“Did you come down from your cloud after your silver medal at the X Games, your first in Aspen, USA?”
Somewhat bit, it took me some time. Because it was actually a loopy competitors. It was the toughest race of my life mentally. My coaching went very well, and on race day there was a time once I was utterly off my boots. Suddenly, I could not arrive. It took me a very long time to do my second bounce (he falls on three consecutive tries, on six jumps), which had by no means occurred to me. It put extra stress on me, extra uncertainties. When you land thrice in a row on a bounce that you simply normally grasp … Fortunately the format was enough, with six jumps in all (the most effective two rely). But I used to be mentally exhausted on the finish of it. It was loopy and it was onerous. I actually went searching for her far. I do not suppose I had the weapons to beat Andri Ragettli but, but it surely will not be lengthy. I’m pleased with my progress, but it surely was not straightforward. It’s all of the extra enjoyable.
Is it as a result of of the context with the well being bubble, to reach for the primary time because the winner and subsequently the favourite?
I have no idea. The snowboarding was there. I arrived able that was beforehand unknown to me. It’s true that it was a bit more durable to handle. And I felt, however like all of the X Games, that it was not going to be an extended quiet river to make a end result. We’re not robots, it may well’t all the time work. But I used to be capable of flip the tide on the finish, I’m glad and proud, my crew helps me properly. Greg (Guenet, his coach), went as far as to yell at me a bit, telling me to get again in, to not let go.
“I nonetheless have two or three issues in my head. You should be affected person. There are the World Championships, and we’re one yr away from the Olympic Games. “
Does that make this medal more beautiful than your victory in Norway or not?
No, it was even crazier Norway. There, it was really very intense. That makes this result quite mythical, in the sense that it is a medal in Aspen. It is really important for me, to confirm my place in the world top 3. Above all, it’s mythical Aspen. It would have annoyed me not to make a result here. The last result of a French big air in Aspen, I believe it is Candide Thovex. I was so happy with it. It is something that marks. I am happy to confirm, to take up this challenge.
In addition, you won without new tricks, but your signature tricks. Does that mean you still have some under your feet?
Yes. Unfortunately, the fact of falling three times did not allow me to be able to improve my ski. It’s a second place with jumps that I had already done, but maybe not as well. The pre-nose switch (catch your ski even before the jump) and the triple grab (catch your ski three times in the air), I’ve never done them so well. But I still have two or three things in my head. It’s okay, you have to be patient. There are the World Championships, and we are one year away from the Olympic Games.
Andri Ragettli won the competition with two new tricks. Did he impress you?
I find that technically very strong. But not just Andri, there are other crazy jumps. It was quite homogeneous in the “loopy” genre (laughs).
Was it the toughest final of your races?
It’s funny, we say it every time. But yes, with each new big air race, we go up a notch. Even crazier than the one in Austria (at the beginning of January, in the World Cup, where he finished 2nd).
How do you see your end of the season? It is not yet known if the World Championships will take place, the X Games could be your last big competition of the year …
The X Games were the most important competition of the year, there is no doubt. For the Worlds, we still do not know what is planned … I assume that if they take place, it will be very good, it will be a big race. Otherwise, it’s like that and I will still have achieved my biggest goal of the season: a podium at the X Games. I am going this weekend to the European Cup in Les Arcs. After that, I’m going to go and film a bit. I really want to go freeride a bit, enjoy the snow, at home, and put my bib aside for a few weeks. “
