Mont-Tremblant boasts its share of Olympic champions and World champions. Just think of Erik Guay, Jasey-Jay Anderson and the many-times champion in the world of water skiing, Pierre Plouffe. To these you can add legends such as Peter Duncan, Mélanie Turgeon and Ariane Lavigne. And it would be incomplete without the highly talented Brittany Phelan and Valérie Grenier as well as Alexis Godbout, Sébastien Eaves and Philippe Langevin. All of these high-level athletes contribute to making Mont-Tremblant known on the international stage. Let’s look at who’s coming up next.

Ann-Sophie Bourgault

At only 10 years of age, young Mont-Tremblant golfer Ann-Sophie Bourgault has just been named provincial champion in the Moustique (Mosquito) category after winning the provincial Championships, which took place on August 12 and 13 at the Drummondville Golf Club. She delivered an exceptional performance and outdistanced her main rivals by 13 strokes. In playing an 85, Anne-Sophie also beat the course record in her category by one stroke. In short, a crushing victory for this young golfer.

Ann-Sophie was very young when she was initiated into this sport on Le Maître golf course. Last year she completed her school year in Florida in a “Prep School”. This allows her to play golf every afternoon and participate in US Kids tournaments on the weekends. It’s no surprise to learn that “she performs very well there,” as her father, Stef Bourgault, told us on the phone. According to him, much of Ann-Sophie’s success can be attributed to her coach, David Berthiaume, PGA, assistant manager of golf services at the Maître. “We’re very lucky to have David in Ann-Sophie’s life,” Mr. Bourgault admits. “He’s a good influence on her and he knows how to give her confidence,” adds her father, who is also her greatest fan…at least for now

Arnaud Gaudet

He could just be the next Jasey-Jay Anderson and the spotlights are currently trained on this young alpine snowboarder who turned 17 in August. He participated in his first World Cup this year, after having won a Nor-Am race in December 2016. The win allowed him, at the age of 16, to compete against his idols. Contacted in Chile, where he was participating in a training camp, Arnaud told us that he is aiming to achieve as many podium finishes as possible in Nor-Am next season as well as a top 32 in World Cup. “In 10 years, I’d like to be on the World Cup circuit and make the top 16,” Arnaud indicated, as he prepares to start his first year at the Cégep de Mont-Tremblant (junior college) in Human Sciences.

Félix Burke

Mont-Tremblant mountain biker Félix Burke managed a remarkable end-of-season set of results during the 2017 Canada Games, held in Winnipeg at the end of July. In addition to winning a gold medal in cross-country, the 21-year-old cyclist took home a silver in the relay and a bronze in the sprint. After having experienced an up-and-down early season, Félix says he’s relieved and happy to have been able to take home as many wins as he did in this major competition for the mountain biking elite aged 17 to 22

A student in Economics at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Félix is lucky enough to be able to train all year round. He spends all his summers in Mont-Tremblant, however, which is “one of the most beautiful places in the world,” as he puts it. He founded the cycling camp Trail Trybe (www.trailtrybe.com) which allows a large number of the region’s young people to be initiated into this outdoor sport which represents, for this athlete, a real way of life.    www.felixburke.com

Anthony Alix

Precision kicker Anthony Alix, who won the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2012, returned here in August with a gold medal won during the 2017 World Games, held July 20 to 30 in Poland. A native of France, the professional football player from Mont-Tremblant was selected to play on France’s American football team, which won the final against Germany with a score of 14 to 6.

Sidelined by the Toronto team shortly after its victory in 2012, Anthony Alix nonetheless kept training to remain in top shape. The phone can ring, after all, at any moment and the 30-year-old football player likes to be ready. “I do what I love,” he states, “and I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. I get a lot of encouragement from the community, my family and my friends. Kickers can keep playing till they’re 45 years old and it gives me the energy to prove that when you’re in shape, you can compete. I want to mention that without my coach Mick McCabe, of One On One Kicking, who coaches more than 15 kickers in the NFL. I wouldn’t be where I am,” Anthony concludes.