Émile Nadeau Answers Our Questionnaire

Freestyle skier Émile Nadeau has been on Canada’s national team since 2020 as one of the country’s leading aerialists. His career highlights include podiums in World Cup events and participation in the Beijing games in 2022. With a strong season to date that has him ranked eighteenth on the FIS points list, the Prévost native has earned a trip to his second Olympic Games.

Career at a Glance

Olympic appearances: 2 (Beijing 2022; Milan Cortina 2026)
Best Olympic finish: 17th (Beijing 2022, aerials)
World Cup podiums: 3 (bronze — Almaty 2023; Lac-Beauport 2024, 2025)
World Championships: 10th (2023)
NorAm titles: Overall NorAm aerials champion (2023–24)

Junior World Championships: 3rd (2022)
National team member since: 2020 (Deer Valley, USA)

To get a closer look at the individual beyond the outstanding results, we invited him to take part in our questionnaire.

What do you hope to experience or accomplish this season or at the next Olympics?

This season, my main goal is to regain the confidence I had before last winter’s injury. I’d also like to land my first triple backflips with five twists on snow.

What song, musician, band, visual artist, poet, or other artist best represents your style on snow?

I’d say the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

What word or phrase best describes your state of mind during competition?

I tell myself, “Keep it simple. You know what to do.” 

If you could spend a day on the mountain with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be?

Probably Michael Jordan.

What’s the strangest training exercise you’ve ever done for your sport?

A military-style boot camp with an army sergeant!

What’s your favourite place to ski (or ride) in Quebec? And in the world? Why?

In Quebec, it’s Mont-Tremblant because of the quality and variety of terrain (off-piste, glades, snowpark, and groomers). Elsewhere in the world, it’s Snowbird in the United States, because it’s a huge mountain that gets a ton of snow every winter and has a bit of a backcountry feel (it has fewer defined runs). Often the conditions are unreal.

What’s your most magical moment on snow?

It was my third-place finish at the World Cup at the Relais ski area in 2024 in front of my whole family. It was unbelievable!

What quality do you appreciate most in your friends? In your ski or snowboard partners?

The trait I appreciate most in my friends is their sense of humour.

If you could be reincarnated after death, what being or object would you choose to become? Why?

I would like to be reincarnated as a snow leopard, because I admire their agility in the mountains.

Do you have a hidden talent that would surprise us?

I sew beanies, and I play guitar!