2023 World Ski Championships. Goitschel, Pelen, Vidal, Montillet… When former world or Olympic champions meet on the shores of Lake Annecy
Such a setting was needed to receive in the mild autumn, the history of skiing brought together on the shores of Lake Annecy. A rain of medals under a radiant sun. A renowned table invited to Jean Sulpice at the Auberge du Père Bise, in the still sumptuous setting of the bay of Talloires. At the initiative of the organizers of the 2023 Alpine Ski Worlds (February 6 to 19 in Courchevel-Méribel), the big names in French skiing from 1962 to the 2000s could not miss this opportunity in or to meet. Except the neighbor Antoine Dénériaz, 2006 Olympic downhill champion, who had to cancel because of the cursed Covid. Absent but never far away, Jean-Claude Killy, the hero of the Grenoble Olympics, wanted to send a message to greet this beautiful skewer by recalling that October 17 was a good date for French skiing, with the awarding of the Olympics. of Albertville on a holy day in 1986.
“Great champions make great events and great events make champions,” says Perrine Pelen, former queen of slalom crowned in 1985 in Bormio and now in the habit of general manager. “He’s the only person I’ve never recognized,” Marielle Goitschel simply explained with her inimitable banter. During the meal, and after, “Marielle made… Marielle. Simple. Cash”, slips Annie Famose, world slalom champion in front of… Marielle in 1966 in Portillo. “It was great to meet like that, especially with Christine and Marielle. We still lived together for fifteen years. »
A benevolent atmosphere between generations. “It was really nice, there is always a great solidarity between ski people, recalls the big mouth of the mountains, which weighs on the world and Olympic titles with his sister Christine. The Worlds are a great showcase. For me, they are already successful. And if it can smile we can win five gold medals with Pinturault, Worley, Noël, Faivre and Miradoli. ” Just that !
And the great lady of Savoy (and elsewhere) can already see herself there. “If France is not a great sporting country, it is a country that knows how to mobilize for the Olympic Games and the world championships. Michèle Jacot, the first French winner of the World Cup (in 1970), much more discreet, will leave on tiptoe.
“It was really a great idea, welcomed Jean-Pierre Vidal, 2002 Olympic slalom champion, and youngest of the lot (45 years old). For the set, we can hardly do better. French skiing still weighs a lot of medals and podiums. »
The host of the day, Jean Sulpice, two Michelin stars, a big fan of skiing and sports, expressed his admiration for this audience of invitations “who are a source of inspiration, benevolent and not jaded”. Carole Montillet, the golden descendant of 2002, had bright eyes for this moment of sharing. “A crazy day. We were able to take stock of what we were becoming and remember that we still had a good life. Between two dishes, it was naturally a question of skiing. “We talked about the evolution of the combined, the Swiss and the French chances. Without having to play veterans too much.
They were all already looking forward to being at the foot of the slopes in Courchevel and Méribel in February 2023. They will all be part of the party as TV consultants, VIP guests or simple spectators. The blood of competition always runs in their veins. “I don’t miss a race on TV”, slips Jean-Noël Augert, 1970 world slalom champion in Val Gardena. “Former champions are great vectors and ambassadors, and are stakeholders in the success of the Worlds,” underlines Michel Vion, combined world champion in 1982, at the heart of the organization as former president of the French Ski Federation and now Secretary General of the International Federation. With Fabienne Serrat, crowned at 17 in Saint-Moritz, he spoke about heritage. “It goes through this kind of intergenerational action. So that the history of French skiing continues.