Kieran Troup, from Aberdeen, has returned to the slopes after a 30ft plunge down an Austrian mountain mere months ago.
A Scots ski star, once told he was “lucky to be alive” after a terrifying 30ft plunge down an Austrian mountain, has made a remarkable return to the slopes four months ahead of schedule.
Kieran Troup has defied the odds to get back on snow following a nightmare year that saw him suffer severe ligament damage, cheat death twice and endure gruelling surgery and rehab.
The 24-year-old Aberdeen freeride ace nearly had his career ended after the horror fall on the Bluebird Pow trail in Kappl, Austria, in January last year. He told the Record he heard his ligaments in his knee “pop” upon landing following a 30ft drop as he “screamed in agony”.
Disaster struck again weeks later when he narrowly avoided being killed in a 60mph road smash in France as he travelled home for surgery. The collision saw a street sign crash through his windscreen and into the passenger seat – barely missing the skier.
Kieran finally underwent an internal brace ligament repair surgery on April 12 and the operation was a success. The top freeride skier has now made a remarkable comeback and has finally clipped back into his skis.
Posting footage of his return at the Axamer Lizum ski resort in Austria at the end of November on YouTube. Kieran said: “It feels too good being back on snow again. Eight months ago, I snapped my ACL skiing. Then six months ago, I had surgery to get it fixed. Today is the first day I am going to be trying to ski since my surgery.”
While pulling on his ski boots, he even jumped on the spot and smiled as he told viewers: “It doesn’t feel like I have a snapped ACL anymore. That’s a good thing.”
On the ski-lift, the reality of the moment hit home. Kieran said: “For the last six months I have just been thinking about getting back to skiing and finally we are here at the Axamer Lizum ski resort in Austria.
“Over my whole summer, I have been focussed on getting back on my skis again. The first few weeks consisted of lots of physio and light exercises to get my knee moving again.
“I’m interested to see what hurts, if it’s sore and what I can and can’t do. I have no idea.”
Six months on from surgery, Kieran showed just how far he’s come as he zig-zagged down the slope while throwing in jumps and spins. Beaming afterwards, as he eyes a full return in mid-February, he said: “It feels so good to be back in skis and for the most part, it feels alright.
“I don’t think that could have gone any better. I can’t believe how good my knee was. There was no pain at all.
“I’m back skiing six months post surgery. For context, it usually takes 10 months to be back skiing after ACL surgery. I’m pretty stoked. It’s crazy.”
