After her world title, Tess Ledeux fifth in Tignes in the Slopestyle World Cup

Under a radiant sun, they took out the signs, the cardboard masks and what to make noise. The La Plagne fan club made the short trip to Tignes this Saturday for the final of the Slopestyle World Cup, the only one this year in France on the freeski circuit. In front of her family, Tess Ledeux was keen to shine in slopestyle, two weeks later his world title acquired in big air in combat at Bakurianiin Georgia, but leaves with a 5th place.

“I was really into it, I skied well at the Worlds so I came here full of confidence, I was motivated. I am really disappointed because I would have really liked to bring them a victory, explains Ledeux, referring to the presence in the arrival area in particular of his mother, his sisters, his grandparents or even his cousin Kevin Rolland, new pipe retiree. This is the first they’ve come to so far I think. It is a very demanding sport, it will be the next time. »

“I don’t think there was any relaxation after the Worlds, on the contrary, confirms Grégory Guenet, coach of the French freeski team. She was even more concerned than usual, because there is her family, she wanted to do well. I felt that she was a little more stressed, more concerned. But she skied really well this week so the result doesn’t matter, the main objective was a fortnight ago (the World Championships). This will make the next victory even more beautiful. »

Under the sun of Tignes, on her first run, the triple world champion (2017 in slopestyle, 2019 and 2023 in big air) fell on the last jump. The second passage is tackled in full, but too fair (80.75 pts) to climb on the podium, dominated by the Swiss Olympic champion Mathilde Grémaud (96.25 pts), untouchable this Saturday, ahead of the Norwegian Johanne Killi (95 ,25 pts) and the Canadian Megan Oldham (90 pts).

“It’s the same story, like at the World Championships, at the X Games or at the Olympics: slopestyle is a lot of speed management, summarizes Guenet. “I had poor speed control, I don’t know why, confirms Tess Ledeux, Olympic vice-champion in Beijing in the big air. But I’m happy with the ski I offered today, in qualifying (finished in first place) and in training. Today, of course, I’m frustrated because it’s not going well, but I know that my skiing is good. »

There is still a World Cup this season for the 21-year-old skier, in Switzerland, in Silvaplana, on March 25. A last podium to go for, for the one who has already had a successful season, compiling: in big air, a world title, X Games money, a World Cup victory and a slopestyle podium (3rd in Laax).