Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Jaelin Kauf is on her way to a historic World Cup season, earning her fourth win in a row and extending her podium streak to nine in the Beidahu moguls event. This is the longest U.S. moguls winning streak since Olympic champion Hannah Kearney won 16 World Cups in a row in the 2011-12 season. Teammate Olivia Giaccio finished in third place, her sixth podium of the season. 

The sun was out and the bumps were smooth in Beidahu, Jilin, China, making it for a perfect day of moguls World Cup competition. In the women's qualification round, all six U.S. athletes advanced to the finals. Kauf was the final athlete to drop - coming off two back-to-back wins on home snow in Deer Valley just a week prior, Kauf is riding a high and today, she wanted to keep that streak going. She knew exactly what she needed to do to qualify, and she did that and more. Kauf bested the second-fastest qualification time by over 1.5 points, along with one of the day's highest turns and air scores. Kasey Hogg also advanced to finals ranked fifth, Tess Johnson sixth, Olivia Giaccio 10th, Kylie Kariotis 11th and Kai Owens 14th. 

“I feel really good about [my run], I was trying to be one of the fastest girls out there which I feel like I did, and overall, it felt really strong,” said Kauf. “There are a few things to tweak and improve on for finals but I’m stoked to take the top spot in qualies, I feel like I don’t ever do that.”

Nick Page and Charlie Mickel continued to build on their momentum from Deer Valley qualifying into finals ranked fourth and 10th, respectively. Page earned the highest air score in the qualification round, setting himself up nicely for finals. Asher Michel just missed out on the round of 16, finishing the day 19th. Dylan Walczyk was 29th. 

As the day continued, the sun began to sink behind the trees, quickly shrouding the course in shade. The bumps became icy, increasing the speed the athletes could achieve in their runs, leading to quicker times as the day progressed. 

In finals, Kauf continued her tear with the fastest time to keep her in the top spot heading into super finals. Johnson, with her signature venom grab on the bottom air, earned the largest air score of the day and qualified fourth. Giaccio also advanced in fifth. Hogg barely missed out on advancing to super finals by 0.24 points, finishing seventh overall. Kariotis earned another top 10 and Owens landed in 15th. Page finished the day seventh, followed by Mickel in 11th. 

Giaccio was the first U.S. athlete to drop in super finals, and she took every success she had throughout the day and put them together to earn her highest score of the day, finishing third with 78.43 points. 

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in China, but I’m really excited to build my way up and improve every run, so I’m excited to be on the podium,” said Giaccio. “I’m ready to build into tomorrow, I think there’s going to be some very fast runs considering how tight the course is, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can bring” 

Johnson put down another smooth and consistent run to finish fourth, her fifth top-five finish of the season. All of the pressure in the world was on Kauf’s shoulders as she stood atop the course as the last athlete to drop, but you would never know by her performance. She clocked the fastest time of the day, in classic Kauf fashion, and had some of the top turns and air scores. In her pre-finals interview, she said she would hold onto the top spot and that she did, earning her 13th career victory and taking over the overall moguls World Cup standings from Perrine Laffont of France.

“That was the game plan today, just trying to improve a little bit each run and save the best for last, and that’s what I did,” said Kauf. “It was a lot of fun skiing this course today. It’s super exciting [leading the overall], we still have a handful of competitions so I hopefully can hold that spot and keep building on today’s result.”

Next, the moguls athletes take on duals on the same course on Feb. 22 at 1:00 a.m. ET. Tune in live on skiandsnowboard.live. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

On Friday’s first giant slalom of two, Stifel U.S. Ski Team members Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien landed sixth and eighth. AJ Hurt was not far behind in 12th. 

“I'm actually really happy with today's race,” said Moltzan. “The skiing is there and without the mistakes it'll be even better.”

It was a beautiful sunny day at the Italian resort for what would be the make-up giant slalom race from the previously canceled Mont Tremblant giant slalom series. There was an air of calmness around as the athletes returned to the regular World Cup schedule following a very busy World Championships event just one week earlier. The U.S. team was eager to get back to racing with quite a full start list. 

On the first run Moltzan started with bib one - her first time in the top seven seed and first time starting bib one. She took full advantage of the clean course and came out in third place on the first run. O’Brien and Hurt also skied strongly to place eighth and 11th on run one. 

“It is so cool to run with bin one, why can't I run bib one all the time? The snow is so awesome,” said Moltzan. 

It was notably the first giant slalom race back for Mikaela Shiffrin who had been sidelined the past few months due to a brutal injury she sustained in Killington. Shiffrin skied with courage knowing that each race back is a stepping stone to the next great result of her storied career. 

“The last days of training were pretty good but in the end, racing is different than training so it’s really positive to have this race,” said Shiffrin. “ It's kind of like the next step in the training.” “It's really nice to have Mikaela back on the start list with us. I know it wasn't her best day, but we're all super happy to have her with this again,” said O’Brien. 

On the second run, all of the women put it on the line. First up was youngster Elisabeth Bocock. Her second time getting a second run in the World Cup and she was pushing hard. Unfortunately she leaned in and did not finish the second run. Katie Hensien had a strong second run and was able to move up to 21st place. Then came Hurt and O’Brien. Both skiers pushed to the finish line. They would end up in eighth and 12th. 

“I feel really solid,” said O’Brien.  “There were some mistakes here and there on both runs, but overall I feel like I skied two pretty strong runs and it’s nice to be back in the top 10.” 

Finally it was time for Moltzan. At every interval in the green and only building her lead. Moltzan was on fire up until the final flats section where she made a large mistake losing all speed. She would end up in sixth place. Despite mistakes here and there the women’s team continues to show their dominance with five in the top 30 and six qualifying to the second run. 

“I'm so bummed for Elizabeth, because I know she's ripping, but I think it just shows what we're capable of,” said O’Brien. 

The winner of the race of Italian force Federica Brignone, in second was New Zealand’s Alice Robinson and in third Norwegian Thea Louise Stjernesund. 

The women feel fired up and will take this race as a stepping stone to the giant slalom race on Saturday. 

RESULTS 
women's giant slalom 

HOW TO WATCH 
5:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom, run one - skiandsnowboard.live
8:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom, run two - skiandsnowboard.live

Park City, Utah (Feb. 18, 2025) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named 10 athletes to represent the U.S. at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, from Feb. 27 to March 9, 2025. The team will compete for top finishes in individual and team events, taking on the world’s best in the storied venue of Granåsen.

The World Champs will bring together the top nordic athletes from more than 20 countries, with 170,000 tickets being sold out for each day of competition. The U.S. Nordic Combined Team features a strong mix of veteran competitors and rising talent, all prepared to make an impact on the world stage.

Women’s Team

The women’s team includes an experienced lineup led by Alexa Brabec whose recent top 10 World Cup finishes are capturing the world’s attention, and Annika Malacinski, a multi-time World Championships competitor and national team member. Young athletes Haley Brabec, Ella Wilson and Kai McKinnon join the veterans to gain exposure to elite international competition and a chance to make their mark in Trondheim.

Men’s Team

Ben Loomis, a two-time Olympian and seasoned World Championships competitor, spearheads the men's team. He is joined by fellow Olympians and World Championships veterans Stephen Schumann and Niklas Malacinski, who have shown strong potential with a top 15 and consistent top 25 finishes on the World Cup. Erik Lynch and Carter Brubaker are also named to the team, both hungry for a chance to show their potential on this international stage.

 “This team represents the hard work and resilience that nordic combined athletes have shown this past year,” said Anders Johnson, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Sport Director. “We are excited to see both our returning competitors and younger athletes push themselves against the best in the world. Trondheim will be an incredible test, and we are confident in the team’s ability to rise to the challenge.” 

2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(Hometown; ski club; birth date; past World Championship teams)
*denotes first World Championships team 

Women:

• Alexa Brabec (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 10/08/2004; 2021, 2023)
• Haley Brabec (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 6/6/2007; 2024)
• Annika Malacinski (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Colorado Mountain College; 5/9/2001; 2023)
• Kai McKinnon (Lake Placid, NY; New York Ski Educational Foundation; 5/6/2008; 2024)
• Ella Wilson (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 3/4/2008; 2024)

Men:

• Carter Brubaker (Anchorage, AK; Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage; Arizona State University; 12/21/2003)*
• Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI; Flying Eagles Ski Club; DeVry University; 6/9/1998; 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)
• Erik Lynch (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/6/1994)*
• Niklas Malacinski (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Colorado Mountain College; 12/7/2003; 2021, 2023)
• Stephen Schumann (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Arizona State University; 3/14/2000; 2023)

2025 FIS World Ski Championships Live Coverage

All times EST
Check local listings, subject to change (FIS Event Schedule)

Thursday, Feb. 27
9:00 a.m. - Women’s Mass Start Normal Hill HS102/5km - skiandsnowboard.live

Friday, Feb. 28
6:00 a.m. - Mixed Team Normal Hill HS102/4x5km - skiandsnowboard.live

Saturday, March 1
6:00 a.m. - Men’s Compact Normal Hill HS102/7.5km - skiandsnowboard.live

Sunday, March 2
6:00 a.m. - Women’s Gundersen Normal Hill HS102/5km - skiandsnowboard.live

Thursday, March 6
5:00 a.m. - Men’s Team Large Hill HS138/4x5km - skiandsnowboard.live

Saturday, March 8
3:30 a.m. - Men’s Gundersen Large Hill HS138/10km - skiandsnowboard.live

In an epic conclusion to an exciting season of halfpipe skiing, Alex Ferreira and Nick Goepper found themselves together on the podium once again at the Snow Rodeo in Calgary.

After a week in frigid temperatures, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe riders gave it their all for the last World Cup of the season. In Friday's qualifiers, Svea Irving was the lone American woman to get through to finals, while seven American men qualified including Hunter Hess, Dylan Ladd, Birk Irving, Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper, Matt Labaugh and David Wise. Wise was the top qualifier in heat one and Goepper was the top qualifier in heat two.

While the action heated up on Saturday night, the temperatures dropped. The famed night final took place at -5 degrees Fahrenheit, adding another layer of difficulty. 

The women's side had their usual three run final format with eight finalists. Svea Irving put down her first run, giving her a score of 72.75 and she knew she needed to kick it up a notch for her next two runs. Unfortunately, Svea could not put down a clean run, getting caught up on her last two hits and finishing the night in fifth. China's Li Fanghui finished in the top spot, with Great Britain's Zoe Atkin in second and Canada's own Rachel Karker in third. Svea's finish secured her the fourth overall spot in women's halfpipe this season, just one away from an overall podium finish.

On the men's side, it was a 16-man, two-run final. Goepper finished as the top American man in second place with an unreal second run. Ferreira ended in third, after his first run resulted in a 91.75 - setting the tone for the contest. They were joined on the podium by New Zealand's Finley Melville-Ives in first, his first World Cup victory.

Hess finished the evening in sixth, after a good first run. He also debuted his misty 720, adding an extra 180 degrees of rotation from how he usually does it to land switch, a new twist on his beloved last hit. Wise finished the night in seventh, after a clutch last run, but unfortunately it was not enough to crack the podium. Ladd finished eighth, Birk Irving 10th and Matt Labaugh 14th. The American men put together incredible runs, with many having heartbreaking, last-hit falls that ultimately resulted in a disappointing night for many.

Alex Ferreira also won the Crystal Globe for the second year in a row and the third time in his career. Nick Goepper joined him on the overall podium, finishing the season in second overall. The two had a heated battle for the top spot that brought a lot of excitement to the season. They were joined by Canada's Brendan Mackay for third place overall.

Next up for the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team, slopestyle heads to Stoneham, Quebec next weekend for their last North American competition this season. Halfpipe is taking some time off, and then gears up for the World Championships in Endagin, Switzerland in March.

RESULTS
Women
Men

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team continued its dominant day in Falun, Sweden with a victory in the 20k skate mass start by Jessie Diggins. Just hours after Gus Schumacher secured the second podium of his career, Diggins delivered a commanding race, nailing her sixth World Cup win of the season. Julia Kern also had a stand-out day, crossing the line in sixth to notch her career-best distance result. 

Diggins, the reigning World Cup overall champion, took control of the race from the start. Through the five-lap course, it was Diggins in the front, setting the tone on the tough Falun track. Challenged by Sweden's Ebba Andersson, Norway's Heidi Weng and Germany's Victoria Carl throughout all the laps, Diggins made a move in the last lap, despite almost falling with a tangled pole. She was in the lead as the skiers rounded into the stadium, pushing over the top of the final hill to put herself into position for the long straightaway to the finish. Diggins took home another win—her 28th World Cup win and 78th podium in only 353 starts. 

Diggins' victory further solidified her lead in the overall World Cup rankings and also led her to take the lead in the distance standings, setting her up perfectly for the upcoming FIS World Championships in Trondheim, Norway in just two weeks.

Behind Diggins, Julia Kern had a breakthrough performance, finishing sixth in the 20km classic—her best-ever World Cup result in a distance race. Long known for her sprinting, Kern’s performance in Falun underscores her continued development as an all-around threat on the circuit.

The U.S. women delivered a strong collective showing, with five athletes finishing in the top 30. Sophia Laukli placed 16th, Alayna Sonnesyn 25th and Sydney Palmer-Leger 26th, rounding out a deep American contingent in the points.

With consistent top results across multiple athletes, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team is building momentum as they head toward the highly anticipated World Championships with medals in the distance, sprint and team events on the line. 

RESULTS
Women

Gus Schumacher turned heads in today’s 20k skate in Falun, Sweden for more reasons than just his cow-print hat. The Alaskan, who secured his first World Cup win almost a year ago, landed his second-career podium with a second-place finish. 

It marks the first time an American man has ever podiumed in a 20k race - notably, Schumacher became the first American man to win a distance race in 2024 in the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis when he was first in the 10k skate. The last American to win a distance race was Bill Koch in 1983.

Schumacher showcased tactful skiing in a five-lap battle on a ripping-fast course, holding his own against a stacked field. Across the line, the top athletes shattered the 50-minute barrier, making it one of the fastest 20k races of the season. For the young Stifel U.S.  Ski Team men, it was Schumacher who delivered a statement performance. Alongside him on the start list were Zanden McMullen, Kevin Bolger, Walker Hall, Hunter Wonders and Luke Jager. 

From the gun, Schumacher positioned himself at the front, pushing the pace and skiing confidently on his Rossignol skis. He played a smart game, charging the downhills and conserving energy on the climbs, drafting behind key athletes like Sweden’s Edvin Anger and Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen. His strategy paid off, allowing him to stay fresh for the final push and put himself in a fighting position for the podium. 

Schumacher sat in fourth place with one lap to go, but as the stakes rose with Norway on each side moving into the finish, he knew he had to dig deep. Into the stadium were four men vying for the top three spots, but with Schumacher's signature no-pole skate, he put himself right behind Paal Goldberg of Norway, the ultimate winner of the day, and secured himself second across the line.

"My goal from the start was to not drift back in the pack, and on a twisty course like this one, it’s pretty easy to hold the position upfront, so that ended up being fairly simple," said Schumacher. "I also had good skis that made it easy to move up on the technical downhills where there’s more space than uphills. I didn’t KNOW I had a podium in the race, but that was for sure where my head was at, which I’m super proud of."

"It feels really good to be back on the podium! I know I can do it, but getting a confirmation right before the World Champs is nice! My body has been feeling really good here and I’m stoked to have capitalized today."

McMullen and Bolger of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team also performed well, staying just off the lead pack for much of the race. McMullen, whose career-best finish came earlier this season in Ruka, Finland, continued to show his growing strength on the World Cup circuit and finished 22nd; Bolger was 23rd. The win of the day ultimately went to Goldberg, who secured his first distance skate race podium, Schumacher second and Norway's Amundsen in third. U.S. athlete Wonders was 55th, Jager 64th and Hall 75th. 

With today's result, Schumacher now sits 16th in the overall standings as he builds momentum heading into the World Championships. Notably, this is only his second top-five finish of the season, his first being a fifth-place result in the skiathlon in Lillehammer.

RESULTS
Men

Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team's Cody Winters raced to his first snowboard cross World Cup podium, taking third at the much anticipated World Cup night final in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team saw four men through from the morning rounds of qualifications, led by 2022 Olympian Jake Vedder with the fourth fastest time in the field of 67 competitors. Vedder, who took second place on this same track last season, was joined by teammates Nick Baumgartner, Cody Winters and Nathan Pare in the highly anticipated final under the lights. Vedder was unable to repeat last year's podium performance and was knocked out in the round of eight finals alongside Pare in a dramatic photo finish, while Baumgartner and Winters punched their ticket to the quarterfinal round.

In a stacked field, Winters earned a spot in the semi finals with a clutch quarterfinal performance, taking the runner up spot behind current snowboard cross World Cup leader Eliot Grondin from Canada. An early mistake took Baumgartner out of contention for the top two spots in his heat, but the four-time Olympian showed why he's one of the best to ever do it and battled his way back up to the lead pack, just missing out on a third place quarterfinal finish.

It was all eyes on Winters heading into the semifinals and the dual discipline athlete found himself in a familiar position, having podiumed at the FIS Snowboard World Cup parallel slalom in Bad Gastein last month. With heavy hitters and podium regulars Leon Ulbricht from Germany, Austria's Jacob Dusek and Canada's Eliot Grondin all crashing out, the field was wide open for a new racer to claim the World Cup win and Winters had his eye on the prize. After securing a spot in the big final, Winters took to the start gate one last time to battle it out for a spot on the podium. With his teammates cheering at the bottom, Winters raced to a photo finish with Canada's Liam Moffatt, who just barely edged out the American for the second place spot.

Winters' third place finish in Cortina marks the first World Cup snowboard cross podium of his career. He is the only athlete on the World Cup circuit to be competing in two different disciplines and takes the title as the first American snowboarder to podium back-to-back in those two different disciplines.

"It feels amazing to be able to get both podiums in both events," said Winters. "It’s something I had written down on my bucket list and I finally did it. I'm super happy."

Brianna Schnorrbusch and Virginia Boyd represented the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team on the women's side of competition, but neither were able to make it through the morning round of heats. This was true rookie Boyd's first World Cup start.

The snowboard cross crew heads to Erzerum, Turkey for the next round of World Cup competition that includes the first team event of the season.

RESULTS
Women
Men

On Saturday’s, 2/15, World Championships slalom in Saalbach, Austria, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Paula Moltzan and Mikaela Shiffrin finished fourth and fifth to cap off an extraordinary run for the women’s team - where in every race but one, there was a U.S. athlete on the podium.

“To come across the line in the green light was a win for the day,” said Moltzan.  “I am very happy with fourth. It’s also my best slalom result of the season, so I feel good about it.” 

It was another great day in Austria, with the sun shining down and a slightly cooler temperature outside, which made way for a solid surface for the alpine racers. The first run was set by the Austrians and turned out to be quite tricky for the athletes. Several combinations and tight radius’s made way for a lot of women not making it across the finish line. When it came to the U.S. women to kick out of the gate, Shiffrin and Moltzan knew they had to put down their best skiing.
 

Shiffrin, off first, skied with her signature aggression and tactically and ended up third on the first run. Moltzan was not far behind, landing in fifth going into the second run. AJ Hurt also made the flip.

“Today was something that I can learn from and to fully recover well for the rest of the season,” said Shiffrin. “ It's been eight weeks since I had surgery and six weeks since I was laying in bed with a drainage tube so perspective is important.”

After a long waiting period due to a large field of athletes, including over 100 women, the top 30 locked back in for run two. The second run set was no easier than the first - with plenty of difficult combinations once again. Regardless, Hurt, Moltzan and Shiffrin dialed themselves back in, knowing that a World Championships slalom podium was on the line.

Hurt was skiing well up until the very last pitch where she made a sizable error - and ended up 19th. Next was Moltzan. Fresh off a bronze medal win in the giant slalom – her first individual World Championships medal – she knew she had to ski with tenacity to make it down the tricky and long slalom course. Boom! In the green one again for Moltzan.
 

Next all eyes were on Shiffrin. Shiffrin, who is coming off one “of the most important medals I’ve ever won”, the Team Combined gold with teammate Breezy Johnson, skied strongly, however, she fell short towards the end and landed right behind Moltzan in fifth. 

Moltzan has had an amazing run at the World Championships in Saalbach. A fourth in the team parallel followed up with a fourth in the team combined, bronze in giant slalom and fourth in slalom. 

“I was pretty low energy today so it was really important just to stick to my plan and execute as best I could,” said Moltzan. “I am so lucky to have the best teammates and staff behind me and to walk away with this fourth, my worst result of the week is just great.” 

The winner of the race was ultimately Swiss skier Camille Rast who has had an impeccable slalom season this year. In the silver position was fellow Swiss skier Wendy Holdener and in bronze Austrian Katharina Liensberger. AJ Hurt and Katie Hensien also raced in the slalom, Hurt ended up 19th and Hensien did not finish her first run. 

This slalom marked the end of the long two-week event that brought many successes to the women’s team, including a bronze in super-G, gold in downhill, gold in the team combined, and bronze in giant slalom. Overall the women’s team is on a roll and ready to close out the last month of races on a high. 

The final World Championships event will be the men’s slalom on Sunday. 

RESULTS 
women's slalom 

HOW TO WATCH
Sunday, Feb. 16
3:45 a.m. - men’s slalom, run one - skiandsnowboard.live
7:15 a.m. - men’s slalom, run two - skiandsnowboard.live
4:00 p.m. - women and men’s slalom - NBC (tape delay)

Park City, Utah (Feb. 13, 2025) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 10 athletes who will represent the U.S. Ski Jumping Team at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway Feb. 27 - March 9, 2025. The team will compete on both the normal hill and large hill.

The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships is one of the most anticipated events of the season, featuring elite competition on Granåsen’s renowned jumping hills. With a rich history of hosting world class ski jumping events, the venue is known for its challenging conditions and passionate atmosphere. The U.S. squad features a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talent, all ready to showcase their skills on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Women’s Team

The U.S. women’s team is led by Annika Belshaw, who has been in peak form this season, recently securing a career-best 14th-place finish at the Lake Placid World Cup. Paige Jones, Samantha Macuga and Josie Johnson return for another World Championships, bringing valuable experience to the squad. Sandra Sproch will make her World Championship debut.

Men’s Team

Tate Frantz and Kevin Bickner head to Trondheim with a strong season so far, consistently landing top-15 and top-10 finishes on the World Cup circuit. Bickner, a veteran of the World Championships and Olympics, brings a wealth of experience alongside Casey Larson, another seasoned competitor. Erik Belshaw returns for another World Champs, while Jason Colby makes his first appearance.

“The team has been building all season and we’re heading into the World Championships following an already highly successful year, with multiple athletes achieving career-best performances. The hard work is paying off at the perfect time, and the momentum within this group is undeniable,” said Anders Johnson, U.S. & Snowboard’s Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Sport Director. “With a venue like Granåsen and a season of hard work behind them, I have no doubt this team is ready to step up and perform.”

2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM 

(Hometown; ski club; college; birth date; past World Championship teams)
*Denotes first World Championships team

Women

• Annika Belshaw (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 6/13/2002; 2021, 2023)
• Josie Johnson (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 10/3/2006; 2023)
• Paige Jones (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of North Dakota; 8/30/2002; 2021, 2023)
• Samantha Macuga (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Dartmouth College; 2/17/2001; 2023)
• Sandra Sproch (Chicago, IL; Norge Ski Club; 11/9/2007)*

Men

• Erik Belshaw (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 8/23/2004; 2021, 2023, 2024)
• Kevin Bickner (Wauconda, IL; Norge Ski Club; 9/23/1996; 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
• Jason Colby (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 3/30/2006)*
• Tate Frantz (Lake Placid, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation; 3/28/2005; 2024)
• Casey Larson (Barrington, IL; Norge Ski Club; University of Utah; 12/16/1998; 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

On Thursday’s women’s giant slalom in Saalbach, Austria, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Paula Moltzan took home the bronze medal at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships - her first career individual medal. 

“I feel happy, joyful. It's been kind of a roller coaster of a season with results and with emotions,” said Moltzan. “So for it to play out on a really big stage is really emotional.”

The day began overcast and warm, making for softer snow on the long giant slalom course set. The women’s best giant slalom skiers from around the world had an early inspection as all 110 racers would hit the track since the GS qualifier was canceled the day before. Nevertheless, the women on the U.S. team were hungry for results and came out firing. 

Moltzan ran first for the women’s squad and did not hold back, pushing all the way down the track to land in third, 1.24 seconds off of Italian phenom Federica Brignone. Next was Nina O’Brien, who was looking for her big moment, but fell short after some costly errors on a largely flat hill. Finally AJ Hurt and Katie Hensien took to the course. Both put down solid splits but struggled to generate speed out of the skis on a long and relatively flat giant slalom.

“I was talking with my husband Ryan, who's my serviceman, and he got a report from our coaches and I knew I just had to go as hard as I could,” said Moltzan. 

The women had a few hours to kill in between runs, which is a long time to fuel and focus. By the time the second run came around, the sun was hidden behind the clouds and the temperature dropped a few degrees, making it possible for the snow to firm up. Hensien, Hurt and O’Brien all dialed it in and were ready to send. Hensien landed 22nd, O’Brien 19th and Hurt made some good moves to climb to 13th place. 

“I knew that there was a big turn over that roll, so I was trying to bring direction and I got a little too late,” said Hurt. “It definitely wasn't perfect the whole way down, but I felt like I had better sections and was able to find that like energy and aggression.” 

Moltzan was ready to seek vengeance on her "wooden spoon" fourth place result from the team combined a few days earlier. Her fierce speed and determination could be seen in each turn she took on the second run. She started to lose time at the bottom, but brought it back to get the green and claim her first World Championships individual medal by only one-hundredth of a second. 

“It is so much motivation to go into the slalom race with a result like this. It feels good, plus I am finishing the season with a result like this. It's super motivating,” said Moltzan. 

To complete the extraordinary day for Moltzan, her family and friends were all in attendance to watch this historic moment in her career. Hugs, champagne showers and tears were shed for the immense team effort. It is Moltzan's second World Championship medal, having won the gold in the team event in 2023. 

The winner of the race was Brignone who skied two runs flawlessly to win by 0.90 seconds. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson was second. 

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team women have now claimed a medal in every women's specific event so far and will look to keep the momentum rolling into the final event of slalom on Saturday. It’s the first time in 40 years that three different U.S. women have won an individual medal at the World Champs. The men race GS on Friday.

RESULTS 
Women's giant slalom 

HOW TO WATCH

Friday, Feb. 14
3:45 a.m. - men’s giant slalom, run one - skiandsnowboard.live
7:15 a.m. - men’s giant slalom, run two - skiandsnowboard.live

Saturday, Feb. 15
3:45 a.m. - women’s slalom, run one - skiandsnowboard.live
7:15 a.m. - women’s slalom, run two - skiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. - women and men’s GS and team combined - NBC (tape delay) 

Sunday, Feb. 16
3:45 a.m. - men’s slalom, run one - skiandsnowboard.live
7:15 a.m. - men’s slalom, run two - skiandsnowboard.live
4:00 p.m. - women and men’s slalom - NBC (tape delay)