麻豆社区

Whitehorse has already had one snowfall and although it melted, it will be here to stay soon enough. With the snow brings the start of the winter sports season and for Yukon freestyle skier Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon the season cannot start soon enough.

Geoffroy-Gagnon spent last season on the Canadian developmental team and competed in some world cup events in Europe and North America.

This summer he has been hard at work training for the upcoming season.

鈥淭he training going all summer was non-stop,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚 worked in Whistler and did a lot of training there and I did airbag training in Quebec.

鈥淚 was on skis a lot. I am trying to catch up on those top guys.鈥�

As part of his training, Geoffroy-Gagnon said he spent far more time in the gym when he wasn鈥檛 on the slopes.

鈥淚 training to get stronger,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚 was doing more precise exercises than in previous years. I was getting some extra help and I am feeling good.

Having gained valuable experience last year, Geoffroy-Gagnon said he is going into this year with higher expectations of himself.

鈥淟ast year was an eye-opener for me,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚 got to see the best guys getting it done. I鈥檒l have more knowledge with the courses and I am a lot closer with the coaches and we have a good game plan to go at it.鈥�

The better knowledge of the courses he will be competing on helped him and his coaches work on his tricks.

鈥淭rick wise, it was about figuring out what tricks are best for what course,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 mostly technical talk, it鈥檚 about having A runs and B runs and boosting those up now that I know what jumps to expect.鈥�

Geoffroy-Gagnon was recently practicing in Switzerland and on Monday, he left for physical testing.

As of now, he is still unsure if he will get a spot for the first world cup event at the end of November.

鈥淚鈥檓 still waiting to see if I have a spot at the world cup in Austria,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon.

鈥淭here has been a change in the world cup system so there are 40 spots less. It depends on who is going. It will be a little harder but I have a good ranking.鈥�

If he doesn鈥檛 get a spot at the first world cup then he said he will be busy training in Whitehorse at Mount Sima.

鈥淚鈥檒l be happy regardless,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚鈥檒l do more training and focus in on January. This year I am planning to do the NorAm circuit and trying to get that NorAm title.鈥�

Geoffroy-Gagnon said the winner of the NorAm gets an automatic spot at next year鈥檚 world cup.

The 2021 season will be an important year in the winter sports world as 2022 will be the Beijing Winter Olympics.

鈥淚 am trying to set myself up for next year,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon.

Geoffroy-Gagnon has a strong, no-quit mentality going into this season with his sights squarely set on his goals.

鈥淚t won鈥檛 be easy and won鈥檛 be given to me,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚鈥檒l give it all I got to try and get that Olympic spot and I won鈥檛 back down until I know. You can鈥檛 back down, it鈥檚 that all or nothing mentality.

鈥淲in or loose I am improving my skills and sooner or later I鈥檓 jumping up to the A-team. I鈥檓 not going to stop until I get there.鈥�

On the developmental team, Geoffroy-Gagnon said there are some new talented recruits.

鈥淭hey are really good,鈥� said Geoffroy-Gagnon. 鈥淚t is a competitive environment. I鈥檓 doing everything I can to hold my spot and I am feeling confident in my abilities.鈥�