ÉLIOT GRONDIN
To become the best in the world, you can't do things halfway.
Éliot Grondin is a snowboard cross athlete and three-time Olympic medalist. Relentless, calculated and always pushing to improve, he's one of the most decorated athletes in the sport. We caught up with him at Mont-Sainte-Anne for the final race of the 2026 winter season, his home mountain, just 30 minutes from where he grew up.
A CONVERSATION WITH ÉLIOT
I like going to bed with my room very clean, everything organized. My clothes are laid out in the exact order I'll put them on, my goggles, all my gear is ready to go. I also prep my breakfast the night before. I make oatmeal and put it in the fridge. The more I can prepare the night before, the calmer my morning is. That's really my ritual: having the most stress-free morning possible before all the action starts.
I'd say it's about setting new goals and finding new challenges. This winter, I'm in a situation where I can't chase the overall standings, so it's on me to find other ways to stay focused. Here at Mont-Sainte-Anne, it's about winning the race. I've won at least one race every year for as long as I can remember, and I haven't yet this season. So if I don't win this weekend, it'll have been a strange season.
It's really special to get to race at home. I'm literally 30 minutes away. I feel like I get to give something back to the people who supported me. They were there for me when I was young, and they're a big part of why I am where I am today. Having a race this close to everyone I know, where they can actually come watch in person, I'm always so happy to put on a show for them at home.
Finding enjoyment in it. It's so demanding that if you're not having fun, the winters are going to feel very long. A big part of it is always finding ways to improve. That's actually what's challenging for me right now: finding the next step. There's honestly no one I can train with who's better than me, anywhere. So it comes down to finding ways to push yourself: riding solo and chasing your own times, always looking for that extra edge.
Just the gold medal. After that, I'll have everything: World Champion, Crystal Globe, World Cup victories. That gold is the one thing still missing. This summer, we're going to sit down as a team and make sure it doesn't slip away a third time.
