A bit like a gondola that detaches from a cable, Mont-Sainte-Anne brought bad luck to Audrey McManiman.
Victim of a fall in the quarterfinals the day before, the 28-year-old snowboarder had to withdraw from the second event of the Snowboardcross World Cup, won by Australian Josie Baff on Sunday.
Resigned, McManiman appeared before the reporters before the start of the final rounds, explaining that the swelling in her left knee was too bad for her to risk taking the start.
“I got up this morning and did all my warm-up. I had a meeting with the physiotherapist and we went to do some exercises in the gym to see how things were going. And it was not going well… So we made the safest decision. »
Throughout the season, the native of Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare hurtled down the slopes with a left knee brace as a preventive measure. An examination revealed that his anterior cruciate ligament is almost completely ruptured.
McManimam was reluctant to undergo surgery late in the spring, as it would cause him to miss the entire next campaign. For now, she does not know if her current injury is related to the condition of her ligament.
“We’re talking about a sprain at the moment, but we can’t confirm anything. »
The kinesiology student wants to let the inflammation subside to get a more accurate diagnosis. She will then decide whether or not to submit to an intervention.
“I’m going to get the rest I need for my whole season. We had a really busy month of March. I will focus on my semester to finish at the university. I will make the best possible decision a little later with my speakers. »
One thing is certain, she sees herself at the Cortina Olympics in 2026. “It’s cast in stone. »
In addition to her knee problems, the one who finished 11th at the Beijing Olympics last winter missed two months due to a concussion.
First in qualifying on Friday, she regretted her withdrawal all the more as the snow conditions on Sunday would have pleased her.
“When it’s slow for everyone, I know I have speed. I’m good when it snows a little. It could have been a very good day for me, but I can’t change the course of things. »
The young Australian Josie Baff stood out under the snowflakes to win and clinch the second victory of her career. She was ahead of the Austrian Pia Zerkhold and the French Chloé Trespeuch in the order.
“It’s pretty fantastic because I won the first race of the season and now I’m winning the last one,” said Baff, 20. It’s a great way to end the season. »
The native of Jindabyne, in the “snowy mountains” between Sydney and Melbourne, is now heading to the Junior Worlds in Italy… in a coat that will smell like champagne.
Winner the day before, Briton Charlotte Bankes had to settle for a victory in the small final (5th), but it was enough to confirm her hold on her second crystal globe.
“It would have taken a big mistake for it not to work today, but I wanted to stay focused on my race,” noted the 2021 world champion. “It was settled after the round of 16, so it was quite a relief. »
The one who has lived in France since she was four years old has signed a total of six successes: “It’s a great season, I couldn’t have hoped for better. »
After making local journalists work with her London accent, her native region, she naturally switched to French, which she has spoken since her early childhood outside the house. The same cannot be said for the organizing committee of Canada Snowboard…
