Kelly Sildaru is 21.
To me, she seems to have been around forever.
She wasnt even old enough to drink the Champagne at events in the US!
It seems like youve been around forever but youre only 21.
Youre still super young, do the rookies reach out to you for advice?
I dont think so.
Maybe sometimes, but it doesnt happen very often.
Whats the skiing like in Estonia?
Are there good mountains there?
No, not really!
Which is cool, but you cant really train here that much.
Its more shredding with friends and having fun.
Are you based in Talin [capital of Estonia]?
I grew up here and have been here my whole life so Ive always travelled to ski.
People ask me why I havent moved to Switzerland or Austria, where they have big parks and mountains.
Its still all pretty close anyway and I really love Estonia.
All my family and friends are here, so I just like it here!
I guess it depends.
Usually our winters are pretty short here.
Usually during that time Im abroad.
I dont get that much time to ski here.
If I do, I usually just go have fun with my friends and chill.
I have different kinds of friends.
She had an ACL injury too; I think two years ago.
She was back for a year and then got injured again.
Shes really trying and training a lot.
He made the podium in slopestyle.
Hes also trying to ski as much as possible!
Some of my friends are better and some not so much but, its always fun to shred together.
I think its changed a lot for me.
I mean, looking back when I won my first X Games, I was still a child.
Back then I didnt really understand that.
It was more: Im going on the mountain, jumping and having so much fun.
Now, when Im older, I also see the risks and thats not always a good thing.
Probably the same as just going to school is for most people.
Every year that I got older and I understood the risks more.
I learned so much more about my body and how it works.
I just grew up a little bit and started doing it a bit more professionally.
Now its more a job, is it less fun for you?
I wouldnt say its less fun.
Back then it wasnt a career, it was just a lifestyle that I was used to.
There are of course different sides to it now than there were before.
Youve just switched from Faction to Volkl.
Which of their skis will you ride and how do you see your skiing developing?
I dont actually know which skis Ill use.
I havent tried Volkl skis yet, because Im still recovering.
Im really excited to get on them when Im back on snow.
Volkl are a really nice brand and theyve supported some very successful athletes over the years.
Im really excited to join the team and try out the skis.
To see what the future holds for me and Volkl!
Of course, Im really thankful to Faction.
I had a really good time with them, and they supported me for a really long time.
Sometimes its just good to change things up and move on.
Was it the same knee as 2018?
Originally the plan was to get back on skis in October/November.
Since Ive had many setbacks during my recovery, now I probably wont be back on skis until December.
Its the right one this time, before it was my left.
This injury has been pretty frustrating for me.
I didnt remember all this recovery was so hard the last time.
Maybe its also getting harder because last time I was 15/16.
Of course, our body changes and it doesnt heal so quickly.
Kelly, youre still only 21!
I dont even want to imagine what itll be like when Im like 40!
This time the injury was also a little more serious.
I injured both of my meniscus.
When I was ALLOWED to bend it, I still couldnt really bend it.
It took a while to get back into flexion and everything.
Im still kind of struggling with this at the moment.
This summer I just had some weird pain in my knee and I didnt know where it came from.
It didnt want to go away, even if I took a break from workouts.
Its just been so frustrating.
This one I started walking normally after three months!
It was just something I didnt really expect, after the experience of my left knee.
I guess it is what it is and now its finally getting better.
I dont have this pain anymore and Im finally getting stronger.
How did you injure it?
I just did a cork 7, for the first time on that jump.
I just had a little bit too much speed and I over-rotated and landed backseat a little bit.
Which comps and do you have any filming plans?
How I feel, how my knee feels and then I can go from there.
Im pretty sure that I dont want to go back to competing before one year from my surgery.
That will be beginning of February.
When I go back, I just want to be sure that Im 110% recovered.
Strong physically and also mentally.
So, definitely no X Games?
If youre not competing so much, does that maybe leave some space for filming?
I guess well see.
Its really uncertain at the moment.
Maybe I just want to train, maybe I want to film, well see.
I havent made any plans, so Ill just take it day by day.
More long-term, do have any plans to film?
I havent done it a lot, just a bit when I was younger.
Now, when Im competing so much, I havent really had time to go powder skiing and stuff.
Its definitely something that I want to get back into.
Even if its just for fun, but well see.
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1080197/Kelly-SILDARU---PVS-Company
Remember this, cork 7 in the backcountry as a tot.
Kelly, we want to see you back on the film grind!
I guess theres not much backcountry in Estonia?
Oh no, no, no!
Ive skied some powder in Estonia, but its not like Japan or Austria.
They get a few inches some nights and its something, but its not the same.
Ok, wheres the best place youve skied backcountry?
We were there four or five years ago and it was their worst winter in 100 years.
We still had some powder, but it wasnt how it usually is.
It was still the best powder Ive ever skied, so that was cool.
You got an Olympic slopestyle bronze in 2022, will you be having another go in Cortina 26?
Thats the plan right now, yes.
A few years ago, a major situation developed between you and your father.
How are you and how are things now?
I dont talk with my dad at all.
I guess theres not much to say.
Things are still complicated and theres still some stuff going on between me and my dad.
Weve just had some lawsuits and court cases.
I think thats the saddest part about this whole thing.
Do you think that situation affected your passion for skiing?
Definitely, especially when I quit training with my dad.
That was a really low point in my life.
At one point I didnt even think that I was going to continue with professional skiing.
At that point, skiing was disgusting for me.
Im not much of a fashion person, but Ive seen you on various catwalks on Instagram.
Is fashion something you like away from skiing and is it something youd like to get more involved in?
Yeah, Ive been a fan of fashion for a long time.
Since I was a kid I was dreaming of doing catwalks and stuff.
A few weeks ago I did my first Italian Fashion week, I did a couple of shows there.
It was really cool and I really liked it.
Not just being a model, but fashion is something that really interests me.
I like dressing up and seeing all the collections, clothing and stuff like that.
So, would you be more interested in modeling than designing?
For now, my focus is still on skiing and I think modeling/fashion is more on the side.
