Notable:
Unlike most WX '03 Slopestyle competitors that qualified for WX through traditional slopestyle comps, Thomas Diet qualified for WX '03 at the first-ever big mountain jib contest which took place at the World Heli-Challenge in Wanaka, NZ in August 2002. Similar to a big mountain comp, the Heli-Jib used a helicopter to transport rails and rainbows up the mountain. Diet, manned the run, won it, and earned a place at the Slopestyle comp at WX '03.

Quote:
Gilles Broise, the race director for the WX Qualifier in Val Thorens, FRA (Dec. '02), says, "He [Diet] is still young and not regular in his performances. He has an alpine background and started new school skiing when he did qualify the first time the final rounds in Val Thorens [skiercross] 2000. In freestyle he has participated in several local races with Dynastar - he was tenth in the slopestyle at the Boarderweek [WX Qualifier] ."