It was one of the most emotional moments at the alpine snowboard World Cup tour season's finals in Winterberg, Germany beginning of March watching Hilde Katrine Engeli strolling through the finish area whilst hugging all her race buddies in a big 'farewell ceremony'.

With tears in her eyes „because of all the snow flakes hitting her eyes“, the took some time to wave good bye to her former rivals which have become friends over the past years.

Reason enough for FISSnowboard.com to sit down with Hilde and talk about her career, what she loved on tour and even more important: why the former world champion finally retired.

Hilde, with another world champs and the 2018 Olympics around the corner – why did you retire now?
For 14 years I have been my own coach, travel agent, shrink, physio, accountant, promoter and service tech. And I guess I have done some more stuff, too.

My main 'job' however has always been being an athlete. But now I feel that the time is right to quit all these jobs and start something new. It not easy to describe.

You are tired of it?
I'm getting very sick of travelling. Flying everywhere, packing and unpacking. I don't enjoy the travelling part as much as I did some years back. And it is a big part of being a pro snowboarder.

And I don't like the competitions as much as I used to. I don't have the same drive anymore to prove to myself and the world that I can be a good snowboarder.

But ah, I still love snowboarding. And that is the main reason I have decided to retire.

There is a time for everything. There is a time for being a competitive or pro snowboarder, and there is a time for being a snowboarder.

When I noticed that I don't like the travelling and the competing part of it that much anymore, I realised that it was time for me to retire and to just be a normal snowboarder.

So the fact that we have world championships next year and the Olympics in 2018 means nothing to me. It's time for me to go snowboarding in Norway and set some new goals for my life.

I've had 14 amazing years as a pro snowboarder, and I'm very thankful for that.

That is a long time indeed, so let's go back to when things started for you. How did you get into the sport, what did force you to go for a career and when?
I started snowboarding when I was five.

In my hometown Dombås, most of the kids would go snowboarding or skiing whenever we had the chance. It was a very good environment to grow up in.

As I got older I got really interested in alpine snowboarding. Some guys from my club set gates, went carving on their sweet hard boot/alpine board set-up, and I was amazed of what they were doing.

The way I remember it, I joined them pretty quickly. At first on my freestyle board, but after a while they set me up with some proper gear. I was hooked. It didn't take me long to realise that this was what I wanted to do. 

So it was time for competition?
Yes, I started competing in the Norwegian Cups when I was 10 years old. And I did pretty well for being quite young.

In 2002, my dad and I jumped on a plane to New Zealand, where I did my first international competition. I ended up winning the junior world championships [of the open scene]. And after that, I just kept going. Now, 14 years later, the road has come to an end.

How has life as a pro been?
Haha. It's difficult to describe.

It has been a blast. There has been a huge amount of training and hard work behind my career, but wow, it's all been worth it. I have met a bunch of good people and have seen a lot of places.

But for me, the most important part of it is that I have been able to do the thing I love the most for so many years. Just snowboarding, being on the hill and enjoy the mountains, the training, the snow, the nature and the amazing feeling of carving.

You kicked of your international career with a big win. Now, looking back on a long and quite successful career, what was your biggest triumph, the world champs title?
If you ask me, the biggest triumph I had was winning the PSL World Cup in Winterberg last season.

I had a very good season in PSL, and being able to end that season on top of the podium and also getting the 3rd overall in PSL was a big moment for me.

What was your most bitter loss?
The 2014 Olympics were a big setback for me. Not because I did really bad there, but also because I was so disappointed of the whole thing.

When you are young, you watch the Olympics on TV and think it's a dream, and everything is so fantastic.

There was a lot of talk about the laws against 'gay propaganda', people having to move from their houses, how much they messed up the nature and all that jazz.

And when I was there I got too affected by it all. What kind of world is it when people get thrown out of their houses, and nature gets corrupted because a bunch of athletes are coming to town?

In the end, you finished 19th and 28th. Despite all the political surrounding – it's still a good result given the fact that you made it all alone and without the backing of a federation. Does this make you more proud of your achievements?
Definitely. The fact that my federation pretends that I don't exist has made my career a lot more difficult than it is for some other athletes.

But I think the harder you work, the better it tastes when you achieve something.

How did you finance all the life as a pro on tour? 
It is a combination of things, but I have been fortunate to have some sponsors that have been by my side for many years.

And I have also worked a lot during the summer to make ends meet. It's not cheap being a pro. Haha.

Besides the financial part of being on tour, how do you think that the competition side of things has changed over the years?
Competing hasn't changed that much, if you ask me. Sure, we have some different formats, more people have started to make their own teams outside the national teams, and there is always some change in the equipment except of the Northwaves of course.

But over all, I would say its pretty similar to when I started. There are a lot of riders at the start that want to do their best, knowing that they have what it takes to do it.

And over the course of a season, they all try to prove to themselves and the world that they are not insane for believing in themselves.

Some things might have changed, but the core is still the same. If you ask me.

So, after all, the traveling, the competing, the financing etc. What will you miss?
Pulling out of the start gate at training.

Early mornings in the gondola on a sunny day. Perfectly groomed hills that are waiting to be carved. Training days where the course is starting to resemble a bank slalom.

The faces and the smiles of the other riders. Kind words from other nation's coaches. Happy service men that give you a hug when they see you.

Coming back down after the 12th run and feeling like you have to stop - but you still go back up top because you don't want the fun to stop just yet.

And what definitely not?
Grumpy hotel workers, airport staff that tell you your bags are too heavy, arriving at your destination and realising there is no snow.

And arriving at the next destination and realising that it's probably the only place that has snow, because its so crowded you barely have space to take a turn with your slalom board. 
   
Any shout outs?
I'm forever grateful to my family at SG Snowboards, without them and their boards, none of this would have been possible.

Sparebank 1 Lom og Skjåk for supporting me for many years!

Dare2b because they have given me good clothing to ride in. Deeluxe boots because without good boots, its difficult to be a good snowboarder. Level gloves because my arms are long, and my hands would hurt if I didn't have warm gloves on. Dombås treningstudio that provided a gym where I could work out hours to become a good snowboarder.

Øyvind Frich, my boss and friend, who always has my back.

Mum and dad (Happy 60th Birthday!!), because they are lovely and have always been supportive.

My dear friends Lene and Lars, for being wonderful and always giving me a bed to sleep in when I need one.

My girlfriend Tone, a dream come true.

And last, but not least to all the athletes, coaches, staff and humans I have met in my career. It has been a wild ride.

QUICK LINKS

Hilde Katrine Engeli's homepage

Hilde Katrine Engeli on facebook

Hilde Katrine Engeli on twitter

Hilde Katrine Engeli on instagram

Source: fis-ski.com