Our special correspondent in Courchevel
Clément, what was your program between the last slalom in Chamonix and these World Championships in Courchevel?
Clément Noël:
I rested a bit.
Afterwards, I went down to the south, to Monaco, to do physical preparation and see a bit of another universe.
I relaxed a bit, quiet, before then getting back on skis in Auron for three days: a giant one, a parallel/slalom and a pure slalom.
And then, it went quickly.
I was with the whole technical group, that is to say… Mathieu (Faivre).
With Thibaut (Favrot) and Victor (Muffat-Jeandet) injured, the youngsters in the European Cup and Alexis (Pinturault) already competing here, there were only two of us, with a large staff at our disposal.
But it was fine.
Did you have time to follow the first tests?
Not that much.
I was always doing something else at the same time.
I followed with one eye and really enjoyed what I saw, whether it was Alexis' great performances or the descent which was truly magnificent.
Frankly, it seemed very well organized to me and it was beautiful to watch on TV.
Was it important for you to compete in the parallel qualifications on Tuesday?
Yes, even if it wasn't on the same track, it was still good to get my bearings before the slalom.
This allowed me to put on a bib, to feel a bit of this atmosphere of the World Championships at home and therefore not to arrive on the day of the slalom with the additional pressure of not having competed for a long time and to feel a bit lost.
I don't know if it will be a profitable strategy but I wanted to draw this parallel.
Even though I didn't qualify (he didn't finish his parallel), it didn't take mad energy from me.
I have to keep in mind that this is a break in the season, a one-day race.
Clement Noel
A year ago, you became Olympic slalom champion in Beijing. How are these World Championships similar to, or different from, the Games?
To me, it's very different.
It's less of a parenthesis in the season than traveling to China.
There, I'm almost at home, I just drove 40 minutes to arrive in Courchevel and I'm at the World Championships.
This is not the same atmosphere too, and fortunately.
In Beijing, we were totally confined, whereas there, the atmosphere is more festive and warm.
So I'm happy to be here.
Compared to Beijing, are you going to try to replicate some of the things you think were successful there?
Yes and no.
I have to keep in mind that this is a break in the season, a one-day race.
In Beijing, I had really taken risks, dared.
I arrived there without having much confidence given the races I had done before.
On the other hand, in training, I was skiing well and I really told myself that I had an opportunity, a chance to seize.
But that only became possible if I took risks, if I went all out.
In Courchevel, it will be the same thing.
I am in a slightly better mood than a year ago.
Even if the season overall is not better than the previous one, I
I showed some interesting things in my last two races (victory in Schladming and retirement in Chamonix after having however set the best time in the first race).
I really have to manage to put myself in this state of mind to accept to take all the risks.
It's a discipline where you can make mistakes quickly, but if you don't take those risks, you won't be on the podium.
However, only the podium counts at the World Championships, there is no history of points in the championship and a race afterwards.
we will not be on the podium.
However, only the podium counts at the World Championships, there is no history of points in the championship and a race afterwards.
we will not be on the podium.
However, only the podium counts at the World Championships, there is no history of points in the championship and a race afterwards.
French world champions
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What value would you place on a world title here, in Courchevel, in your palmares?
You have to have experienced it to really know.
Now, a priori, I would say that I would put it behind an Olympic title because this competition takes place every four years and it speaks to more people.
It really is the Holy Grail.
Afterwards, in terms of pure emotions, given that it's in France, maybe he will be above because there will be an incredible atmosphere.
I had felt this fervor in Chamonix and I think it will be further amplified here.
So I imagine that at the time, it will be stronger.
But later, looking coldly at my record, I still prefer the Games.
The temperatures have warmed up somewhat in recent days, which should have an impact on the track. Can this disturb you?
As long as on the first run the snow stays hard and it gives a fair race, that's fine with me.
I already know that I won't start in the top seven and if in the draw I end up with bib number 15 and the snow has become soft, that will really upset me but I won't have a choice.
But if the snow stays good for the whole of the first run, and I think it will because I feel they did a really good job on the track, then it doesn't matter what the conditions are in the second run.
There may be holes, soft snow, rain, wind, nothing will bother me.
It was not an easy season for almost everyone, with some ups but also a lot of downs.
Clement Noel
Do you already know the track?
Yes a bit.
I have already trained twice on it, only on the upper part.
Once, it's as if it didn't count because the conditions were too rotten.
And a second where I think it will be very different on Sunday.
So you can't say that I really practiced it.
But at least I saw the starting wall which is very particular, very steep.
This allows me to prepare myself accordingly.
Now, in slalom, it's all about the snow and the track, so knowing the track isn't really an advantage.
Does the fact that France have already won take the pressure off you?
Yes of course.
Already, beyond me, it's good for everyone, for the staff, the French team, the organization, the fans... It was not an easy season for almost everyone, with some ups but also a lot of downs.
So the fact that Alexis won two medals helped everyone.
Including me.
As in Beijing, when you see that things are going well for others, you also want things to be going well for yourself.
This instills a positive mindset in heads, instead of the negative stress of having to save the team's balance sheet.