Getting silver in Moscow was “so cool” for Andi Naude.
“I honestly couldn’t be happier with how the season ended,” said Naude, over the phone as she gets ready for the WIN Canada Cup Senior National championship in Quebec. “It was such a fun course. It was super cool to be able to ski and do my best.”
Doing her best included a personal best result in dual moguls as she beat out teammate Chloe Dufour-Lapointe.
“I was so excited to be able to beat her,” said Naude, 20. “She’s a very good skier. It’s always a challenge going up against her. I haven’t beat her yet. To be able to do that was definitely the highlight of my day.”
Dufour-Lapointe edged out sister Justine to win her first Crystal Globe.
Competing in Moscow was different, said Naude adding that the course was set up on scaffolding and was shorter, making it a jump-focused course. Naude said jumping is a strong suit for her.
“I did my harder tricks, the back full on the top air and back layout on the bottom,” said Naude, a alumni of the Apex Freestyle Club in Penticton. “I just trusted my skiing and my jumps and I think that really paid off.”
For the final World Cup event of the season, Naude felt everyone was pushing to do their very best, especially with the rankings in the world being so close. Naude took fifth overall for the second time. She was happy with her skiing.
“To be able to finish in fifth again is a bonus,” said Naude, who was 13 points shy of finishing fourth.
Naude said this season was a growing one for her. She learned many lessons, in what was also a shorter year with only eight World Cup events. With fewer events, she said every competition counted more.
“I’m only looking to improve for next year,” said Naude.
This weekend however, she has her sights set on accomplishing what she did at Apex Mountain two years ago, win senior nationals.
“The confidence is good,” she said.
After that, Naude will have a month off then returns to Whistler in May to resume training for a new season.