finished three places in front. “I think I was a little more satisfied with the skiing I did compared to yesterday. The conditions were really better. I am satisfied with what I did with the training I had. »
In fact, the 24-year-old athlete had trained only eight days before the start of the competition, unsure of having a ticket for the event. “Having 40-50 days of skiing before arriving at the World Cup makes a big difference. I have eight in my body and I did what I could with what I had. »
Ultimately, Clément will have finished her descent a little more than four seconds behind the winner of the first round, Petra Vlhová. “Four seconds is a lot in our sport, but it’s just four seconds. I thought it was going to be a lot more. »
At least, Clément is proud to have benefited from the experience and the presence of her family at the bottom of the slope. In the last break, she was able to feel the full charge of love. “I could hear the crowd and I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re here. »
But out of the question for the University of Vermont student to celebrate this magnificent weekend with her family: “I’m leaving tonight, I have school tomorrow,” she concluded with a laugh.
