“I’m happy to have returned to the World Cup circuit. In the end, it wasn’t that long.” Arnaud Boisset’s smile says a lot about his pleasure to be back, a month and a half after his heavy fall downhill at Beaver Creek. But during the traditional press briefing organized on the sidelines of the Wengen races, the 26-year-old from Valais confided that “it was not like before”.
“I don’t think there’s any direct apprehension on my part, but it’s still there a little bit.”recognizes Arnaud Boisset. “There are a few passages where I’m not yet at 200%. For example, when I arrive at the Tête de Chien passage, I have a little moment of doubt.”
Tuesday and Wednesday, the Martignerain was able to test himself during training by trying “to push“. “It’s still not like before. It saddens me a little because I know the best version of myself, what I’m capable of. But, for the moment, I’m not yet at that level, that’s clear. Afterwards, I hope that with the adrenaline of the race and the energy of the public, I will be able to unblock things and take a few additional steps to find my best level.”
Not possible to play all the way in front
But, to regain his level before his fall, Arnaud Boisset must regain confidence. Even if it means relegating performance to the background. “In terms of equipment, I can go back to a setting that is a little safer, less efficient, but which will perhaps allow me to regain confidence. To then be able to return to faster and more efficient hardware, but with this confidence that I still lack.“
Because this weekend, the Valaisan knows that he will not play the leading roles. “It’s a little difficult as a competitor to say that, but you have to look in the mirror and be honest with yourself: it won’t be possible to play everything in front of Friday and Saturday“A smooth recovery that he takes philosophically.”Maybe this will help me for the rest of the season or the years to come“.
Wengen, Floriane Galaud
Swiss
