MONT-TREMBLANT, Qc. – Canadian Mikael Kingsbury now has one thing in mind-the number 70.
Kingsbury inflated his fists twice as he crossed the finish line on Friday, while scoring 86.24 points on his final downhill run to win gold in bosses at a World Cup event in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. It was the fourth gold medal of his season and, most importantly, the 69th of his career.
He will claim his 70th World Title on Saturday, always in Bosse.
“I am confident. If you start the weekend like that, I know I can do the same tomorrow,” said Kingsbury, who added that he was able to win three times out of a possible four at Mont-Tremblant, with second place being his worst result.
“I won the qualification, the final and the superfinal today, so the goal tomorrow is not just to repeat that, but to put myself in a good position for the last downhill to ski well.”
Sweden’s Walter Wallberg finished behind Kingsbury on Friday, winning silver with 84.65 points and Japan’s Ikuma Horishima took bronze with 83.17 points.
Gabriel Dufresne (77.72) of Repentigny, Qc. was the best Canadian next, arriving 10th Brenden Kelly (76.26), Pemberton, C.-B., ranked 13th, Jordan Kober (75.44), Penticton, C.-B., 14th, and Laurent Dumais, Quebec (59.34), 15th.
“I know I can ski better than I did today and I got the win,” Kingsbury said. “I still have a lot of juice in the tank.
“I just need a little rest tonight. good night sleep, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow. And yes, why not 70 ?”
Japanese Anri Kawamura won gold in the female Bosse with a score of 81.76. Frenchwoman Perrine Laffont (81.43) and American Tess Johnson (79.25) completed the podium.
Montréal’s Justine Dufour-Lapointe (74.94) and Chloé Dufour-Lapointe (68.68) finished ninth and 14th respectively.
The protocols of recent times in the province of Quebec have prevented fans from attending the World Cup event.
Kingsbury, which originates from two Mountains, Qc., said it was disappointing to compete without spectators, but he appreciated all the efforts made to achieve the event despite the growing number of infections in the world.
“It would be nicer with the crowd, but it’s good that all the volunteers and organizers of the World Championship in Tremblant gave us a good run. I know it wasn’t easy,” he said. “It’s cool to have the chance to reach 70, even without the fans.”