Norwegian skiing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is gearing up for a long-awaited return to World Cup racing in early December, 21 months after a horrific crash in Wengen that left him with a deep laceration to his calf and a severe shoulder injury.
The 33-year-old speed specialist has undergone five surgeries and battled blood poisoning that at one point threatened to end his career. Despite lingering limitations in shoulder mobility – he estimates he’s currently at around 80 % physically – Kilde says he’s never had more fun on skis.
“Mentally I’m ready,” he told the Austrian news agency APA during a visit to his equipment sponsor. “I still have several good years ahead of me. I’m not finished yet.”
Kilde will ease back into competition at the classic North American speed races in Beaver Creek, the site of many of his past triumphs. He has no fear of returning to the most demanding tracks, including Wengen and Kitzbühel – the scenes of his heaviest crashes.
“I’ve thought a lot about what it would feel like to race Wengen again. Today I can say: it’s possible. Kitzbühel too,” he said.
Throughout the grueling rehabilitation, his fiancée, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, has been his rock.
“Nobody is perfect as a person, but she comes close to perfection,” Kilde said with a smile. “She’s my anchor and my biggest motivator on this tough journey.”
The couple, engaged for a year and a half, have postponed their wedding until after their racing careers. With Shiffrin, 30, leaving the door open for the 2030 Olympics and Kilde noting that downhill skiers can compete at the top level until 42, retirement remains a distant thought – provided the joy of skiing stays intact.
“When the fun disappears and the playfulness is gone, it’s over,” he explained. “As long as my body cooperates and I still love it, I’ll keep going.”
Kilde acknowledges that immediately challenging the current dominant forces like Marco Odermatt and young Swiss sensation Franjo von Allmen will be tough, but he refuses to rule it out.
“Winning right away will be difficult – but not impossible,” he said. “I want to go fast again. I want to win again. But everything step by step.”
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the popular Norwegian back in his race suit, charging down the Birds of Prey with his trademark power and a renewed appreciation for the sport he loves.
