Since his fall in Beaver Creek six weeks ago, it hasn’t been the same. On the skis, Arnaud Boisset searches for his confidence of yesteryear, that of last winter, the one that inhabited him before landing head first on the terrible Birds of Prey and being the victim of a concussion and bruises to the face and shoulders.
Friday lunchtime, the 26-year-old skier from Valais returned to competition in Wengen. Finally 28th in the super-G, 2 seconds 28 behind his compatriot Franjo von Allmen, Arnaud Boisset was already happy to have overcome the endless Lauberhorn and to have crossed the finish line. “I think the important thing was to get back to the start. The result is secondary, he explained. These were not my ambitions at the start of the season, but now, with what happened, the objective has changed.
For his big comeback in the World Cup, the 3rd in the super-G finals in Saalbach last March was able to count on the support of his loved ones and his fan club. Friday morning, two buses left at 7 a.m. from Martigny. For the 90 people on board, there was a stopover in Interlaken to take possession of the hotel rooms and drop off their luggage. Afterwards, they took the little train to watch the super-G from the Girmschbiel hill, under the “Tête de Chien”. “We shouted and encouraged Arnaud as much as we could,” says Rachel, his mother.
-In the middle of the day, Arnaud Boisset came to the village square. “He came to say hello and thank us for being there. You know, at the moment, it’s not easy for him, admits his mother. It’s like falling off a five rung ladder and having to climb back up straight away. It’s hard. He needs us and I feel it’s important to him. This day did him good.”
At the end of her son’s race, Rachel saw him wave to the spectators gathered in the grandstand of the finish area. “I felt he was happy to be down. You know, for him, it’s already a victory. He is progressing little by little, on the path towards the best.” The whole troop with pink hats must return to the hill on Saturday, for the descent.
