Image: Keystone
Aleksander Kilde himself is amazed at the quick return to the top after tearing his cruciate ligament. The Norwegian has never started a season as well as he has before.
The five wins just one year after his serious injury in the right knee are of course a topic in conversation with Aleksander Kilde, such as Marco Odermatt’s flight. The overall World Cup winner of the season before last talks about his special connection to the Basel-based agricultural technology group Syngenta, his attitude towards the Olympic Games in China and the advantages of his liaison with Mikaela Shiffrin.
Aleksander Kilde, let’s look into the more distant future. If you are going to retire in a few years, I could suggest you a suitable job.
I don’t know what. I’m curious now.
Vegetable farmer.
Vegetable farmer? OK. That would be something, yes. (laughs).
You’ve been practicing Yes, once – with your own little vegetable garden at home.
Yes, I created the garden in connection with a partnership with the Syngenta Group to see food growing for myself. My interest in farming is not new. It fascinated me even as a teenager.I wanted to talk to you about this partnership. How did the connection with Syngenta Group come about?
Balanced nutrition and environmental protection are very important to me as a ski racer. I need snow for my sport, but the warmer it gets in our world, the fewer options I have. This is one of the reasons why I want to deepen my knowledge of sustainable food production. The constantly growing world population and climate change also require solutions in the area of nutrition. Syngenta is making a major contribution here. As an ambassador, which I have been for a year, I try to support this work as much as possible.
«Yes, I can ski as well as I can never.»
Aleksander Kilde
Overall World Cup Winner of the penultimate season
With your connection to nature and the environment, you have a special perspective on the Olympic Games in Beijing. How do you feel when you think about the area in Yanqing where the alpine ski races take place, a place where it almost never snows?
I see Olympic Games as an athlete. I participate as an athlete. I want to focus on my missions. Of course, the side effects of such events are also an issue for me. I too have my thoughts. But I don’t have the time or energy to deal with it during the games.
Added to this is the whole problem surrounding the corona virus. The fear of infection and the associated starting ban is latent. How do you deal with that?
Corona is not easy to control, especially in the World Cup. This is shown by the increasing number of infections. I can’t do anything but protect myself as best as possible – by wearing a mask and keeping my distance.
From a sporting point of view, you can look forward to the games in China. A year after your cruciate ligament rupture you seem stronger than ever.
Yes, I ski better than ever. That’s excellent timing (laughs). Could not be better. I never expected that after what happened a year ago. After the injury, I had resolved to be patient. I was convinced that things would be fine again. Especially because the operation went without any complications. But I never, ever expected it to happen so quickly.
Is the operated right knee still causing problems?
I don’t feel anything while driving. But after a lot of exertion in the race or training, I have to take a day or two off.
How much was your friend Mikaela Shiffrin able to help you during the reconstruction?
I could always count on their support. We did a large part of the fitness training together. I also learned a lot from her, from her daily, highly professional work.
Tactics and technique will certainly also be discussed.
We now have a lot of experience in these areas. Both benefit from this. But it’s amazing what a good eye Mikaela has when it comes to technology. I experience that every time we study videos together.
Despite your top form, you have so far concentrated on downhill and super-G. Why?
I still want to not overload my operated knee. The giant slalom in Adelboden was an option. Because in Wengen, in addition to the two downhill runs, there was also a Super-G in the program, I let it be.
So the giant slalom will no longer be an issue for you this winter?
Nothing concrete yet. It is quite possible that after the Olympic Games I will ski the two giant slaloms in Kranjska Gora.
«I am impressed by Marco’s calmness despite his young age.»
You are accepting disadvantages in the fight for the overall World Cup due to the previous waiver of the start in the giant slalom. Marco Odermatt is at the top in three disciplines.
Right now it looks impossible to win the big ball a second time. It will definitely be difficult when I see how Marco is feeling at the moment. Still, you never know. If things keep going this well for me, anything can happen.
Riders like Aksel Svindal or Marcel Hirscher used to inspire and motivate other athletes. Is Marco Odermatt inspiration and motivation for you?
Guys like that spur me on. They show me what’s possible. What impresses me about Marco is how calm he is despite his young age. And when he drives, everything looks so easy. It’s fun to watch him. I have the greatest respect for his achievements.
In the downhills in Kitzbühel Beat Feuz should be this inspiration. Can you learn something from him?
Difficult to say, because he has a completely different driving style than me. With him it looks as if all the difficulties don’t exist on the Streif.
Six years ago, you yourself claim sixth place as the best result in the downhill on the Streif. Why hasn’t it moved up the rankings yet?
I have trouble when the slopes are rough – as is often the case in Kitzbühel or in Bormio. I still hope it gets better for me. We are also considering the material. Above all, I just have to ski better to be among the best.
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18.01.2022
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