How Do Pro Skiers Recover From Season-Ending Injuries?

Two years later, when he was 14, Kai began earning a series of consecutive Skier of the Year nominations. With his dad and Teton Gravity Research co-founder Todd Jones there to capture all the slopeside action, the ski community was privy to Kai’s high-flying ascendancy, watching season after season as he pushed his talents further.

But in 2023, Kai’s career ground to a halt. While skiing in the Wyoming backcountry he crashed, severely injuring himself. The grueling months that followed saw surgery and rehab. Kai had to relearn how to walk.

Most professional skiers have to pay the injury toll at some point or another. The mountains play rough with everyone, and recovery is a personal battle no matter who you have in your corner. Falling into Place, a new documentary from Teton Gravity Research explains how Kai managed to successfully navigate the setback that could’ve snuffed out his professional skiing career. Check out the trailer below.

“This journey has been the biggest test of my life,” said Kai. “Getting back on my feet after the accident took everything I had, physically and mentally. This film captures all of it—the highs, the lows, and the doubts. I hope it shows people that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a way forward.”

Directing the film are Clayton Vila and Todd Jones. Vila, of Stept fame, has since branched outside of snowsports, taking on filmmaking work that doesn’t involve skis or snow. Still, he seems to be making time for the sport that played a role in launching his career, as evidenced by Falling into Place and last season’s Shadows Fade, a Quinn Wolferman part that Vila edited.

Kai’s new film is a retrospective. Since 2023, he’s bounced back, appearing in 2024’s Teton Gravity Research film Beyond the Fantasy—and proving that he has the grit to surmount the inevitable obstacles that come with his chosen vocation. What we didn’t know is how Kai made it through the gauntlet in one piece.

That changes on December 3rd when Falling into Place releases digitally, with streaming available on Teton Gravity Research TV, Red Bull TV, Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube Movies, and Google TV.

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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