Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Mikaela Shiffrin: Photo Mike Dawson

Ski racing’s first couple, Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, are spending quality time together this summer, with the five-time women’s overall World Cup champion immersing herself in Norwegian culture. Also, Colorado is a second home for Norway’s two-time World Cup downhill champion.

Shiffrin recently visited Kilde in Norway and the couple wasted no time before completing a photo shoot for Snow Magazine. The session occurred on a farm in Kilde’s hometown of Baerum, a 30-minute drive northwest of Oslo.

“She comes to Norway and I go there (to Colorado) and that’s something that we need to keep doing,” Kilde told Ski Racing Media at a recent Norwegian Ski Team training camp in Riva del Garda, Italy. “She’s been to Kvitfjell for races and we have also done some training there. It’s something for the future also. 

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“I think she also has a very open mind to learn about the (Norwegian) culture and being a part of my family the same way I am for her. It’s a great balance. We love being with each other,” he said.

Shiffrin – who competed in World Cup races in Kvitfjell, Norway, on Kilde’s home mountain for the first time in March – says she embraces the warmth and friendliness of Norway, especially while around her beau.

“It is a completely different experience when you are here with a Norwegian,” Shiffrin told Norway’s TV 2 in March. “It’s as if everyone suddenly welcomes you that much more. I really, really like it here.”

Taking care of business

Kilde, 30, and Shiffrin, 28, have been together since early 2021. Since then, the ‘Norwegian Viking’ has won two World Cup downhill titles, a super-G title, and two Olympic medals. Shiffrin has captured her fourth and fifth overall World Cup titles, a seventh slalom title and a second giant slalom title. In addition, she surpassed Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time World Cup victories record of 86, with her 87th win in Åre, Sweden, on March 11. 

The sport’s power couple has indeed thrived from each other’s accomplishments.

“I love to be around her and experience her type of focus and also her as a human being,” Kilde says. “That combination is scarce, and for me to experience that is something special.  

“I’m going to do everything I can to have that feeling for the rest of my life. I have to deliver as well, and right now, what we have together is beautiful.”

Kilde says their similarities and special bond extend well beyond being the world’s premier ski racers.

“Our families are really similar somehow. We also enjoy being together with our families, and that’s a very good start for hopefully something bigger in the future,” he said.

“Right now, we’re just trying to enjoy our time together. We’re lucky we have the same job.  It’s really awesome.”

Westbound to Colorado

From the scenic Scandinavian country renowned for its breathtaking fjords, midnight sun, Northern Lights and summer smörgåsbord feasts, they will head to the Colorado Rockies in July, where Shiffrin will play host.

“Colorado is sort of my second home. We’re going to train together there for sure,” Kilde says. “We spend a little time there together and train twice daily.”

“I love it there – the weather is perfect for training because it never rains.

“The facilities and everything Mikaela has there is also perfect for maintaining my training. This is one of the reasons why it works for us as a couple. We train together wherever we meet.”

It is not surprising that Kilde enjoys everything about the Rocky Mountain state. Five of his 21 World Cup victories have come on Colorado snow, including clinching his second downhill title with an impressive triumph on Aspen Mountain on March 4. The powerful Norwegian racer convincingly won the race by 0.61 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger. Kilde’s five World Cup wins in Colorado are more than in any other country except Italy (6).

The stars aligned for the couple earlier that fateful March day. Shiffrin’s top-five result in Kvitfjell earned her enough points to secure a fifth overall title. Their titles coincided, although they were nearly 5,000 miles apart in each other’s native countries. It was a serendipitous moment.

World Cup Tour to the Eras Tour

Kilde informs that he and Shiffrin have plenty planned for Colorado, not only wide-ranging training but also some business and a little pleasure. 

“We also have other things to do, some people to meet, and some fun stuff. We’re going to the Taylor Swift concert together in Denver,” Kilde reveals.

Swift’s pop hits “Fearless” and “You Belong With Me” seem like appropriate anthems for the dominating ski racing duo. However, Kilde knows “All Too Well” that there is no sense in getting upset when Shiffrin beats him in friendly sporting competitions.

“For sure, there is competitiveness when we are together because we live our lives competing,” Kilde says. “When we play tennis, of course, we want to play at a high level. But, we never really play against each other. 

“We play with each other and try to do things right. When we can’t do things right, we get a little bit mad. Then we give each other feedback. It’s a great balance. 

“Of course, we want to beat each other, but honestly, I don’t get mad if Mikaela beats me because I know how great of an athlete she is. She can always beat me.”

Follow Brian on Twitter – @Brian_Pinelli