Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Photo: Meredith Guinan
The Norwegian also made some turns “like a normal tourist” at the Colorado resort
A Supportive Visit
Norwegian champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde made a surprise appearance at the Beaver Creek World Cup downhill race on Friday and Saturday, mingling with teammates and fellow racers but in town primarily to spend time with fiancé Mikaela Shiffrin.
“My biggest reason for coming is Mikaela,” Kilde said. “She lives down the street here. I was supposed to help Mikaela through this week of speed training and racing here at Beaver Creek. I could probably offer some of my experience and guide her through it a little bit, although I don’t think I need to guide her much. Now that she’s injured and I can be with her, I can support her.”
Shiffrin crashed in last Saturday’s World Cup giant slalom in Killington, puncturing her oblique muscle. The injury will sideline her for several weeks, forcing her to miss next Sunday’s super-G race at Beaver Creek.
A Spectator’s Perspective
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde claimed victories in the Beaver Creek downhill and super-G during the last two years the races took place (2021 and 2022). Last year’s events were canceled due to heavy snow and poor visibility. On Friday, he was getting a new perspective of the event as a spectator.
“It’s definitely different,” he said of watching versus racing. “My soul is happy to be back on the mountain again, honestly,” he said. “It’s been a long journey.”
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Recovery and Reflection
The 32-year-old Norwegian crashed in the Wengen downhill last January, suffering a deep cut on his right calf and torn ligaments in his left shoulder. These injuries have sidelined him since. The shoulder continues to plague him, requiring another surgery to prevent him from racing this season. He was back on skis at Beaver Creek, albeit recreationally.
“To be able to ski some turns today, that was emotional,” he said. “Beautiful, actually, to be here, cruising around like a normal tourist, trying to enjoy that side of things, too, which I think is super healthy right now. I got to watch it from the side a little, which is great, so can’t complain.”
Looking Ahead
Kilde hopes to return to racing next year, but is unsure of his timeline for getting back to training.
“I’m not allowed to train on the skis because of my shoulder,” he said. “I have another surgery I’m waiting for, so depending how that goes, I’ll build step by step, day by day. It’s hard for me to say anything more concrete than that. It’s definitely a lot of work ahead of me.”
About the Author: Shauna Farnell
