Ninth in the Adelboden Giant (Switzerland), Mathieu Faivre achieves his best result this season and secures his ticket for the World Championships in Beaver Creek (3-15 February, United States). At 22, the skier from Isola 2000 is aware of the work he still has to do. The Nice native wants to take his time to put everything in place to achieve results in line with his expectations.
Nice Premium: Mathieu, you finished 9th in the Adelboden Giant last Saturday, is that satisfying?
Mathieu Faivre: It’s true that it’s my best performance this season, I’ll take it, but I can’t be fully satisfied with that. I know it can go faster, that there are some adjustments to make for a complete race. It allows me to score points, which is always better than a zero.
N.P.: What was lacking at the beginning of the season to get these results?
M.F.: Probably a bit of luck and some small mistakes on my part. In Sölden (went off the course a few gates from the end), it was my fault. I wanted to push a bit too much and in a disorganized way, I went off. In Are and Beaver Creek, it came down to nothing, to details, that’s high-level sport. It’s up to me to avoid putting bad luck into the equation.
N.P.: This 9th place validates your ticket for the World Championships in Beaver Creek (3-15 February) where you achieved your best career result in 2013 (4th)…
M.F.: I’m happy to go because the French Giant team is strong. It’s been several seasons now that qualifications are complicated. It’s not an achievement just to go, we need to perform well there. It’s not because I was successful once that it will be the same every time. We need to put things in place correctly so that on the day, the course works for me during these World Championships.
N.P.: What will be your schedule until February 13, the date of the World Championship Giant?
M.F.: I’ll be doing a bit more slalom, some European Cups to clear my mind and come back to a second discipline. Also some Super-G to gain a bit of speed. We’re leaving for the United States at the beginning of February to train, get used to the time difference, things will move quickly. We need to fill these three weeks with small competitions, training to keep the rhythm and not stall.
N.P.: What will be your goals until the end of the season?
M.F.: I don’t have any real goals. I’d like to establish solid and fast skiing until the end of the season. I want to score big points in the World Cup races I have left, because since the beginning of the season, I’ve had some zeros and that’s costly. We shouldn’t overthink things, take the races one by one. I’ll give it my all by trying to implement my skiing, not doing things in a disorganized manner. Simply, perform the skiing I do in training.
N.P.: This is a very high-level French Giant team; does this dynamic make you better?
M.F.: We’ve had a team that works very well in Giant for years. There’s a good bond between all of us, a very healthy rivalry. Competition pushes us forward and that’s how we’ll go fast. Training with the best in the world (Pinturault, Fanara) helps raise the level. We each have our own qualities, and I know I’m missing certain things. Each of us takes from the others what we need.
N.P.: At 22, you have a great room for improvement…
M.F.: Yes, I still have some great years ahead of me. I don’t focus too much on my age; I don’t tell myself that I have time, that I’m young. Daily, I try to perform my best skiing as soon as possible. Yes, I feel that room for improvement; I haven’t exploited my full potential. I work daily to try to put all of this in place. In training, I feel the skiing is there. The day I can materialize all of this in a race…
N.P.: What can we wish you for the rest of the season?
M.F.: To enjoy myself and ski as I’m capable of doing in some trainings and a few runs. I still have details to work out in competition. The results will follow. I’m not telling myself “go for a medal”, it’s a step-by-step process. I ski by feel, and it will come.
Photo credit: Agence Zoom / Mathieu Faivre’s Facebook Page
