Failing to use their mountain for the moment, the young people of the Freestyle Ski Club Mont-Sainte-Anne can at least live their season, courtesy of a great story of collaboration with the Massif club.
The fall of the gondola at the start of the season, which led to the closure of Mont-Sainte-Anne, obviously had repercussions on the young people who practice their sport at the Beaupré station.
If there is a time for competition in sport, there is also a time for mutual aid. Noting the impasse, the Le Massif freestyle ski club reached out to the Mont-Sainte-Anne freestyle ski club to offer its facilities.
Since December 27, some fifty athletes from U8 to U16 have joined the 32 freestyle skiers of the Charlevoix mountain.
“When young athletes find themselves without a mountain, you have to help each other. Sport is a lifestyle, you can't stop everything overnight. It was a no-brainer to help,” said Le Massif Freestyle Ski Club President Sarah Tremblay.
Working for a lead
The collaborative effort soon extended to parents. Only one mogul track no longer met demand and everyone did their part to set up another one.
Normally, it takes almost a day to set up such a track. Some 70 parents from both clubs rolled up their sleeves: within two hours, a second row of bumps was added.
“We work together for the development of athletes and sport. We are not talking here about a competition of one mountain against the other. We adjusted the training schedules and we asked the collaboration of the two groups of parents to make it viable, ”explained Ms. Tremblay.
According to her, in this commotion, the young people were understanding and open.
“They rub shoulders on the competition circuit. They know that there is not a club that is safe from a mountain that closes. In that time, we hold hands. That's sport," summed up Sarah Tremblay.
Grateful parents
For their part, the parents of the Club de ski acrobatique Mont-Sainte-Anne wanted to express their gratitude.
“We are extremely grateful that the Le Massif club welcomed us and shared their track. What is most beautiful is the collaboration of the parents in all of this,” said Marie-Julie Couturier, member of the board of directors.
For the moment, no one knows when Mont-Sainte-Anne will be able to reopen its doors. The Le Massif freestyle ski club says it is ready to welcome young MSA students for the season, if necessary.
