Don’t call him James, he might get offended. The new super-G world champion calls himself Jack, contrary to what is written on his identity card. “It was my sister Candace who started calling me that when I was three years old and it stuck,” laughs the one who handles the spatulas on the snow as easily as Jack Sparrow helms his buccaneer ship in the snow. Caribbean Sea.
In the footsteps of Didier Cuche
This Thursday, the Canadian damned the pawn to Marco Odermatt, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde or other Alexis Pinturault to be crowned on the roof of the world. Never before, as talented as the native of Toronto, had he won the slightest victory over the White Circus. “I had long dreamed of being at the top, I was never far in the World Cup for the past two years. But to achieve this feat at the Worlds is completely crazy”, savors the one who becomes, following John Kucera and Erik Guay, the third maple leaf skier to be crowned world champion. “They are guys who inspired me in my youth, I always wanted to be their equal.”
When he was younger, he imagined himself as a champion, like his idols Didier Cuche or Bode Miller. He might also have become the new Sidney Crosby. As comfortable on ice skates as on skis, he played on his college team with Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid until he was 16, before having to make a choice. heartbreaking at this time. “Apparently, I think I made the right decision,” laughs the 25-year-old athlete who is fully revealed in the speed events despite his young age. “With the exception of Marco Odermatt, who has an incredible ability to learn, it’s important to have experience when starting downhill or super-G,” agrees James “Jack” Crawford. “A lot of guys have the potential to win, but experience gives you confidence and makes a difference.”
A Golden Canadian Generation
It is no coincidence to find the “crazy canuck” at the forefront. The man is part of a generation of extremely talented Canadian skiers that also includes Broderick Thompson, Brodie Seger, Jeffrey Read as well as Cameron and Kyle Alexander. A group made up of skiers who have barely exceeded a quarter of a century on the clock. “We’ve been together since we were 14. We are not the most experienced, but there is a lot of quality and we push each other. And especially now, we are going fast.” An emulation maintained by the 2009 downhill world champion John Kucera, who became one of the coaches of the Canadian team. “He knows what we have to do, he knows how to motivate us, he’s been there and his experience is precious”, appreciates his protege.
And it would not be surprising to find James “Jack” Crawford at the forefront on Sunday during the world descent. “I feel really good on this Eclipse run”, assures the Canadian who finds in Savoie conditions similar to those he is used to skiing in North America. “From day one, I thought the snow looked like the snow we’ve always been skiing in Canada. It gave me confidence.”
And James Crawford’s appetite is as sharp as Jack Sparrow’s sword.
Johan Tachet, Courchevel
