VIDAL Jean-Pierre (FRA) 24,Feb,1977 Saint Jean Maurienne 175cm / 80kg Club: EMHM Le Toussuire/Savoie SKI: Dynastar BOOTS: Lange BINDING: Look 2006 retired Madonna 01 SL/4th Kraniska Gora 02 SL/ 1st Salt Lake 2002 Slalom / Gold World Cup Ranking General 2002/13th, 2003/37th, 2004/63rd, 2005/48th, 2006/33rd. Special 2002 SL/3rd, 2003 SL/10th, GS/32nd. 2004 SL/26th. 2005 SL/13th. 2006 SL/10th. World Championships 2003 St.Moritz GS/DNF, SL/DNF. 2005 Bormio. SL/DNF. Olympic Games 2002 Salt Lake City SL/1st World Cup - 2 w. (2 SL) 1. SL: Kraniska Gora 02, Kitzbuhel 06, 2. SL: Schladming 02, 3. SL: Aspen 02-II, Flachau 02, Kranjska Gora 03, 4. SL: Madonna 02, Adelboden 06, 5. SL: Wengen 02, Sestriere 03-KO, Chamonix 04, Schladming 05, Madonna 06, 6. SL: Park City 03, Wenge 03, 7. SL: Lenzerheide 05, 8. SL: Kitzbuhwl 02, 9. SL: Aspen 02-I, Kranjska Gora 06, Jean-Pierre Vidal enjoyed his most exciting birthday on February 24th 2002 when he turned 25 a few hours after capturing gold in the Olympic slalom at Deer Valley, Utah. It's a wonderful success-story that the new French skier celebrated during this season, three years after suffering a dramatic accident which seemed to put an end at his career! A member of the National Ski team since 1977, Vidal entered his first World Cup races in 1998 without scoring a point. He also came in 6th both in slalom and GS at the French Nationals. His older sister Vanessa is also a member of the French team since 1995! The next winter, he was University World Champion in GS in Slovakia a scored some points in Europa Cup races. But in spring 1999, “JP” torn both his cruciate ligaments when he crashed in a downhill during the National Championships raced in La Clusaz. Nobody except himself believed he could ever come back at the top in the following months spent on a wheel chair! A tremendous will Yet as Ivica Kostelic, Jean-Pierre Vidal is a fighter as well as a passionate ski racer. There was no doubt in his mind that he will return one day on a racing course. After a long and an exhausting rehabilitation, Vidal was back on his skis to train in January 2000. He even raced the Nationals a couple months later (12th GS, 17th slalom) - at that point, he saw that he could make it. In fact he was selected for some World Cup races during the 2001 season but again without success. But the skier from La Toussuire didn't give up his dreams and he saved his spot on the team in dominating both technical events at the National Championships held in Courchevel. He regained his position in the World Cup group as well as all his confidence. During the next summer, he could also train harder than before since he was back in shape. He didn't mind to pay for his training camps because he was not classified among the top-30 of the International standings - he was just happy to do what he likes the most only two years after his terrible accident. He also took the time to successfully end his studies and earned a commercial degree in May 2001. The turning point The first slalom at Aspen in November 2001 was the turning point of his international career - he was 9th in the first race won by Kostelic despite a huge mistake at the end of the second run, but he fought back the next day. This time he reached the podium as he ended 3rd - his cousin, Jean-Noel Augert, the 1970 slalom World Champion, could be proud of him! A month later he stunned the crowd and the other favorites as he beat World Champion Mario Matt and Kostelic at Kranjska Gora thanks to a furious 2nd run and became the first French winner in that major race since Patrick Russel in 1968! In January only a super Bode Miller could beat him in the fascinating night slalom at Schladming, now the leading event in that specialty on the World Cup tour. At that point Vidal was convinced that he can shoot for an Olympic medal in February. Great guts On the treacherous and damaged Deer Valley slalom run, Jean-Pierre skied a very gutsy and smart first run, setting the best time ahead of all the other favorites such as Miller, Raich, Kostelic. They all knew from the previous races that “JP” is not going to tank in the second run or lose his nerves. In fact he put great pressure on his rivals and forced them to take even more risks in the second leg. The course was in bad shape and everybody struggled on the way down the slope. Some outsiders starting before the leaders were able to take advantage of the situation - as Sebastien Amiez or Alain Baxter - other skied out. Among them Kostelic and Miller who fell twice. Despite his strong margin over Amiez, Vidal attacked again to perfectly master the difficulties of the choppy run. He didn’t fade and achieved an aggressive and clean run - and clearly became the French athlete since the great Jean-Claude Killy (1968) to grab Olympic gold in that event. He was again on the podium at Flachau (3rd) in the final slalom race and in the slalom standings won by Kostelic ahead of Miller. This outstanding trio was definitely skiing in its own league during this fantastic 2002 season! A mountain man Now a sport celebrity in France, Jean-Pierre Vidal hopes to strongly promotes ski racing in his country where the competitions are usually not broadcasted life on national TV stations. He took part in some entertainment shows with his friends Frederic Covili, Laure Pequegnot and Carole Montillet as “Fort Boyard” - a famous prime-time series produced in an old fortress located in the sea south of France. The team of special guests has to answer many questions and discover several treasures during the timed game to be able to open a safe containing hundreds on gold coins… But Vidal feels more comfortable when he feels free to move around his home mountains riding his mountain -bike down the slope, training his legs in the swimming pool, practicing tai-chi in the fields or relaxing with his friends and family. Yet on water too he feels at ease when windsurfing or jet-skiing, never missing a good opportunity to improve his impressive talent and his great coordination. An outgoing and charming young champion, Jean-Pierre Vidal has all the qualities to become a sparkling leader on the World Cup tour. Biorama Basel