With five wins and a total of nine podium finishes, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is one of the most successful athletes on the Saslong. After his long injury break, the Norwegian is not among the top favorites this year, but the ever-friendly "Super Moose" is still the one to watch in the finish area. Following Tuesday's downhill training, Kilde took time for a short chat with the Saslong editorial team.

First things first: the fact that Kilde is able to compete in Val Garden/Gröden at all was anything but a given. His serious crash in Wengen in January 2024 was followed by a long period of convalescing with shoulder problems, inflammation, and several operations. Just a few weeks ago, the 33-year-old celebrated his racing comeback at the super-G in Copper Mountain. His placing (25th) was secondary – for Kilde, the main thing was to finally get back into the racing atmosphere after a break of almost 700 days and to be "part of" the World Cup circuit again.

Aleksander, your comeback in Copper Mountain was a big step. How are you feeling right now – physically and mentally?
“Things are improving week by week. But there's still a long way to go, which is completely normal after almost two years without skiing. However, proper training is difficult at the moment because there is little snow in many places. So I'm trying to use my time here in Val Gardena/Gröden to gain more racing experience and become more confident with every run.”

How much time are you currently investing in physical therapy?
“I actually do physio every day, but not too much. It's about 20 minutes in total – before and after skiing. At the moment, it's not just physiotherapy that's important to me, regeneration also plays a big role. That includes getting plenty of sleep (laughs).”

Let's talk about Val Gardena/Gröden: Do you still remember your debut on the Saslong? In 2013, you immediately scored points in the super-G.
“Yes, of course! I enjoyed the course right from the start. Actually, I felt comfortable here from day one.”

You have a total of nine podium finishes and five victories in Val Gardena/Gröden – why does the Saslong suit you so well?
“Whether it's the snow, the jumps, the waves, or the food – the whole package in Val Gardena/Gröden suits me well. I have fun here, which makes everything easier. When you feel comfortable, good results usually follow.”

With so many successes in Val Gardena/Gröden, is there one highlight that stands out in particular? The first podium finish in 2015 in the super-G or the downhill victory in 2018 with a lead of almost one second are two highlights that quickly come to our mind...
“The victory in 2018 came after what had been a difficult season for me and was certainly one of my best races ever in the World Cup. When you find that flow, it's incredible to race here. But I don't want to rank them, because the first podium was also very special. Back then, we Norwegians celebrated a triple victory – standing on the podium with my friends Aksel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud was very special.”

Looking ahead to this year's races: What are your ambitions in Val Gardena/Gröden?
“A top 10 finish would be really good for me this year. Timing is extremely important in Val Gardena/Gröden, and that's exactly what I'm lacking a little at the moment. I noticed that in training too, especially with the difficult visibility in the upper section of the course. Overall, though, I'm happy with my current form.”

You live and train in Innsbruck – is Val Gardena/Gröden something of a home race for you?
“Yes, absolutely. But the Saslong has felt like a home race to me since my first start – long before my time in Innsbruck. Val Gardena/Gröden is one of my favorite courses, I just really enjoy being here.”