A first World Cup of moguls under the reflectors

UPDATE DAY

The tourist resort of Val Saint-Côme joins an internationally select club.

For the first time in Canada, a Ski World Cup acrobatic in moguls will take place under the reflectors on January 27 and 28 when Mikaël Kingsbury and company will return to Val Saint-Côme for the first time since 2017. 

On the World Cup circuit, Deer Valley (Utah) and Rukka (Finland) are the only places with evening events. The Olympic downhill in Beijing was also presented under the reflectors.

A local product and having trained in Val Saint-Côme, Gabriel Dufresne is delighted. 

“ It really touches me this project because I have seen all the evolution of the club since my beginnings at the age of ten, says the hardworking national team. We were 20 skiers and the club now has 70 members. The creation of the Center of Excellence in 2010 was a great addition and the lights are the icing on the sundae. ”

For young people

In the company of club members, Dufresne offered himself a first descent under the reflectors on Thursday, he who played his first career World Cup in 2016 at home.

“It's going to be a great show that will make young people want to try our sport,” said Dufresne. The training slots that were mainly reserved for the Canadian team and the Quebec team will be much more numerous and this will promote the development of young people from all over Quebec. »

” Ambitious project “

President of the VSC Acrobatic Center of Excellence, Carole Véronneau-Gagné pinched herself to believe it. 

“In our wildest dreams, we would never have thought to bet on an enlightened track, she underlined. Our track rivals that of Deer Valley and even exceeds it since their facilities are temporary. 

President and general manager of the tourist resort since October, François Gagnon was very enthusiastic. 

“We are going to bet on the best-lit track in the world,” he said. The ambitious $300,000+ project began in November and lasted 21 days. We used helicopters to carry out the work. “

” We were already a pole in freestyle skiing and the addition of lighting will promote development, continued Mr.  Gagnon. We want to train exceptional athletes. It is the desire to develop athletes that led to the birth of the project. 

Freestyle Canada was also represented on Thursday at the press briefing. 

“The World Cup is going to be a unique event, assured event director Charles-Antoine Morache. Beyond the World Cup, the Val Saint-Côme facilities will allow our sport to shine. »