Pre-Sochi surprise from Quebec skier
Lamarre, 24, second in slopestyle event after battling back from knee surgeries
VANCOUVER — There were some top-of-the-podium finishes and some puzzling failures for projected Canadian Olympians on a busy pre-Sochi weekend of winter sport around the world.
But the most compelling story was authored by a 24-year-old Quebec skier who isn’t officially on a national team and is battling back from a couple of knee surgeries to try to earn a spot in Sochi in the new Olympic discipline of ski slopestyle.
Kim Lamarre, whose grandmother, a 1956 Olympian in alpine skiing, is one of her inspirations, was second on Saturday at the Dew Tour event in Breckenridge, Colo., the first of five Sochi qualifying events this season for Canada’s slope style and superpipe skiers and snowboarders.
“This is amazing,” the bubbly Lamarre said in a telephone interview. “It’s a real exclamation point to my return. Such a relief.
With her podium finish behind American Devin Logan, Lamarre, a 2011 European X Games bronze medallist who missed much of the past two seasons following ACL tears, earned a berth in the next two World Cup events.
“I really felt strong coming into this season, in a good placementally,” said Lamarre, who had to battle tough wind conditions to lay down a solid run on a course of challenging jumps, rails and boxes. “I’ve been reading this book, The Mental Edge, really working on that part and today I saw the difference.”
Lamarre was the only Canadian to find the podium in ski slopestyle or ski halfpipe, but Squamish, B.C., resident Mike Riddle did clinch a spot on the Olympic team with a fourth-place finish in the pipe.
Canada’s best bet in women’s slopestyle, world champion and multiple-time X Games gold medallist Kaya Turski of Montreal, ripped up her left knee in August, but is desperately hoping to be back in time for Sochi.
“Kaya and me, we go way back, she’s pretty much one of my best friends,” says Lamarre. “I talked to her on the phone and she gave me a little strategy going into this. I’m looking forward to having her back.”
Lamarre’s grandmother, Ginette Séquin, was 18th in the slalom, 33rd in downhill and 36th in giant slalom at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in the 1956 Olympics.
“She’s a big inspiration,” says Lamarre. “She’s still going strong at 79. She crosscountry skis.
“She definitely thinks (my sport) is a little crazy. But she was my biggest care giver when I was out with my knee injuries. I’d go over to her house and she’d cook meals for me. She’s really amazing.
“I know if I make it to Sochi, she’s going be watching it closely on television. She’ll rally a lot of friends and family together and I’ll feel the love.”