Kilde To Sit Out The 2024/25 Season
Kilde has announced that he will not race in 2024/25.
"I'm not retiring, but I do have some updates for you," the 32-year-old Norwegian star shared on social media, over nine months after he suffered serious injuries in a downhill crash in Wengen.
"It’s been a wild journey so far and we‘re not entirely done yet: one more surgery, one more rehab, and no racing this winter."
In late June, Kilde had a setback when his shoulder became infected and required two more surgeries. Two of his muscles remain unattached and he is scheduled to undergo another surgery, followed by three or four months of rehabilitation.
"After my crash in Wengen and a few tough weeks, things started to get better, and in June I was even able to ski again in Oslo. Unfortunately, in July I developed a shoulder infection which led to some complications. After ten weeks of antibiotics, I now need another operation to fix the shoulder 100 percent. This unfortunately means that I will not be competing this season, but I am fully committed to my rehabilitation and working towards a strong comeback. Thank you for all your support during this time," says Kilde.
The Alpine national team's doctor, Trond Floberghagen, expects to have Kilde back on the starting line next season. "As is well known, Aleksander contracted an infection in the operated shoulder in early summer. Unfortunately, this has led to several setbacks in the rehabilitation. After a stable and good period in autumn, everything now seems to have calmed down nicely. If the latest tests are also normal, he is scheduled to undergo another operation on his left shoulder within a short time. Unfortunately, neither the medical situation nor the timeline is compatible with an active season this winter. After a demanding injury break, Aleksander is now well equipped and motivated for a new rehabilitation process and we expect him back on the starting line next season", says Floberghagen.
And while he won't race this season and Shiffrin has stepped back from Kilde's best discipline, they will continue to analyse races together, allowing Shiffrin to "totally geek out" when they discuss downhill.
As for the pair's differing fortunes as the season gets underway, Shiffrin says the couple's ability to support each other when they're going through different experiences will stand them in good stead, on and off the slopes.
"This season I think we're just going to take it in strides, take it all as it comes, because we can do that with each other," she said.
