A frank, massive smile. The Swiss-Scottish skier may be attacking his fourteenth season at the highest level, but he still has the look of the kid waiting for the crossbow held out by Titi, at the bottom of the slope at La Fouly. “I may even want it even more than when I started,” the Valaisan laughed at the beginning of October, during the delivery of Swiss-Ski equipment in the Zurich suburbs. This is the age advantage compared to when I arrived at the World Cup. At the time, I was less appreciative of how lucky we were…”
It is certain that it is not given to everyone to make a living from their passion and to be able to drag their pair of skis on the most beautiful slopes on the planet. “We are lucky to do what we do,” he confirmed. When we went to train in Ushuaïa, I had fun like a little kid! As a bonus, ten years ago, I didn’t like doing physical fitness and now, I enjoy it. People go to the gym in their free time after work, while for me, it’s my job to improve myself and take care of my body!”
Afterwards, the British-Swiss immediately stops those who believe that he softens with time: “I enjoy it, but that does not mean that I have lost my rage to win. I don’t know how much longer my career will last, so I try to appreciate all these moments. Afterwards, there were still days, during the camp in Ushuaïa, when I was pulling my nerves and the tricks were going up when things weren’t going the way I wanted… I’m just maybe a little more balanced.
“I almost feel better at 31 than at 25,” he then explained. But preparation is one thing and what is done next on the skis is another. Last season, I showed that I could go far and win when everything goes well. I hope that this year I can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. You never really know what others are doing… So all you can control is by focusing on your own job.”
Two podiums including an improbable victory in Chamonix, after he had climbed from 30th to first place in the second round, but also some poor performances at the end of the season, seventh overall in the slalom… Yule would be very happy to experience the same results in the coming year. Especially since two pitfalls are back in business and ready to take top honors again: the “Brazilian” Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and the “Dutchman” Marcel Hirscher.
“I’m resigning straight away to experience the same type of exercise,” assured the Valaisan, with seven World Cup victories to his name. Afterwards, the appetite comes with eating and I’m not at the start of a race to not give my best. I also know how lucky I am… There are athletes who spend an entire career without winning a single event. So if I’m still guaranteed success this winter, of course I’ll sign. We always dream of more, we always work to have more and to give our maximum.”
The skier from Val Ferret has a chance in his misfortune, he who only participates in one of the four disciplines of his sport. Because with the World Championships, he will have the right to start thirteen first rounds, compared to ten places in a gate for the downhillers, eight for the super-giantists and nine for the giantists. “It’s an advantage,” he agreed. The goal is to arrive in Levi in good shape at the beginning of November and to try to maintain this level until the World Championships in Saalbach. And then we saw it with Marco Odermatt, once we have confidence…”
