Moltzan Second in Sölden; Six Americans in Top 20

Paula Moltzan stepped onto the podium in the first race of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup season in Sölden, Austria, taking second place - her best World Cup giant slalom result to date. She led an impressive Stifel U.S. Ski Team showing, with six athletes in the top 20, including Mikaela Shiffrin just off the podium in fourth and Nina O’Brien in sixth - tying her personal best. 

"I am so happy with today," said Moltzan. "I felt like I could be on the podium today and I succeeded in that." 

For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. women packed six into the second run—and all six ended up in the top 20. Katie Hensien took 12th place and AJ Hurt was 13th, and in just her 15th World Cup start, Elisabeth Bocock was 19th. To further prove that the Stifel U.S. Ski Team is a force to be reckoned with, O’Brien had the fastest second run time, Moltzan’s second run was second fastest, Hurt's was third and Bocock's fifth. In total, five of the top seven fastest second run times were American skiers. 

"I'm happy to put another solid two runs down," said Hensien. "We really like it here. It looks like and it's sweet to have such a stacked, solid team." 

After finishing second in the first run, Moltzan powered to the finish to ski into the lead, even with a mistake on the pitch. She was only beaten by Austrian Julia Scheib, who was thrilled to win in front of her home country. It is Moltzan’s second giant slalom podium, having scored her first in the 2024-25 season in Kronplatz, Italy. She now has six podiums to her name and is hungry for more. Lara Gut Behrami rounded out the podium in third. 

"Scheib and I spent three days of training together and both looked at each other and said we need to do that more often," Moltzan laughed. "Our whole team skied incredibly well and I am so happy to be on this team and with this crew." 

It was also a banner day for Shiffrin, who has publicly spoken about her battle with PTSD after crashing in the giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup nearly one year ago. Her fourth place marked a triumphant return to top GS results after struggling in the discipline in her return to racing last season.

"I am so happy," said Shiffrin. "After how I ended last season it was a waiting game and in the end racing was the next step in the preparation phase to get the race mentality and I felt like my mind and my body were connected today - I was so nervous this whole week," said Shiffrin. "I am over the moon." 

Mary Bocock, Keely Cashman and Tricia Mangan also started the race, but did not qualify for a second run. 

The men’s giant slalom in Sölden is up next on Sunday to wrap up the first weekend of racing on the World Cup circuit. 

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom