Below is an "INNERVIEW" of a 13 year old boy in France. He was brought to my attention in Roquebrune, at the French Federation site. He had run 2 @ 10.75 (39 off) the week before at 55 kph (34 mph) in a major competition for the juniors. His best score this year was 4 @ 10.75 (39 off). I feel this young man has earned exposure here.
“THE SACHA DESCUNS INNERVIEW” November 16, 2005, by Sabine Ducroux on behalf of Steve Schnitzer
Sacha, please give us a brief history of who you are and where you come from. I am 13, I live in the South West of France, close to the mountains.
What year did you first start skiing? In 1999.
How old were you? I was 7.
Who were your first coaches? My father and Vincent Soubiron.
Who coaches you now? My father, Vincent Soubiron and Boris Laval.
Do you work with a Sports Psychologist? No
Do you work with a Personal Trainer? No
Besides skiing, what are some of your other interests? I like snow skiing and snowboarding a lot. I also do motocross. My father was ranked sixth in the world.
What is your girlfriend’s name? I don’t have any at the moment.
Do you snow ski? Yes, as soon as I don’t go to school in the Winter season, I go snow skiing.
Which do you like more, snow or water skiing? I prefer water skiing.
To ski at a high level a person has to stay fit. Do you follow any specific nutritional theories? I.e. The Zone, Adkins, South Beach, etc.? No, I don’t follow any specific diet.
What is your favorite food? Movie? Music? My favorite food is a rib steak. I watch all kinds of movies and listen to all kinds of music.
What do you do for strength and cardio-vascular fitness? I don’t do anything special, I just run from time to time.
Where do you live? I live in Lourdes, South West of France.
Where is the lake you ski at? With my father, I ski on the Garonne river, and with Vincent Soubiron, I ski at the Seysse lake near Toulouse.
What is your current World Ranking for under 14? I’m first.
What do you consider to be your finest moment? The first time I ran 10 meters.
How many sets a day do you ski? Three or four.
How important is your off the water training? I just run from time to time.
How many days a week do you ski? When I go to school, I ski three times a week (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday). During the holdidays, I ski every day.
How many months per year do you ski? I ski from May to mid-November.
When you are skiing, what are you focusing on? During training, I focus on the instruction(s) I’ve been given. During competition, I focus on the slalom itself.
What do you feel is the most important thing to do to run 10.75 consistently? Getting a good gate and keeping the rope tight.
What is it that you do that others don’t that makes you such an extraordinary athlete? Good technique. I have been taught the right technical basis from the very start.
What type of supplements do you take and why? I don’t take any supplements.
What have you done for the French WaterSki Federation? I won the European under 14 slalom title this year, and helped to win the overall team title.
What needs to change to get waterskiing into the Olympics? I wish to see that happen, but I don’t know what we could do to help.
Who would you say are the up and coming skiers down the road a bit? Jean-Baptiste Faisy, Boris Laval who are two young Open skiers, Théo Fernandez (13, overall skier), Nancy Chardin (17, jumping), Iris Cambray (12, tricks).
What do you think will be the Men’s Slalom World Record 10 years from now? Three or four buoys at 9,75.
Who will hold it? William Asher, Matteo Ianni or Jamie Beauschene.
Who will be the next person to break the existing record? Chris Parrish or Jamie Beauchesne.
Who is more important, senior skiers or young skiers and why? They’re all important. Senior skiers can teach young skiers because of their experience, and young skiers can break records.
What ski do you ride and why? I ride a Connelly F1, because it’s fast and it turns very well.
What are your fin/wing settings and why? My fin is all the way back because my current ski is now a bit short for me. The height is standard. My wing is at 7 degrees.
What are your binding settings and why? They’re standard.
What size and flex ski are you riding and why? I ride a 66” ski. Since I am 1.71 meter today, I should ride a 67” next season.
What bindings do you use and why? I use the Connelly Vision bindings because they are very tight and accurate.
Do you like stiffer or softer skis and why? I prefer stiffer skis because they give more acceleration.
What do you feel are the differences? Speed, more angle, less loss of speed in the turn.
If your ski could do something better, what would you want it to do? Nothing.
What do you feel is the shortest line length you personally can run? I don’t know.
Seventy Five years from now, what will Sacha Descuns be remembered for? For having been a good skier.
Tell us a short horror story about skiing. No bad luck so far.
When driving skiers, what are the most important things to assure a great pull? The most important things are not to help the skier too much and to drive straight.
Who has been the most influential person to you on your path to slalom perfection? Jean-Baptiste Faisy, Boris Laval and Jamie Beauchesne.
What influence has your mom and dad had on your skiing? My dad is involved in my training and we ski together. My mum is less involved, but drives me sometimes.
How many times have you wanted and/or tried to quit skiing? Never.
What is the hardest thing in skiing? The beginning of the season, because the body must get used to skiing again.
What style do you ski? Jamie Beauchesne sytle.
What are the 2 most important things within this style? Being low on the legs and having the hips towards the back of the slalom.
Who are your sponsors? I don’t have any.
Who would you like to thank for helping you to be in the position in life you are now in? My father.
Thank You Sacha! |
