For professional alpine skiers, highs and lows are a part of the sport. From standing atop the podium to experiencing a crash and potential injury, these professional athletes go through many ups and downs throughout their careers. Though recovering from injury and climbing back to the top can feel like an impossible task, the trust and support of a team enables athletes to strengthen confidence in themselves and ultimately experience true exhilaration and achievement on the mountain.
As official partner and clothing supplier of the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team, Helly Hansen showcases these elements of trust and teamwork in a new global campaign launching this winter season. As part of the campaign, the brand is launching a short film that follows top Norwegian athlete Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. In 2020, he became the overall World Cup Champion, but less than a year later, he tore his ACL and experienced a time he describes as one of the lowest lows of his career. For Aleksander, the support of his team is what helped him to regain his confidence after coming back from injury.
“Being a member of the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team, you know that if you fall, your teammates will always be there,” says Kilde in the film, “and being part of a group with the same mentality gives you also the possibility to be the best in the world in what you’re doing. For me, it’s such an honour to be part of this team.”
By spending countless hours training, traveling, and racing alongside the team, he’s been able to build trust with the other members of the team as well as within himself, which is key to performing at his best and ultimately getting back to the top of the podium. With relentless dedication to training, the right gear, and, most importantly, the trust and support of the team, Aleksander is able to believe in himself and truly feel alive on the mountain.
“When people think of ski racing, we often focus on career achievements and world championships. With this campaign, we wanted to showcase both the highs and lows that these professional alpine skiers experience, and how the support and trust of a team can help these athletes get back to the top,” said Joumana Løvstad, VP Brand and Marketing Strategy at Helly Hansen. “We’re honoured to partner with the Norwegian Alpine Ski Team, and we’re proud to showcase how this trust helps them stay and feel alive on the mountain.”