SWITZERLAND – Canmore’s Kris Mahler was the most nervous he’s been prior to jumping out of the gates at the start of a new ski cross season, but after crossing the finish line he knew his skiing was in a good place.
A three-time world cup medallist, Mahler raced into the top 20 and then top 10 in Val Thorens, France (Dec. 6-9) in his season opener.
Banff’s Zach Belczyk finished 45th in the lone race he competed in.
A world cup athlete never really knows where they stack up at the beginning of the travelling show, but after a race under his belt, calm rolled over Mahler and mentally he’s better than ever.
“Luckily for me, once we got into the gates for the first race, everything kind of clicked and I was back where I know I can be,” said Mahler.
“I put in a lot of work and I find, for me, when I build that process out and I can execute on all the things that can make me successful.
“If I am able to do that as I was this past season, that makes me confident and when I’m confident I feel good leading into a race.”
The 27-year-old from Canmore followed up Val Thorens, the site of his first world cup gold in 2019, with a forgetful 46th at the night race in Arosa, Switzerland on Monday (Dec. 12).
Caught on the wrong side of a couple skiers in his heat, Mahler said the results may not be ideal on paper, but he is feeling good to start the season.
“I’m not changing my approach leading into this last race of the series here,” said Mahler. “I’m still approaching it just as I did the race before. Now we’re looking for a little bit of results as well.”
A switch-up in a sports psychologist this year has benefited Mahler, he said. The role is to help athletes overcome mental barriers they may be facing. Mahler touches base about once a month and it’s been clicking well for the skier.
“For me, I just find that’s what works best so I can gain my own confidence within my own mental preparation and execution,” said Mahler. “That side of things has definitely been helpful.”
In his eighth season on the world cup circuit, Mahler’s coming off a roller coaster ride last season when he saw extreme highs in winning world cup gold at Nakiska to not qualifying for the Olympics, to fleeing Russia at the start of the country’s military invasion of Ukraine.
After just barely being edged out of making Canada’s 2022 Olympic roster – he was named an alternate – Mahler had a choice to make for the remainder of the season.
“It was either pack my bags and just say ‘I didn’t make it and reconvene when I need to’ or I had an opportunity to race the world cups we still had and try to make the best of the outcome as I could. I chose the latter,” said Mahler.
Making it through as many rounds as he could, he was able to ski into the top eight for the remaining world cups last season.
He is taking that positive mindset and transiting it into this season.
“I’m going to approach it with as much confidence and aggression as I can,” Mahler said.
