JF Cusson is back!

The world of skiing really lost something when JF Cusson dropped out of the scene. It was a time in which Newschool skiing was growing quickly, gaining media exposure and fostering a competition scene for the up and coming kids who could throw crazy tricks. However, at this stage of the young sport's growth, we needed someone like him. Our sport lost one of our best athletes, and most interesting personalities. JF embodies the definition of an athlete with not only skill but character. He is a personality that sparks interest, and makes kids want to be like him. He is someone who can be a hero, not only for his ability, but for the way he goes about life. When you look at other sports there are always a few athletes that really stick out from the rest. You have guys like Michael Jordan who are the best at what they do, and people respect them for their athletic ability. Then there's people such as Dennis Rodman, Bo Jackson or Muhammed Ali… all who embody a personality that almost eclipses their skill. JF has the personality of any of these famous athletes, with the pristine skill to back it up.

JF was one of the founders of Newschool skiing. JF, JP Auclair, Vinnie Dorion, Mike Douglas and Shane Szocs (making the New Canadian Air Force) are often hailed as those responsible for skiing making a drastic turnaround in the early nineties. There are those who say JF did the 360 mute grab well before Johnny Moseley ever did that career-defining trick in the Olympics. JF did well in the competitive mogul scene, including a 2nd place finish at a World Cup contest in Europe. He's always been a natural athlete at whatever sport he has tackled.

However, not one for restrictive rules and regulations, JF left the competitive mogul scene to pursue Freeskiing as a full-time sport. It has always been about putting the free back into freestyle. It was the mark of a new era in skiing. For in the past, one had to compete while they were skiing, whether in moguls, racing or constantly working on your turns it was rarely about fun. This new era brought about the term “Freeride”, allowing it to be OK to just go skiing for the sake of skiing. The industry followed, with Freeride quickly becoming the fastest growing segment of skiing.

The word innovation has always characterized JF. Looking back in time to 1999 X-Games when JF landed an unnatural switch 7 to win the big air, at that time nobody even knew what the term unnatural or switch meant, only that he had done a backwards 720. This was one of the first switch spins that had been done in a major competition. Not only that, but it was unnatural (spinning the opposite way from how the trick was learned), a level of difficulty that would not become popular until 2002/2003. This was always the case with JF, being so far ahead of the curve that you couldn't even appreciate how good he was until the rest of the world caught up. Even before he knew twintip skis would ever be made, JF was experimenting with Misty and Rodeo flips on his mogul skis.

Some hail him as the man that brought style to the sport of skiing, and invented most of the tricks we do today. When asked to describe how tricks were invented back in the day, Frank Raymond (Pro skier and longtime friend of JF) commented “Vinnie would be the first to do it and JP would put style into it. JF would have learned the trick a year before and forgotten about it already.” Everybody always knew JF was the best, but we didn't get a full feeling for just how ahead of the times he was until after he had already retired.

Cusson has always brought a larger than life personality to the sport. His fame was not based on competition results, rather just on being JF. Many people have to fight year after year just to place in contests and please sponsors. When asked about this, JF stated “I guess for me it wasn't in the same perspective. I knew I could rely on my name, my image, my… being JF. I helped start this sport so they [companies] have respect for whatever I do. For kids who compete, and that's all they do, they have to constantly perform and stomp crazy new tricks.”

Most of our sport is focused around competition results and performance, whereas JF represents a legacy of the man meaning just as much as the mission. JF is one of only a handful of athletes that truly embody what freeskiing is all about. Its' not winning contests, or being on the podium, it's simply about being good at what you do, and enjoying the sport we all love. Through video segments, word of mouth and internet rumors, this type of athlete can be seen as the best of the best, without ever winning the X-Games.

So what happened to this legend of freeskiing?

“It's fun until you start getting contracts and then… it's no more fun.” says JF.

For someone like JF, the sport became just like the competitive mogul scene he had tried to leave in the first place. Every time he went out skiing he was hounded by fans and media alike quickly losing the fun aspect of the sport he loved. Out of the ski world, and into the golf world, JF seemingly disappeared from skiing. If you looked carefully, sometimes you'd notice JF skiing at Tremblant or Avila, no cameras, no hype, riding old beat up skis. JF became a soul skier, out sliding rails with his buddies and riding just for the sake of riding. Professionally, he switched over to pursue his new passion, the sport of golf.

“Where have I been? Well basically I've been golfing. In the past three years I've won a few tournaments and a little money. I only started golfing at 22 when I got a free set of Taylor Made from Salomon, that's how I started. ” explains JF.

JF has been golfing quite seriously. He's cut his hair to get let into golf courses, and begun working the competitive golf circuit around Quebec. Last year, he shot a 66 in one tournament, which is quite an impressive feat for anyone, let alone someone who only learned to golf six years ago. He has been working on his golf game very seriously, looking to become a pro in that sport as well. “In golf you reach your peak at 35-40, and you can still maintain a high level until 50-55” notices JF. Much different from the point of view of skiing companies, who are always looking for the newest teenager who might be the next big thing.

JF is making a comeback to skiing this year. He won't be stepping back into the competition scene, but rather focusing on shooting pictures and videos. Internet forums and industry insiders have been buzzing about this fact, as everyone wants to see just what he has to offer.

JF reflects “You know, I backed up from the whole thing for three years. Three years ago I didn't care. Like whatever I was a skier, now I'm a golfer. But then when you quit doing what you've been doing your whole life and you were the best at it… that's when you start thinking about all the things you achieved; everything you did and everything you miss. You also start missing things, the fame, the fun, your friends, skiing…”

JF is returning to skiing as a double athlete. He will be taking his golf every bit as seriously as skiing. JF said he wouldn't have returned for just anyone though, it was Sunice who made the magic happen.

“Well, they're basically the only reason why I came back. Felix called me and he's like yeah JF we have a little project for you. We have a golf company that's getting back into skiing after a few years of absence, and they heard about you. I was like cool, I'm in, but only because they respect the fact that I'll be golfing as well. I'm not going to spend 100% of my time skiing. When a company respects the fact that I'll be golfing as much as skiing, its cool.“

JF is someone who has always had the skill to re-define the sport, and the personality that can affect a young person's development. Kids everywhere are wondering just what is going to happen to this dark horse of skiing, will he sleep or will he succeed? JF will succeed in what he has done in the past, re-defining the sport of skiing. The likes of JF returning and re-joining others such as JP, Pep, Anthony B and Julien R-F will fill out a segment in our sport that does not seek podium results all the time. It will give kids who don't just want to watch cab 10's at contests an icon to look up to. He will bring a unique style, varied tricks and interesting interviews that can be read over and over again. JF is here to change skiing once again, reminding us all that skiing is about having fun, not just competition results.

Doug: But you're JF Cusson!

JF: Yeah, I was I guess.

Doug: You were? You aren't anymore?

JF: I'm the modified version of it.

Doug: JF Cusson 2.0?

By Doug Bishop (newschoolers.com)

Le retour du Roi !

Le monde du ski avait perdu l’une de ces personnalités les plus mythiques lorsqu’en 2004, JF Cusson disparu de la scène du freeski international. Pourtant, cette scène gagnait en popularité et de plus en plus de médias s’intéressaient au phénomène, par contre, lorsque JF, pour des raisons de santé et de nouveaux intérêts, accrochait ses skis de professionnels, le freeski avait alors perdu l’un de ses plus grands ambassadeurs. Un athlète hors pairs doté d’une personnalité intéressante et spontanée, bref quelqu’un dont les jeunes pouvaient s’identifier…

JF a été l’un des fondateurs du mouvement Freeski. Avec ses acolytes JP Auclair, Vincent Dorion et Mike Douglas, le nouveau ‘’canadian air force’’ faisait alors des ravages et redéfinissait, à jamais, un sport qui dans les années 90, était en grave perte de vitesse. La création du 1080, le ski twin tip, fut également part des innovations de ce groupe de skieurs qui ont redonnés au ski ses lettres de noblesses.

Délaissant de plus en plus sa carrière de skieur de bosse, JF Cusson préférait s’entrainer hors piste, la ou il pouvait s’exprimer en toute liberté. Réussissant de nouvelles manœuvres que personne n’avait vu auparavant, JF a été le premier skieur a exécuté, en compétition, un unnateral switch 720, gagnant ainsi le Big Air des X-Games en 1999. ‘’Non seulement cette manœuvre était fait de reculons, mais il l’exécutait également de façon unnatural, tournant à l’opposer de la manière dont cette manœuvre avait été apprise. Ce niveau de difficulté n’a été accessible et rendu populaire qu’après 2002-2003 ‘’ de dire Doug Bishop, président de newschoolers.com et co-fondateur du IF3. ‘’JF a toujours été des années à l’avance sur tous les skieurs’’ de rajouter Bishop.

Dans un monde ou les résultats en compétition ont une grande importance, JF Cusson, s’étant éloigné de cet aspect, a toujours su obtenir sa part de visibilité via les films et les magazines. Avec plusieurs segments dans les plus grands films de ski, Cusson a toujours su épatée la galerie. Il garde particulièrement de bons souvenirs du film Propaganda de Poor Boys ou il avait tellement d’images qu’ils en ont sélectionné que la moitié afin de créer son segment, chose peu commune d’expliquer Cusson. Faisant également parti du lancement de la compagnie ski Armada, JF a su profiter de la vie, voyageant aux quatre coins du monde et étant reconnu mondialement. Malgré tout, le rythme de vie endiablé de skieur professionnel, les blessures accumulées, la pression constante des commanditaires ainsi qu’un nouvel attrait pour le golf le font alors décrocher du sport qu’il aime tant.

En 2004, JF Cusson devient alors un joueur de golf sérieux. Ce découvrant ainsi une nouvelle passion, JF, athlète naturel, en étonne plus d’un par son habilité et sa compréhension du sport. A travers ces années passé à se concentrer sur autre sport que le ski, JF s’est alors harmonisé de nouveau avec sa première passion. Le gout de renouveler avec son ancien style de vie, de voyager avec ses amis refait alors surface et c’est en 2006 que Félix Rioux l’appelle, lui demandant ainsi de devenir membre de l’équipe de ski Sunice, une compagnie qui est aussi présente dans le golf. ‘’Le tout était idéal’’ de dire JF, ‘’je pouvais continuer mes deux sports tout en ayant du fun’’. Salomon et Bula adoptent également le projet et JF revient alors dans le monde du ski.

Il faut d'ailleurs mentionner tout le doute et le mystère que son retour a suscité, ‘’je le croirais que je le verrais’’ de dire Johny D. de Poor Boyz. Les septiques ont été vite confondues alors que JF a fait des apparitions dans certains événements dont les X-Games, faisant ainsi parler toute l’industrie du ski. Toutefois, le retour de l’enfant prodigue s’est fait progressivement, n’ayant pas eu vraiment le temps de s’entrainer adéquatement et devant enchainer certains tournages. L’hiver dernier n’a également pas été de tout repos, la neige n’étant pas souvent au rendez-vous. Malgré tout, JF a quand même su tirer son épingle du jeu avec un segment dans le film Save de Pléhouse films ainsi qu’avec une apparition dans le film YEAH DUDE ! de Poor Boyz. ‘’ pour un vieux golfeur’’, de rire JF, ‘’j’ai pas été si pire’’.

Heureux de voir une scène internationale aussi en santé et dominée par des Québécois tels Charles Gagnier sur les sauts et Frank Raymond sur les rails, il est tout même conscient qu’il interagit dans un sport ou les jeunes deviennent de plus en plus meilleurs. Mais ce philosophe, à ses heures, est conscient que son expérience lui rend de précieux services, ‘’si jeunesse savait et si vieillesse pouvait’’ de dire JF.

L’hiver qui arrive sera chargé pour JF, bien qu’il soit encore préoccupé pour le golf, le ski prendra d’ici peu, toute la place et il partira, l’espère-t-il, pour d’autres beaux voyages. Son objectif sera de faire ce qu’il fait le mieux, skié avec ses amis tout en produisant un bon segment pour Poor Boyz. Quand on lui demande ce qu’il aimerait faire à long terme, JF parle alors de ses rêves de golfeur, conscient alors qu’une deuxième carrière professionnel l’attend d’ici peu.

Par Jean-Francis DuRocher