Snowboarding: Gaudet Reaches Giant Slalom Quarterfinals, Moisan Eliminated

In a thrilling snowboarding event, Arnaud Gaudet narrowly missed the semifinals of the giant slalom parallel competition on Sunday. His time fell just 0.03 seconds short against Bulgaria’s Tervel Zamfirov. Gaudet, hailing from Montcalm, had high hopes for a medal after securing silver in a recent World Cup event.

Gaudet’s journey to the quarterfinals included a solid performance in the earlier rounds. He triumphed over another Bulgarian snowboarder, Radoslav Yankov, by a margin of 0.11 seconds in the eighth finals. In contrast, fellow Canadian Aurélie Moisan, competing in her first Olympics at age 21, was eliminated in the eighth round by Poland’s Aleksandra Kros-Walas, who outpaced her by 0.36 seconds.

Early Performances and Final Runs

Both athletes successfully qualified for the final rounds, finishing among the top 16 in the preliminary round. Gaudet ranked fourth, while Moisan secured the 12th position. Moisan expressed her satisfaction with her initial run, noting, “I was really happy with my first descent. I even surprised myself because I made some small mistakes.”

In her second run, Moisan faced the formidable Ester Ledecka, the defending Olympic champion from the last two Games. Despite a strategic plan, Moisan struggled at the start, which impacted her rhythm.

Additional Competitors

• Kaylie Buck also represented Canada, finishing 14th overall, before being defeated in the eighths by Japan’s Miki Tsubaki.
• The parallel giant slalom course was extended this year, featuring approximately ten more gates than usual, with athlete times averaging about 43 seconds during qualifications.

Gaudet remarked on the longer course, suggesting it played to his strengths. He felt significantly more confident this year compared to his debut in Beijing, where doubts prevailed. “I wasn’t really confident in my abilities in Beijing. This year, I have a podium in giant slalom, and I was confident coming here,” he stated.

The Olympic spirit remains high as athletes continue to compete in various disciplines, showcasing determination and skill on the international stage.