PARK CITY, Utah, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Bode Miller's second-run miscue Saturday allowed Jean-Pierre Vidal of France to win the Olympic gold medal in slalom at the Deer Valley Resort.
An American star seeking a gold medal to go along with two silvers at the Winter Games, Miller was second after the first run but missed a gate his second time down the "Know You Don't" course.
Miller, who is second in the World Cup slalom standings, finished his last run in 1:04.42 -- 16.05 seconds off his first time -- and ended up 25th.
"I skied a great first run, I put myself right where I wanted to be," said Miller, whose coaches were responsible for setting up the course. "I tried to do the same on the second run, I just couldn't come through."
The 24-year-old Miller, who skis best on slalom courses, was trying to become the first American male to medal in three alpine events in one Olympic appearance.
"It was an awesome experience here," said Miller, the first U.S. male with two alpine medals since Tommy Moe in 1994. "Even today, I skied a great first run. That was the way I wanted to ski, except for blowing out the course."
A rival of Miller's in World Cup slalom events, Vidal survived two near falls on the slushy mountain to win France's first gold medal in the event since Jean-Claude Killy in 1968.
The reigning French national champion in slalom and giant slalom, Vidal earned a medal in his Olympic debut, rallying from 15th after his first run for a combined time of 1 minute, 41.06 seconds.
"Since the beginning of the season, there has been a big fight between Bode and myself," said Vidal, who had a pair of knee operations in 2000. "Bode had it more difficult because there was so much pressure on him."
France had a 1-2 finish as slalom specialist Sebastien Amiez took home the silver in 1:41.82. Alain Baxter took home Britain's first alpine skiing medal with a time of 1:42.32.
"For Vidal to have first and I to have second, it's perfect," Amiez said. "Of course, for the French, it's perfect."
Baxter was just eighth after the opening run, but he watched a handful of medal contenders struggle with the rippled course before claiming bronze.
"Know You Don't" was treacherous to some of the field's best skiers, including Croatian Ivica Kostelic, the World Cup slalom leader who was fourth after the first run but missed a gate on his second trip down the mountain.
Kostelic's sister, Janica, has won all four of Croatia's medals at the Salt Lake City Games, including three golds in alpine skiing.
The first four skiers in the second stage of this race either fell, slipped or missed gates.
