FasterSkier

Tag: Lévis

  • Under 23 Questions: Philippe Boucher

    Canada’s Philippe Boucher (CNEPH) racing to 22nd in the men’s 20 k skiathlon at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans who competed at last week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2018 Nordic Junior/U23 World Championships in Goms, Switzerland, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 20-year-old Philippe Boucher, of the Centre National d’Entraînement Pierre-Harvey (CNEPH), who represented Canada at his first U23 Worlds (after previously competing at three Junior Worlds). 

    Last week in Goms, Boucher placed 42nd in the freestyle sprint and 45th in the 15 k classic.

    ***

    “My full name is Philippe Boucher, but you can call me Phil.

    I was born and raised in Lévis, Québec, and I learned to ski at Club de ski La Balada in Lévis.

    I spent the time between Mont Sainte-Anne trials and Junior/U23 Worlds alpine skiing in beautiful powder snow at MSA. I rested three days at home. I left Quebec on Jan. 14 en route to Praz de Lys, France, for a training camp with the Canadian ski team.

    The funnest workout training camp I did in the last training year to prepare for this was a 3-week training camp this fall on the Dachstein glacier in Austria with Alexis Dumas, my teammate on the CNEPH. We’ve been on the World Junior/U23 Championship trip for four years together; he’s one of my best friend and training buddy.

    This is my second time in Switzerland and fourth time racing internationally, and so far it’s been good.

    One difference I’ve noticed between Switzerland and Canada is the salami is awesome.

    Skiing and racing in the Alps is fun and challenging. The weather can change quickly. I like when it’s unpredictable. Usually racing at altitude is OK for me because I’m based in MSA at sea level, but I’ve been training and racing a lot at altitude these past 4 years. I still need some time to adapt, but when I’m adapted it usually goes well for me. There are one (Mont-Sainte-Anne) mountains around where I live.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior/U23 Worlds in Goms is to compare my level of racing with the best in the world and to eat the good food at the hotel. No cooking is the best.

    One race I’m especially targeting there is the 30 k skiathlon.

    I really hope I can chat/make friends with someone from France and try to speak with their accent and expressions.

    My favorite thing at the breakfast where we are staying is chocolate croissants.

    Fondue is delicious. And the chocolate is miam !!

    If I had a totally free day here and didn’t have to worry about race fitness or training, I’d spend it backcountry skiing in the Swiss Alps.

    The best way to follow me on social media is on Instagram @p_boucher97.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BegRtZEFZH0/?taken-by=p_boucher97

  • 20-for-20 with Frédérique Pérusse

    20-for-20 with Frédérique Pérusse

    Frédérique Pérusse (Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre) racing earlier this month in La Patrie, Quebec. (Courtesy photo)

    In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

    Here’s 15-year-old Frédérique Pérusse, of Centre De Biathlon Myriam Bédard (the Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre), who’s representing Canada at her first Youth Worlds. In her first two races of the championships, she’s placed 73rd in Friday’s 6-kilometer sprint and 77th in Wednesday’s 10 k individual.

    ***

    “My full name is Frédérique-Karia Pérusse, but you can call me Fred. I was born in Quebec City, raised in Levis and one thing you should know about my hometown is that it is really charming!

    Frédérique Pérusse (Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre) racing at Canada’s 2017 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships trials. (Courtesy photo)

    I started cross-country skiing when I was 11-ish and started biathlon when I was 9, thanks to my big sister, Marie-Maxime.

    I currently train in Valcartier at the Myriam Bédard biathlon center.

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me in school.

    If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Ready Player One’ by Ernest Cline.

    One of the things I’m most excited about Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Orsblie is to get to see/meet biathletes from all around the globe!!

    This will be my very first Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a youth. One race I’m especially targeting there is the 6 km sprint.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was to not let your personal life disturb your professional one, it’s no time to think about your problems on the range.

    One of the best race memories I have is when I won the silver medal in the 6 km sprint at the 2016 biathlon nationals.

    Frédérique Pérusse (Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre) at her training base in Valcartier, Quebec. (Courtesy photo)

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Dorothea Wierer for sure because she is such an inspiration and I look up to her.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a coach or something else that is related to sport.

    I’m missing 6 weeks of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Shit‘.

    You can follow me on Instagram @fred_perusse.”

  • Under 23 Questions with Philippe Boucher

    Under 23 Questions with Philippe Boucher

    Canada's Philippe Boucher racing at last year's Junior World Championships in Rasnov, Romania. (Courtesy photo)
    Canada’s Philippe Boucher racing in the 10 k classic at last year’s Junior World Championships in Rasnov, Romania. (Courtesy photo)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Philippe Boucher, of the Centre National d’Entraînement Pierre-Harvey (CNEPH), a.k.a. the Pierre-Harvey National Training Centre and Canadian Junior National Ski Team, who’s representing Canada at his third Junior Worlds.

    Boucher was listed as one of four Canadian men to start Wednesday’s 10 k freestyle.

    ***

    “My full name is Philippe Boucher, but you can call me Phil. I was born in Quebec City, raised in Lévis. I started cross-country skiing when I was seven, thanks to my parents.

    I currently train in Beaupré with CNEPH.

    Philippe Boucher (Photo: Charles Castonguay)
    Philippe Boucher (Photo: Charles Castonguay)

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me on my bike or at my girlfriend’s place.

    If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be nothing. I really don’t enjoy reading, exept when it talks about Formula One stuff.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is to race in front of my family. One race I’m especially targeting there is the banquet on the February 4. Just kidding, the 10 k skate.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was don’t worry about the splits, just ski. One of the best race memories I have is the 2013 Canadian National Championships in Whistler.

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be nobody, but I’d like to go do mountain bike with a guy on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a police officer.

    I’m missing 11 days of school to be here and 27 days in the whole semester, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘He’s probably going to fail my course.’

    You can follow me on Instagram or Twitter at @p_boucher97.”

  • Under 23 Questions with Antoine Blais

    Under 23 Questions with Antoine Blais

    Antoine Blais (Skibec) racing in the 15 k freestyle at 2017 U.S. nationals earlier this month at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Courtesy photo)
    Antoine Blais (Skibec) racing in the 15 k freestyle at 2017 U.S. nationals earlier this month at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Courtesy photo)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 20-year-old Antoine Blais, of Skibec, who’s representing Canada at his second Junior Worlds. On Monday, Blais finished 31st in the men’s classic sprint on the first day of Junior Worlds, just 0.05 seconds out of qualifying, as the third best Canadian man on the day.

    ***

    “My full name is Antoine Blais, but you can call me Antoine. I was born in Lévis, Quebec, raised in Lévis, and one thing you should know about my hometown is Lévis was named in honor of
    François-Gaston de Lévis (1719-1787), hero of the Battle of Sainte-Foy in 1760!

    I started cross-country skiing when I was 12, thanks to my parents. I currently train in Lévis and Quebec City with Skibec.

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me at school. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Of Mice and Men‘.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is racing. One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was ‘You can always go faster‘. One of the best race memories I have is when Ryan Jackson was speaking Finnish.

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Finn Hågen Krogh.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably work in the field of medicine.

    I’m missing 2 and a half weeks of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘He’s in trouble.’ ”

    Antoine Blais (Skibec) training in Canmore, Alberta, last week. (Courtesy photo)
    Antoine Blais (Skibec) training in Canmore, Alberta, last week. (Courtesy photo)