WHEN LIFE DOES NOT

GO AS PLANNED

After a disappointing race in Levi, where the nerves of being back in the start gate got the better of me, things took another unexpected turn. The day before the second World Cup of the season in Gurgl, I tore my syndesmosis ligaments. 

That moment marked my eighth career surgery, and with it came another period of rehabilitation, time away from the slopes, and the familiar challenge of having to rebuild once again.

Injuries are never easy, especially when they arrive just as the season is getting underway. There is the physical setback, but there is also the mental weight of resetting goals and expectations. Still, there is an important silver lining here. This is an injury that can be pushed and managed, which means the possibility of racing at the Olympic Games remains very real. At the same time, pushing comes at a cost. It means pain. It means discomfort. It means long hours and difficult decisions while constantly walking the fine line between doing what is best for the body and risking doing too much, too soon.

I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an exceptional team at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center in Salzburg. Their expertise, honesty, and commitment have been invaluable throughout this process. They have created an environment that allows me to push intelligently and safely, always with the long-term picture in mind. My days now start at eight in the morning and often do not end until five thirty in the evening. Those hours are filled with rehab sessions, strength work, mobility training, recovery protocols, and constant assessment. The days are long and demanding, but every session has purpose, and every small gain matters.

Something is grounding about committing fully to the work, even when the outcome is uncertain. Progress does not always show up in big moments. Sometimes it is measured in small victories, a little more stability, a bit more confidence, a little less pain. Those details add up, and they are what make a return possible.

The encouraging news is that I will be back on snow next week to see how the ankle responds. It will be an essential step, both physically and mentally. I know it will not be easy, but this is the life I have chosen, and this is the path laid before me. I have learned that resilience is not about avoiding setbacks, but about showing up day after day and continuing to move forward, no matter how many times you are asked to start again.

After a disappointing race in Levi, where the nerves of being back in the start gate got the better of me, things took another unexpected turn. The day before the second World Cup of the season in Gurgl, I tore my syndesmosis ligaments. 

That moment marked my eighth career surgery, and with it came another period of rehabilitation, time away from the slopes, and the familiar challenge of having to rebuild once again.

Injuries are never easy, especially when they arrive just as the season is getting underway. There is the physical setback, but there is also the mental weight of resetting goals and expectations. Still, there is an important silver lining here. This is an injury that can be pushed and managed, which means the possibility of racing at the Olympic Games remains very real. At the same time, pushing comes at a cost. It means pain. It means discomfort. It means long hours and difficult decisions while constantly walking the fine line between doing what is best for the body and risking doing too much, too soon.

I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an exceptional team at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center in Salzburg. Their expertise, honesty, and commitment have been invaluable throughout this process. They have created an environment that allows me to push intelligently and safely, always with the long-term picture in mind. My days now start at eight in the morning and often do not end until five thirty in the evening. Those hours are filled with rehab sessions, strength work, mobility training, recovery protocols, and constant assessment. The days are long and demanding, but every session has purpose, and every small gain matters.

Something is grounding about committing fully to the work, even when the outcome is uncertain. Progress does not always show up in big moments. Sometimes it is measured in small victories, a little more stability, a bit more confidence, a little less pain. Those details add up, and they are what make a return possible.

The encouraging news is that I will be back on snow next week to see how the ankle responds. It will be an essential step, both physically and mentally. I know it will not be easy, but this is the life I have chosen, and this is the path laid before me. I have learned that resilience is not about avoiding setbacks, but about showing up day after day and continuing to move forward, no matter how many times you are asked to start again.