Norwegian World Cup star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde makes downhill return at Beaver Creek

After making his World Cup return in the Copper Cup super-G last week, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde ran his first downhill race since his devastating crash on the Wengen Lauberhorn almost two years ago.

“I’m super happy with how I could control things today,” the 33-year-old said after placing 11th on day 1 of the Birds of Prey World Cup. “I told myself, give myself a little bit of a margin, and so I did.”

The Norwegian — who won back-to-back Birds of Prey races in  both 2021 and 2022 — suffered severe injuries in a life-threatening crash on Jan. 13, 2024 in Switzerland. After a setback that summer, he underwent surgery at the Steadman Clinic in July and returned to snow for some practice runs at the iconic Beaver Creek event last December. On Thanksgiving Day, 684 days after the crash, he returned to racing with a 24th-place result at the Copper Cup.

Marco Odermatt took the victory on Thursday at Beaver Creek, but Kilde was just 1.37 seconds back.

“I can’t be more satisfied with the feeling I had in the finish,” Kilde said. “The placement is one thing. It was actually pretty good — better than expected, honestly. And I can build on that and be very satisfied with where I’m at right now.”

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The two-time downhill crystal globe winner said the feeling in the start gate on Thursday was a little different than a couple years ago.

“You know, I’m not there to win yet, and I’m giving myself this first race and maybe this first season, I don’t know — we’ll see,” he said. “But I showed some speed and showed some confidence and we can build on that for sure.”

Kilde said he’s capable of going 100% right now, but wants to take things “step by step.”

“For me, it’s just a matter of time and getting a couple races under the belt,” he continued. “I’m not a guy that takes too much risk. I want to be in control and that’s what I did today.”

After snowy conditions and poor visibility forced several delays, the race jury elected to end Friday’s super-G after just 31 athletes took to the shortened course. Several athletes, including defending downhill champion Franjo von Allmen, did not finish. Allmen suffered a crash after about 40 seconds on the course. Even Vincent Kriechmayr said the conditions played a role in his victory.

“Of course we want to have a race, but I have to tell the truth, I think after bib 14 I don’t think it was that fair a race,” the Austrian told FIS. “The first 14 racers had nearly the same conditions, but after the break it wasn’t easy and it was not getting faster for other athletes.”

Wearing bib 27, Kilde gave the race a go but pulled off course after just 15 seconds in what looked like a calculated decision.

Birds of Prey concludes with a giant slalom on Sunday. The next men’s World Cup speed event is Dec. 16-20 in Val Gardena, Italy. Looking ahead to the Olympics in February, Kilde’s roster slot is secure.

“Fortunately I’m in Norway, and we have three speed skiers — and we have four spots,” he said with a smile. “So, we can do the math. I think I’ll be able to start. But I don’t want to be there if I can’t be representative.”

Arriving in Beijing as the favorite in both speed events, Kilde left the 2022 Games with a bronze in the super-G and a silver in the combined event. As for what would satisfy him in his fourth Olympic appearance?

“It’s hard for me to say right now. It’s only medals that matter in Olympics,” he said. “And if I’m there, then I’m ready to fight for it.”