Recovered and Recharged: Julien Cousineau’s New Beginning

After 16 seasons on the World Cup slalom circuit, veteran skier Julien Cousineau is back on the slopes. Following an ACL tear in his left knee that ended his previous season early, he made a surprising comeback on November 16 in Levi, Finland, finishing 16th—best among all Canadian skiers.

Back in the Race

That race marked his first appearance on the circuit since January 2014 in Schladming. “After my injury, I considered retirement,” says Cousineau. “I talked about it with my coach, but he strongly disagreed! He told me I still had what it takes to be in the world’s top 15.” Once healed from surgery, he doubled down on his training with the goal of reclaiming his spot among the sport’s elite.

He trained four to five times a week at Centre Multisports, following a program he designed himself: “With all the experience I’ve gained over the years, I figured I could manage without external help. At first, I trained in the regular gym, but now with the Gym Perfo, it's even better. It’s exceptional—exactly the kind of facility I dreamed of having in my youth. I’ve never seen another gym like it.”

Now the father of Benjamin (2) and Thomas (3 months), Cousineau is currently in Europe for upcoming World Cup races: Val d’Isère on December 14 and Madonna di Campiglio on December 22. He’ll return home for the holidays before heading back out on the road.

A Family Legacy

Julien follows in the footsteps of his father Alain Cousineau, a member of the world ski elite in the 1970s. After Alain’s career, the family ran Lac Carling Ski Station, where Julien began skiing before training in the Laurentians and befriending Erik Guay, another future Canadian ski star.

Asked if a child from the region could reach elite levels, Julien is confident: “With a solid club structure, a kid training right here at Mont Rigaud could make it. The hill at Carling wasn’t any taller. With a dedicated slalom section at Rigaud, a champion could definitely emerge from here.”

High-Level Skiing, High-Level Costs

Competing internationally isn’t cheap. “Last year, even as a member of the Canadian team, I spent $30,000 on the season,” he explains. “This year will cost more since I’m not officially part of the team yet. But honestly, I’m happy. I run my own program and make my own decisions.”

Thankfully, Cousineau has long-time sponsors who help him stay competitive: Bariatrix Nutrition, Cogela Carbon, Solace, Fisher, VVEX, and Leki.

A slalom specialist, Julien holds the best Olympic result in Canadian men’s slalom history, placing 8th at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Will he compete at the next Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea? “I’m 33, with a young family, so I take it one year at a time,” he says. “Physically and mentally, I feel great right now. The performance is there. I want to break back into the world’s top 15. We’ll see how the season unfolds.”

Determination, discipline, and unwavering support—these are the qualities that make champions. And if perseverance is part of the equation, Julien Cousineau has plenty to spare.