They’re young, bursting with talent and are among our country’s elite athletes. In addition to considering Tremblant to be their favourite mountain, these athletes are its ambassadors. Valérie Grenier, Brittany Phelan, Philippe Langevin and Arnaud Gaudet: each has a good chance of participating in the 2018 Olympic Games which will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 9 to 15. Let’s see what they have to tell us as this wonderful adventure approaches.

Valérie Grenier 

Born on October 30, 1996, Valérie Grenier is considered, and rightly so, to be a rising star of alpine skiing. Having become the world champion in downhill and vice-champion in super-G during the World Championships in Sochi in February 2016, Valérie Grenier was named female athlete of the year by Alpine Canada this past March.

Tremblant Express: “How are you feeling as the Olympics approach?”

Valérie Grenier: “Good. My training went well at the gym this summer in Calgary. I’m feeling fairly confident about the coming season and I believe that my results will allow me to qualify for the Olympic Games. There’s a World Cup every weekend, or almost. I aim to be in the top 15 in super-G and in downhill, and in the top 20 in giant. I had several top 30s last year.”

T.E.: “How’s your health?”

V.G.: “It’s good, but it could be better. I had surgery in April 2016. It seemed to be going much better, but I have to be careful not to do too much. In Chile, things went well. Today (Editor’s note: October 19, 2017) it was hard. I think that if I can survive that, everything will go well. The run at Sölden, in Austria, is really the most difficult.”

T.E.: “Which is your favourite discipline?”

V.G.: I like them all, but I would say that my favourite is super-G, then downhill and giant. Actually, I really like them all (laughs).

T.E.: “How do you feel with the team?”

V.G.: “I adore my team. We’re good friends. We’re been evolving together for a long time.”

T.E.: “What is your Olympic dream?” 

V.G.: “It’s been my dream forever to take part in the Olympic Games. It’s one of the most incredible events in the world. I haven’t got to the point of aiming for a medal yet, but I want to be able to have the experience and do the best I can. It gives me the shivers to think that I could take part.”

Brittany Phelan 

If she qualifies, Brittany Phelan will be participating in her second Winter Olympic Games, in two different disciplines. After having participated in the Sochi Games in slalom, Brittany decided to reorient her career, towards ski cross, in 2015. At the age of 26, the Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts native has been a Tremblant ambassador since 2013. The women’s ski cross World Cup season starts on December7 in Val Thorens, France.

Tremblant Express: “How do you feel at the approach of what may be your second Games?”

Brittany Phelan: “I achieved my biggest dream by participating in the Sochi Games in 2014. It would be really great to participate for a second time, in another sport. For now, I’m concentrating on the coming season. If it goes well and I reach my objectives, I’ll get some podium places and go to the Olympics to land a medal there. That’s the goal.”

T.E.: “Which athletes inspire you the most?”

B.P.: “It has always been Mélanie Turgeon, Erik Guay and Anna Goodman, who come from Tremblant. I heard them talked about when I was very young.”

T.E.: “What does Tremblant mean to you?”

B.P.: “I owe my entire success to the fact of having grown up at Tremblant. It helps a lot to ski here. For me, there’s nothing better than skiing at Tremblant. Here I’m among my friends and my family. I’ve spent my whole life here.”

T.E.: “Would there be a message you’d like to pass on to the young people coming up behind you and who would like to achieve your level?”

B.P.: “Work hard and have fun. You have to love what you do.”

Philippe Langevin 

Skier Philippe Langevin, a young slopestyle prodigy, has a good chance of achieving what he called his “wildest dream” barely four years ago on Radio Canada (French-language CBC). He was only 12 years old. The Mont-Tremblant native will turn 17 in May 2018. Truly passionate about this extreme sport, which is fairly new to the Olympic Games, Philippe started on the World Cup circuit this year.

Tremblant Express: “Do you believe you’ll be able to participate in the PyeongChang Games?”

Philippe Langevin: “There’s a chance. It will all depend on the World Cups. There are four left and I would need a top 8 and a podium.”

T.E.: “Where do you train?”

P.L.: “I started here, in Tremblant, and I was recruited by the Canadian development team. We go pretty well everywhere. I leave in two weeks for the Yukon. They’ve built a big jump there just for us and they take us up to it on snowmobiles. After that, we leave for Austria.

T.E.: “What kind of shape are you in?”

P.L.: “ Super. I go to the gym every day. Our training plan has us working cardio and strength. Being good and strong reduces injuries during falls.”

T.E.: Do you have any advice for young skiers?”

P.L.: “Have fun and persevere, even if you do it badly. Always get up and tell yourself you can do it. Wearing a helmet is also critically important.”

Arnaud Gaudet  

They describe him as the next Jasey-Jay Anderson. Barely 17, this young alpine boarder from Montcalm participated in his first World Cup this year, after having won a Nor-Am race in December 2016.

Tremblant Express: “Can we really hope that you’ll take part in the PyeongChang Games?”

Arnaud Gaudet:  “I prefer to be a realist and aim for 2022, although I could find myself at the 2018 Olympics. Everything depends on the World Cup Results. If I’m faster than the other guys on the team, I’ll be the one going. Up to now, only Jasey-Jay has been selected.”

T.E.: “Would you like that?”

A.G.: “I would adore that. It would be a fascinating experience. I wouldn’t have any real expectations, but it would be perfect. It would give me a first experience to be ready for 2022. I would do my level best to concentrate on the race and not let myself be distracted by the fact that I’m at the Olympic Games.”

To be continued…