Mikaël Kingsbury is trying ahead to being the nice man for not less than one weekend.
Kingsbury, from Deux-Montagne, Que., has received 83 World Cups, essentially the most ever for any moguls skier, and is used to sending followers from around the globe dwelling disillusioned when he beats their native skiers. However on Jan. 19 and 20 he’ll be in Val Saint-Come, Que., for the freestyle snowboarding World Cup the place he, eventually, would be the fan favorite after months competing in Europe.
“It is enjoyable annually to have the group in your facet as a result of I am normally the man that crashes the celebration within the different nations,” Kingsbury mentioned in a video name from Montreal. “I prefer to be that man that silences the group on the street however at dwelling it is enjoyable to have everybody behind you.
“It offers me additional power. Not less than like final yr once I was the final man to drop in, once I heard my identify and the group cheered it felt tremendous good.”
Already essentially the most profitable skier in moguls historical past, Kingsbury has continued to dominate the game this season, successful seven medals in seven occasions with 4 gold medals and three bronze. Most lately, he received a bronze in moguls and a gold in twin moguls at a World Cup occasion in Bakuriani, Georgia, on Dec. 22 and 23.
WATCH | Kingsbury claims twin moguls gold in Georgia:
Deux-Montagnes, Que., native Mikaël Kingsbury wins his third twin moguls World Cup medal of the season in Bakuriani, Georgia.
At 31 years outdated, Kingsbury has needed to slowly alter how he prepares for competitions and nonetheless stay efficient.
“I discovered via the COVID pandemic that it is OK to relaxation,” mentioned Kingsbury, including that he is made his exercises and coaching periods extra environment friendly. “It motivates me once I return on the hill and makes me by no means actually on cruise management.
“I am in superb form as a result of I knew that the schedule was going to be one of many hardest Decembers we have ever had on the World Cup tour.”
‘I nonetheless have numerous snowboarding in me’
Adjusting his health routines has been vital for Kingsbury as he gears up for not less than yet one more Olympics. He is already competed at Sochi in 2014, Pyeongchang in 2018, and Beijing in 2022, incomes silver, gold, and silver, respectively, in moguls.
“Once I began [this Olympic] cycle, I plan a yr at a time, however I knew at the back of my head that I can nonetheless win, I am nonetheless getting higher,” mentioned Kingsbury, who famous that twin moguls, his specialty, is being added to the Olympic program on the 2026 Milano-Cortina Video games. “I really feel the competitors’s getting stronger, clearly, however I really feel I nonetheless have numerous snowboarding in me, so I see myself there.
Kingsbury acknowledges that to compete in 4 Olympics is uncommon for any athlete, no matter sport, and that his longevity can also be a tribute to how onerous he and his group have labored over the previous decade.
“[My coach] is there in the beginning gate with me, speaking about all of the technique and we do hours of video evaluation, my fitness center coach is ensuring I am on level on my takeoff and landings and making an attempt to progress and discover new methods to do methods and produce the diploma of issue up,” mentioned Kingsbury. “I’ve my psychological coach, there’s my coach that I see 5 occasions per week right here in Montreal once I’m dwelling or particularly throughout the summer season. My agent, who I in all probability speak on the telephone with nearly each day.
“Then all of the sponsors, like I am doing a shoot with UnderArmour right this moment and I have been with them for seven years now, happening eight. I am fairly fortunate that I’ve companions which were with me for a very long time and consider in me.”
Watch reside protection of the World Cup in Val Saint-Come on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app and CBC Gem, beginning with the moguls occasion on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
