Biglines Video Featuring Manu Gaidet:
2005 Snowbird World Tour Videos
Whistler 2004 World Tour
Whistler 2003 World Tour
Snowbird 2004 (off the hook)




So Manu, Let’s start with the facts.

Hometown: Courchevel 1850 (France)
Age: 28
Home Ski Resort: Courchevel 1850
First Ski Experience: when I was 2 years Old
Skiing Background: I was Alpine ski racer, I did 2 years in what we call F.I.S.

Chris:
For those of us who haven’t heard of you yet, describe yourself as an athlete, and why you always dominate in big mountain contests.

Manu:
I’m somebody really serious with my training, I don’t party to much, I’m never get drunk exept 3/4 times a year. In fact when I’m focusing on something, I go for it, and put all the chances to reach my objective. I’m a full certificate Mountain guide and I think that helps a lot to. Like when I choose my line down the mountain. .

C:
You’ve guided, skied alpine, shot film and photo, and killed it the IFSA World Tour. Out of all the things you’ve accomplished and are doing right now, what seems to be the most important in your life?

M:
For me it’s to be happy, and good in my mind. To be free, and decide by myself what sort of challenge I want to do. I’m passionate about skiing, about the mountain, this is huge for me to feel good in this element. Can be shooting, competing, filming, dosen’t matter.

C:
In North America, the industry is pushing in the direction of terrain parks and big air contests, not big mountains and freeskiing events. In France if kids want your autograph and want to be just like you. Is this because of the huge mountains that surround the area? How should North America show the youth love and respect for big mountains and big mountain skiing?

M:
In France for example, you can reach the top of a mountain whith a chair lift, or a cable car, arrive at the top and realize you have a groomed piste on one side and some amazing extreme terrain on the other. And you have no rope to go there, that mean’s really free. It’s exciting in one way, and scary in an other. Cause you realize if you do a mistake, nobody pushed you into this trouble. So you must have a lot of respect whith the mountain, and make sure you know what you are doing. So what we do every day it’s huge, if something happen you can be in big trouble, so we have the respect of every body because of that I think. Kids want to be like us cause freeskiing is something serious, and if you do it that means you are strong.

C:
If anyone has ever watched you in a contest, they will see that you go strong from the top through the finish line. How do you train to keep yourself in so much better shape than all the other competitors?

M:
As I said, I’m a mountain guide, so I climb Mt Blanc often, I spend June and July doing Alpinism, and when it’s bad weather, I go cycling, I do mountain biking, running. I feel really good when I’m in good shape. A normal day training for me is 21 000 m vertical in one day skiing (only in donwhill) that mean around 55 000 feet vertical a day. (So 9am to 5pm nearly non stop) 6pm to 7/8pm I go work out my upper body (abdos, back, neck, arms, soulders...) It’s really good cause my back never hurt’s. And I must be the one who spends the most time in mountain all year (skiing, climbing, runing...) Mountains man - they are my passion.

C:
You once told me that freeskiing contests were a place where great skiers from around the world could come together and have an exchange of ideas on how to ski the mountain. What ideas have other people showed you and what have you learned?

M:
What I have learned the most is to respect all nationalities, all guys, cause anybody can be strong one day and show things that nobody expects. For example, I skied whith Hugo Harrison and I saw how fast he skis, I skied whith Guerlin Chicherit and I saw how agressive he is on skis, and because of those guys I learned a bit from them, whatching them ski. So all riders who are doiing those contest are better after a seson competiting than skiing only by themselves.

C:
What are your plans for the future? You’ve already accomplished so much. I can’t believe you would stop blowing peoples minds anytime soon.

M:
I ‘ll continue competing a bit, but my plan for the next 3/ 4 years is to do a lot of filming and shooting. I would like to show more how what we do sometimes is amazing.
And for after, I wan’t to have a familly and doing a job like organizing event’s around the World with a mix of big companies and skiing.

C:
With no IFSA world tour event in Whistler this year, is there any need for you to come to Canada? Are our mountains sick enough to get you to fly over here? Is it worth it to drink expensive wine and Safeway brand French bread to ski the Rockies or Bella Coola?

M:
You know, for me the best place in the world for skiing it’s where I have good friends, steep slopes and good snow. This year conditions in Canada weren't that good so I didn’t come. It’s shame cause I was suppose to go and film in Bella Coola. But for sure I love travelling the World for news experiences. Whistler is a lot smaller than Courchevel, but it’s usualy a good place to ski. And it makes me feeling like home cause there is the forest from the middle to the bottom.

C:
Alright, time for your monologue. Thank your sponsors, family and friends, and let us know what you think skiing the big mountains is all about.

M:
I want to thank my family, all my friends, cause whithout them I'd probably not be doing so good today.
I also want to thank all my partners: ROSSIGNOL, WEPS eyeswear, FIRSTREAM, HUBLOT watches, SKI SCOOL OF COURCHEVEL.

C:
Thank you Manu. I hope to see you on top of that podium again.