Pierrick Bourgeat (FRA)

DOB:  01/28/1976  Hometown:  Uriage

Pierrick Bourgeat is being called the best French slalom skier since Sebastien Amiez. A second place finisher at the '97 FIS World Championships in Sierra Nevada, the Grenoble native has competed on the World Cup tour since '86. Bourgeat was also the only skier from France to celebrate a major success during the '98-'99 season, winning the opening slalom in Park City last November. Bourgeat, 23, overcame the deteriorating course conditions late in the second run to jump form 14th to the top of the podium.

In January '98, Bourgeat made another great comeback when he finished second in Kranjska Gora, after coming in 22nd in the first run. He proved his success was not a fluke at Schladming, taking second just 12/100 seconds behind winner, Benjamin Raich of Austria. Bourgeat was in the fight for the slalom World Cup title against Austrian Thomas Stangassinger and Jure Kosir of Slovenia until the last few races of the season. At the '99 Vail World Championships, Bourgeat lost an opportunity to podium when he skied out in the slalom, his only event.

Bourgeat learned to ski when he was two years old at Chamrousse with his mother Arlette, a ski instructor. Yet his grandfather, who was resigned to a wheelchair, was his biggest fan. In fact, Bourgeat dedicated his first victory in Park City to his "grand père" after defeating '98 Olympic Champion Hans Petter Buraas of Norway.

A series of injuries slowed his career as a junior. At 15, he had knee surgery and later he broke a bone in his left shoulder. He used to play rugby in his younger years at school. His father works as a mechanic and runs a restaurant in the nearby town of Revel.

— Patrick Lange, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent