Former WWCFL star Vidal chasing the rainbow

One of Western Canada’s gridiron greats, Kora-Lea Vidal carved a remarkable legacy. Establishing herself as one of the Edmonton Storm’s star players, her world-class athletic skills brought her to the inaugural IFAF Women’s World Football Championships. Wrapping up her career with the Calgary Rage of the Western Women Canadian Football League, her impact on the field represented a pioneering time for the women’s game in Canada.

The values learned from football have translated into an exciting new chapter. Having relocated to Los Angeles, Vidal brings the empowering ambition that she brought to the football field towards the new goal of an acting career. As a side note, she appeared in a guest role on the Canadian TV series “Blackstone” (in 2014).

“If there is anything I learned from my years playing football it is that you have to go for the holes and not be afraid to take a hit. I saw LA as a place with many holes and thought that with my speed and agility I should be able to find some open field and score a touchdown.”

Observing the similarities between the two, Vidal exudes confidence as she takes a big step forward.
As an accomplished athlete and personal trainer, she was accustomed to the key values of discipline, focus and hard work towards achieving her goals and reaching desired results. It is part of a skill set that she hopes can yield positive results,

“Football and acting are so much the same. In each case you are performing and so much work gets put in behind the scenes. Rehearsing is just like taking your reps in practice. It also takes a lot of confidence to execute each play. In both instances you have to be coachable.

There can be a lot of disappointments associated with acting when you do not land a role, but just as with football you do not always win. When I first started playing football I had some natural ability but I had no clue what I was doing, which is exactly my experience with acting. You are always learning on both fields.”

Such maturity also ties in to her endeavors as a motivational speaker and personal development coach where she looks to inspire others, the way she inspired many young women in Western Canada to tackle their dreams of playing football. Although the revelation to friends, family and teammates of such a profound decision came with mixed reactions, it did not deter from her goal,

“I received mixed opinions about my decision to leave it all behind in pursuit of my dreams in LA. People either supported me or were concerned for me. I learned from football that I can always take a hit and get back up again.

No one could talk me out of playing football so no one could talk me out of chasing my dreams either. I essentially just traded one passion for another and I knew that if I could accomplish so much in football, I could accomplish more with my career in acting.”

Although her personal journey has now brought her to Los Angeles, football shall always hold a special place in her heart. Akin to the men’s game, the camaraderie is just as essential for the women who grace the gridiron. Friendships can last a lifetime while teammates become a second family. While she was with the Calgary Rage, family took on a whole new meaning,

“What I miss the most about football is the team atmosphere. You spend so much time with your fellow teammates that they become family. After I had my son, I decided to play a full season of football. The entire team stepped up to help care for my three month old son while I was on the field. It is truly amazing when you have that kind of support behind you so you can play the sport you love.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”

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