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Diggins, Kern Top 10 in Sixth Stage of Tour de Ski

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
January, 4 2025
julia kern
Julia Kern at the sixth stage of the Tour de Ski. (NordicFocus)

The Tour de Ski continued in Val di Fiemme, Italy with the sixth stage of the grueling series—the 20k skiathlon, which saw Jessie Diggins in fifth and Julia Kern in a career-best distance result in seventh.

Today's race marked the second race in Val di Fiemme, a venue preparing to host the world’s best athletes at the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games next year. It also delivered standout performances from the remaining six athletes on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team's Tour de Ski roster. The new course tested the field with 10k of classic skiing followed by 10k of skate skiing, with a ski change at the halfway point of the six-lap course. This format demands physical endurance and tactical precision, as it features some highly challenging descents met with steep climbs. 

The men’s race started the day with Zanden McMullen powering to a strong 17th place result and Ben Ogden following closely in 21st. At this point in the Tour, athletes are mentally and physically fatigued from racing six times in eight days. Only 61 athletes remained on the start list in the day's first race, but McMullen, Ogden and Jack Young put the hammer down. Throughout the six laps, McMullen and Ogden were in and out of the lead and chase pack, fighting for position in the ripping descents, hairpin turns and steep climbs.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo continued his streak, winning the race and leading in the overall Tour de Ski rankings, with Italian Federico Pellegrino in second and Jan Thomas Jenssen of Norway in third. 

For the women, a field reduced to just 36 competitors due to illness made for an even tighter race. Diggins and Kern were in the mix, fighting for top positions from the start. After the ski change, Norway’s Therese Johaug established a gap, but Diggins and Kern kept pushing, sometimes skiing solo or within a pack, to secure top results. Kern, mere seconds behind, delivered a breakout performance and put her name on the map for World Cup distance races. After a less-than-desirable result and race for Kern the day prior, the 20K result showed how never giving up works out.

"I've had a lot of bad luck so far this season and just not all the pieces coming together on the right day all of the time," said Kern. "I knew there was a lot more potential today and I hadn't really shown my best yet in distance racing, or sprints, so I really believe that there's a lot more to give into show. And today, I had incredible skis that helped me do that and my body was responding well to my surprise! I just bounced back today, and I kept believing that there's so much more potential. I'm really excited for what's to come!"

"I was just looking forward to changing to skate," said Diggins, laughing. Diggins is currently dealing with a foot injury that makes classic skiing painful, yet she can still race. "And skating just gives me the normal amount of hurting - and I know how to handle that. So I just put my head down and fought for every second and was just trying to ski my own race. I am really proud! And really proud of our team." 

Sophia Laukli, despite falling and breaking a pole on the first lap, continued the fight, and in the five laps that followed her fall, Laukli continued to pick off athlete-by-athlete, charging the uphills as the strong climber she is to finish 20th.

The women's race resulted in Johaug taking home the win, Teresa Stadlober of Austria in second and Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway in third. 

Tomorrow, all eyes are on the iconic Final Climb—a brutal 8-kilometer uphill battle up the Alpe Cermis alpine hill. Last year, Laukli etched her name into the history books with a commanding victory on the climb, becoming the youngest American to win a World Cup race. With Laukli’s history on this course, all eyes will be on her as she looks to repeat that feat. Diggins has moved into third place in the Tour de Ski standings, including third in the sprint standings, positioning herself as a serious contender heading into the finale, with Ben Ogden leading the men in 13th overall. 

RESULTS
Women 
Men

OVERALL TOUR DE SKI RESULTS
Women
Men

Hurt, O'Brien Back-to-Back in Kranjska Gora Top 15

By Mackenzie Moran
January, 4 2025
AJ Hurt
AJ Hurt hammers down first run to finish eighth and put her in a solid position to score her first top 10 of the season in Kranjska Gora. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom - Stanko Gruden)

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team kicked off 2025 in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Saturday, Jan. 4, with AJ Hurt leading the way in 10th and Nina O'Brien .24 seconds behind her in 11th. 

Sweden's Sara Hector was both victorious and untouchable, throwing down two aggressive runs that put her 1.42 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Lara Colturi of Albania. New Zealand's Alice Robinson finished third, 1.52 seconds off Hector's winning pace.

For Hurt, the result is a step in the right direction. In her return to the World Cup just one week prior in Semmering, Austria, Hurt struggled to find the speed she was looking for in giant slalom and finished 27th. Her form improved in the slalom that followed when she skied to 18th. However, she wasn't fully satisfied. Given her results from last season, she felt like she was leaving a lot on the table.

Saturday's skiing in Kranjska Gora felt more like herself, she said.

"It felt like I could find that feeling and that rhythm that I've been wanting and hoping for, and it feels really good to be back in the mix and not feel the 'injured athlete' coming back," commented Hurt. "Like I was supposed to be happy with my results last week, but I knew I wanted to and could do more, and it's nice to be able to really be a contender again and show myself that I'm more than just my injury."

O'Brien had been leading for the Americans after the first run in the sixth, 1.88 off Hector's pace, but a more attainable of 0.78 seconds behind Colturi in second. O'Brien is still hunting for her first World Cup podium and wanted it badly on Saturday. However, being on the edge on the second run didn't translate into the clean, aggressive skiing she had hoped for.

O'Brien used one word to describe her second run – chaos.

"I was trying to push because I really wanted to go for it, and I definitely did that, but it was a little sloppy," O'Brien chuckled. "I had three moments where I fell over and felt like I was about to ski out, and after the third time, I was finally like, 'Okay, you gotta pull yourself together for the bottom.' So I'm not totally satisfied with the second run, but overall, I had a good attitude and still showed some good skiing today."

Katie Hensien rounded out point-scoring results for the team in 27th.

The three other American competitors, Paula Moltzan, Elisabeth Bocock and Mary Bocock, did not finish their first run. Thankfully, each athlete avoided a crash and skied out of the course safely with no injuries.

Sunday, Jan. 5, Hurt, O'Brien, Hensien, and Moltzan will start for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team in the Kranjska Gora slalom. The first run begins at 4:00 a.m. ET and can be streamed live or on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live.

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
4:30 a.m. ET - women's slalom, run 1, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live/on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live
7:00 a.m. ET - women's slalom, run 2, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live/on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live

2025 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships Team Announced

By Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 31 2024
aerial shot of the moguls course
An aerial view of the FIS Freestyle Ski Junior World Championships moguls course in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (FIS Freestyle).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 12 athletes who have qualified to represent the United States in moguls skiing at the 2025 FIS Freestyle Junior Ski World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 7-9, 2025. 

This year’s team comprises top U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes from clubs nationwide, including some of the best junior athletes in the world. Abby McLarnon, Jiah Cohen and Porter Huff all represented the United States at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, where they brought home five medals (one gold, one silver, three bronze). Reese Chapdelaine and Jack Petrone are returning for their second Junior World Championships, each earning top 15 finishes prior. With a history of strong results at the junior level, this year's Junior World Championships are sure to excite. 

2025 FIS FREESTYLE JUNIOR SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women

  • Anabel Ayad (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/1/2005)
  • Reese Chapdelaine (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/3/2005)
  • Katie Dreitlein (Montrose, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2/21/2008)
  • Jessica Duda (Brownsville, PA; Wasatch Freestyle; 12/12/2005)
  • Eden Kruger (Hopewell Junction, NY; Killington Mountain School; 11/10/2009)
  • Abby McLarnon (Steamboat Springs, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/16/2006)

Men

  • Jiah Cohen (Minturn, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 05/28/2006)
  • Nate Gendron (Park City, UT; Wasatch Freestyle; 8/25/2006)
  • Porter Huff (Winter Park, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 4/2/2008)
  • Chase Littlefield (Yarmouth, ME; Wasatch Freestyle; 3/9/2006)
  • Freddie Mickel (Durango, CO; Wasatch Freestyle; 7/10/2006)
  • Jack Petrone (Glastonbury, CT; Wasatch Freestyle; 2/2/2005)
STAFF

Ann Battelle -  Lead U.S. Coach (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
David Dreitlein – Medical Lead
Freddy Mooney – Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
Emerson Smith - Wasatch Freestyle

ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN 2025 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Jan. 7 // Moguls
Jan. 8 // Dual moguls
Jan. 9 // Dual moguls team 

Ending the Year on a Good Note: Diggins, Kern, Laukli, Ogden Top 15 in Stage Three

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 31 2024
team
Jessie Diggins, Alayna Sonnesyn and Julia Kern hug at the finish line in Toblach. (NordicInsights)

The third stage of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy, delivered an exciting day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. On the challenging 20k skate course, Ben Ogden achieved a career-best ninth-place finish in distance racing, securing third overall in the Tour standings and Jessie Diggins, Sophia Laukli and Julia Kern all finished within the top 15. 

The men started off the day's races, with the 20k skate featuring a brand new course ahead of them. The course, starting in Toblach Stadium and stretching out toward the Tre Cime mountain range in the Dolomites, challenged the athletes with its lack of rest points - it was all out from the start. Strong gliders and powerful skiers thrived on this “working” course, which demanded consistent effort.

For the men, Ogden, Gus Schumacher, JC Schoonmaker, Jack Young and Zanden McMullen were representing the U.S. At the same time, the women were led by the overall leader, Diggins, then Laukli, Kern, Rosie Brennan and Alayna Sonnesyn. 

Often used as a "tourist track," this course is narrow and unrelenting. Appearing flat, it was anything but that - racers had to put the hammer down from start to finish. It was the sunniest part of the day for the men when the start gun went off. With 91 skiers on the roster and a new course in front of them, it was truly anyone's game. Through the checkpoints, Schumacher and Ogden were showing impressive splits. At the top of the climb, racers did a horseshoe to turn around and come back down, with the Tre Cime towering overhead in the distance. There, Ogden was sitting just outside the top 10, in 11th, with just the downhill. At 15.6k, the final checkpoint, Ogden was solidly in the top 10 and into the finish, he put down the hammer to cross the line in ninth - this was the best skate distance result of his World Cup career. 


"Today will absolutely go down as my best distance race ever!" said Ogden. "Really pumped with that and with the progress I've made lately."

With the men's race wrapped, Ogden was ninth, Schumacher 34th, McMullen 52nd, Schoonmaker 53rd and Young 71st. Norwegians Harald Amundsen was first, Simen Krueger second and Great Britain's Andrew Musgrave in third.  

For the women, all eyes were on Diggins, as this race not only played to her strengths but she's coming off two back-to-back wins the days previous. 

Wearing the yellow bib marking her as the overall Tour de Ski leader, Diggins started right behind teammate Kern. In their favor, this course was made easier if you had someone to work with - whether drafting, taking turns leading, or just fighting the up and downhill together. That is just what Kern and Diggins did. For Laukli, the sentiment was the same. However, she was working alongside Germany's Victoria Karl, who ended the day just off the podium tied for fourth. With the teamwork, Laukli finished the day 10th, a big step forward in her Tour de Ski results, giving her more confidence going into the final stages. Kern and Diggins skied the entire course together and crossed the line together, with Diggins in sixth and Kern in 13th. Brennan was 37th and Sonnesyn 51st, respectively. Norwegians Astrid Oeyre Slind led the podium in first, Therese Johaug in second and Kerttu Niskanen of Finland in fourth. 

"It was so hard - but it was also so cool," said Diggins. "The best part was that I got to ski with my teammate Julia, whom I trained with all summer. We had a plan that if we caught together, we would work together. On the downhill, we had amazing communication and collaboration. Without her, it would have been a really tough time for me - because you either got lucky to ski with someone or didn't. That's ski racing!"

"This is the type of race that you go through a lot of emotions!" Said Laukli. "I was in a dark hole after the past two races and didn't know if I wanted to keep going but I really want to fulfill the Tour and I want to keep going!"

With three stages completed, the Tour heads to stage four tomorrow before moving to Val di Fiemme, Italy, for the final three stages. Diggins remains the overall leader, while Ogden’s strong position in third makes the Stifel U.S. Ski Team one to watch as the Tour continues.

RESULTS 
Men
Women

Three Make Top 30 at Bormio Super-G

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 29 2024
nego
Kyle Negomir skis to a top 30 finish in Bormio super-G. (Getty Images)

On Sunday's super-G in Bormio, Italy three Stifel U.S. Ski Team men found their way into the top 30. The team was led by Kyle Negomir in 21st, Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 22nd and Jared Goldberg in 29th. 

“Bormio is tough because it's always a fight,” said Negomir. 

It was the end of a relatively heavy week and weekend at the future Olympic site. A week riddled with injuries. Most notably French ski star Cyprien Sarrazin had a bad crash on the second training run day that left him with a head injury. Over the course of the weekend three more large crashes would follow. 

The conditions were what the athletes describe as classic Bormio: “icy, dark and bumpy.” On Saturday’s downhill Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Ryan Cochran-Siegle was one to make it out of the weekend in one piece after he had a scary crash. Cochran-Siegle was leading the downhill run, poised to claim a podium spot until he caught an edge and tumbled over a gate. Luckily he would walk away with no injuries. 

On Sunday it was still dark and bumpy for the men yet they had to fight through the mental challenge and put their best foot forward. Negomir looked poised under pressure as he skied solidly to land just outside the top 20 and ahead of his teammate Cochran-Siegle. Regardless of scoring points, the men know they are capable of much more and look forward to finding that next gear in January. 

“It will be nice to go home and have a mental reset. I think some time at home will be good and then a little training block will get us some confidence and have us ready to push into the heavy month of January,” said Negomir.

RESULTS
men's super-G

Diggins Does What She Never Thought Possible: Wins First Ever Classic Race

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 29 2024
jessie diggins
Jessie Diggins celebrates her first career classic victory at the Tour de Ski. (NordicFocus)

Jessie Diggins added another milestone to her career today in Toblach, Italy, winning the second stage of the Tour de Ski in a thrilling and... unexpected finish. In what was her first-ever World Cup victory in classic skiing, Diggins crossed the line victorious on the same course where she secured her first-ever World Cup win 14 years ago, in the Tour de Ski, during the 5k skate. This win came over 340 World Cup starts later, cementing her place as one of the greatest cross country skiers ever, and one that can win in any distance, in either discipline. 

Meanwhile, Gus Schumacher continued his impressive performance at the Tour, crossing the line in seventh place in today’s 15k classic mass start. His consistency throughout the Tour sees him sitting seventh overall in the standings, while Ben Ogden remains fifth in the Tour de Ski standings after another strong showing.

The day dawned sunny in Toblach, with fast classic tracks and eager athletes ready to tackle the 15k mass start. Diggins lined up with 63 other competitors, taking the lead early in a tactical, fast and hilly race. Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern, Sophia Laukli, and Alayna Sonnesyn joined Diggins on the USA start list. 

Diggins led, forming a tight lead group alongside Norwegian stars Therese Johaug and Astrid Øyre Slind and Finnish standout Kerttu Niskanen. Brennan and Kern worked hard in the chase pack alongside the massive pack of skiers on the tight course. 

The stakes grew higher with each lap and Diggins refused to let up. Approaching the final climb, she dug deep, refusing to yield to her competitors. In a post-race interview, she reflected, “I never gave up. I’ve dreamed of a classic victory for so long, and today it finally happened.” Crossing the finish line with a fist pump and tears in her eyes, Diggins collapsed in Diggins fashion but did something in the process that she thought was impossible.

"Honestly, I'm really emotional," said Diggins, post-race, when asked what this meant to her. "We finally did it. I say we, because I'm looking at my coach right now too. This summer I put in so much work on my double poll and classic skiing, and to be able to sprint like that yesterday and finish like that today - that was something that I didn't know if I had in me. I had to work really hard to get here, and I got a lot of help from a lot of people. It's honestly super emotional - it's really cool." 

Diggins took home her second Tour de Ski victory in two races; Brennan was in the top 20 again in 14th, Kern in 31st, Laukli in 46th, and Sonnesyn in 50th. Second place went to Niskanen of Finland, and Slind of Norway. 

With Diggins’ victory setting the tone, the American men approached their 15k race with renewed energy. Ben Ogden, Gus Schumacher, JC Schoonmaker, Zanden McMullen, and Jack Young represented the stars and stripes. The variable conditions on the course—chopped-up snow and icy patches—required strategic precision and smart skiing by the men - nothing they couldn't handle.

Ogden and Schumacher positioned themselves in the lead pack early, with McMullen and Schoonmaker not far behind. Schumacher made a decisive move on the penultimate climb as the race progressed, making a spot for himself in the top five going into the final curve. Despite losing a couple of places in the finishing stretch, Schumacher's move showed he knows what needs to be done going into Tuesday's 20k to maintain that podium position. Reflecting on his race, Schumacher said, “I knew I had to do something big. I pushed hard, got into position, and went for it. I didn’t have the legs to hold it at the end, but I’m proud of how I raced.”

Schumacher’s efforts earned him seventh place, while McMullen impressed with a 17th-place finish. Ogden ended the day in 26th, maintaining his strong overall Tour position in fifth. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo dominated once again, claiming his second consecutive Tour stage victory, followed by Erik Valnes and Håvard Moseby in second and third.

With Diggins’ historic win and the men's continued rise in the ranks, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team is making a statement in this year’s Tour de Ski. As the Tour progresses, the momentum is undeniable and the athletes are determined to deliver standout performances. Tomorrow is a rest day and then the team is back at it on Tuesday. 

RESULTS
MEN
WOMEN

OVERALL TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
MEN
WOMEN

Hurt Top 20 in Semmering Slalom

By Mackenzie Moran
December, 29 2024
AJ Hurt
AJ Hurt pushes her skiing to her limit in the first run of Sunday's slalom in Semmering, Austria. (Getty Images).

AJ Hurt's first weekend back on the World Cup circuit was a success. On Sunday in the Semmering slalom, she was the only American athlete to put down two runs, finishing the day in 18th.

Believe it or not, Hurt's result in Semmering is only the fourth time she's ever finished two runs of a slalom World Cup.

Hurt, who considers herself to be more of a giant slalom specialist, surprised herself in the Kranjska Gora slalom in early January last season when she earned a career-first podium and a career-best slalom, finishing third, and hasn't scored points in the discipline since.

Known for her gutsy skiing and carefree attitude, Hurt isn't one to hold back on a slalom course to make it down to the finish. In both of her runs on Sunday, Hurt made up for lost time on the last pitch, skiing the sixth fastest second run overall to move her up the ranks nine positions.

"The first run, I was definitely just trying to get back into it," reflected Hurt. "The second run felt much more like my type of skiing, where I could ski fast, so I'm happy with it. I only finished two slaloms last year, so it feels good to be already halfway on track to besting my season last year, and I'm going to keep trying my best to keep pushing and get back to where I was."

Unfortunately, teammates Paula Moltzan, Katie Hensien and Nina O'Brien did not get a second run. However, all three athletes stuck around to support Hurt in her World Cup slalom return before heading off to Toblach for a brief training block in preparation for World Cups in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, next weekend. Moltzan was pushing hard at the beginning of her first run but straddled and did not finish.

Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic led Sunday's podium. She won her first World Cup by 1.75 seconds, followed by Germany's Lena Duerr in second and Austria's Katharina Leinsberger in third. Ljutic was the first Croatian woman to win a World Cup in over 18 years.

In Kranjska Gora, the women open 2025 with a giant slalom on Saturday and a slalom on Sunday.

RESULTS
Women's slalom

HOW TO WATCH

Jan. 4, 2024
3:30 a.m. ET - women's giant slalom, run 1, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live and on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live
6:45 a.m. ET - women's giant slalom, run 2, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live and on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live

Jan. 5, 2024 
4:00 a.m. ET - women's slalom, run 1, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live and on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live
7:00 a.m. ET - women's slalom, run 2, Kranjska Gora, SLO - live and on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live

 

Diggins Wins First Stage of Tour de Ski; Eight in Top 30

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 28 2024
team
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team celebrates Jessie Diggins's podium in Tolbach, ITA. (NordicFocus)

The 2024-25 Tour de Ski began today in Toblach, Italy, with a strong showing from the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. Wearing the yellow bib as the current leader in the overall World Cup standings, Jessie Diggins led the Americans into the highly anticipated opening sprint stage with a win in the skate sprint. Eight U.S. athletes advanced to the sprint heats—four men and four women—highlighting the depth of the team and landing 80% of the team in the top 30 at the end of the day. 

For the men, Ben Ogden, JC Schoonmaker, Gus Schumacher and Jack Young qualified for the sprint heats. Young, in particular, made an impressive debut in his first Tour de Ski appearance. On the women's side, Diggins, Rosie Brennan and Alayna Sonnesyn joined Diggins in advancing to the heats, setting the stage for an exciting day of sprinting.

Diggins, Schumacher and Ogden stood out as the races progressed by advancing through to the semifinals. Schumacher and Ogden won their respective quarterfinal heats, setting the tone. Toblach holds a special place for Ogden, as last winter, he skied to his first career podium in the same race. Despite battling nerves and breaking a pole in the final, Ogden finished an impressive sixth on the day and is hungry for more. 

"Most proud of my confidence today," said Ogden, post race. "I was more nervous today than I've been in awhile - because I have some memories here. But I handled it well, I skied really smart. Unfortunate way to end it with all that work but what can you do? That's part of the deal." 

Meanwhile, Diggins strongly returned to the top of the podium in the skate sprint, securing her first win in this format since 2021. Her victory marked a strong start to the 2024-25 Tour de Ski, earning her the overall and sprint leader bib. "Can I wear two bibs?" she said, laughing after the race. 

"I'm excited to build through it like I’ve been able to in the past!" said Schumacher. "It’s been a while since I strung together a good full tour and I’m hoping that this is my year to get better every day."

The podium for the men was led by Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway, Lucas Chavanat of France, and Janik Riebli of Switzerland. Diggins was on top for the women, led by Jasmi Joensuu of Finland–first career podium– and Nadine Feindrich of Switzerland. For the U.S., Kern was the second American, in 14th, Sonnesyn in 19th, a career-best result, and Brennan in 29th. Sophia Laukli was 63rd. For the men, Ogden was sixth, Schumacher was 10th, Schoonmaker was 14th, Young 17th, and McMullen 36th, respectively.

"This was a huge surprise!" said Diggins. "It was so fun to be here, we had amazing fans, amazing skis! Toblach is so special, this is where I had my first podium, a long time ago during the Tour de Ski... so, this victory is an amazing surprise!"

The Tour de Ski remains one of the premier events on the FIS World Cup calendar, and this year, it attracted a strong field despite being a World Championships year. The momentum is building and the fun doesn't stop here - six more races are on deck, along with tomorrow's 15k classic mass start. The event starts at 6:30 a.m. ET for the women and 8:45 a.m. ET for the men. Watch live and on-demand on skiandsnowboard.live. 

RESULTS
Men
Women

Moltzan Matches Career Best in Semmering, O'Brien Top 15

By Mackenzie Moran
December, 28 2024
Paul Moltzan races giant slalom in Semmering
Paula Moltzan charges forward in the Semmering giant slalom to finish fifth. (Getty Images)

Paula Moltzan skied to match her career best on Saturday, Dec. 28, in Semmering, Austria, finishing fifth in the giant slalom.

Moltzan, who has been itching for her first World Cup giant slalom podium, finished fourth first run, just 0.56 seconds off of leader Federica Brignone after making a huge save at the last gate to save her from a potential DNF. In the end, she missed the podium by just two hundredths. Italy's Brignone clung to her lead and finished the day in first, followed by Sweden's Sara Hector in second and New Zealand's Alice Robinson in third. 

Moltzan's result is even more impressive, considering the dislocated shoulder contracted after a hard crash in the Killington slalom. The pain has not entirely ceased, but she is pushing forward despite it all. 

"I'm proud to have put down two clean, consistent runs, both times I pushed out of the start," commented Moltzan. "I'm very happy with my result overall and look forward to carrying the momentum into tomorrow on another great surface."

Nina O'Brien also fought her way out of a tenuous position, headed into the final gate of the second run, but held on to some speed and moved up the ranks from the first to second run from 17th to 15th.

AJ Hurt earned her first World Cup points of the season after taking a break from competition to tend to shoulder issues. She finished 27th, a step up from her last performance in Semmering in 2018 when she claimed she didn't even ski past the first split. Hurt's return to the World Cup was a success despite a few frustrating mistakes. She earned her first points of the season and positively impacted the overall team energy. 

"It was really nice for the team to have AJ back," said O'Brien. "We really missed her, and I'm proud of her for getting into the points her first race back; I know she has a lot more in her."

Katie Hensien also ended the day in the points, finishing 28th overall and hanging on to a strong position in the giant slalom standings. Thus far, Hensien ranks 11th in the giant slalom season standings. Moltzan ranks sixth, and O'Brien ninth.

Sisters Elisabeth and Mary Bocock also competed in Saturday's giant slalom in Semmering, both for the first time in their careers. Unfortunately, neither made the second run, but they were excited to get more World Cup start experience. 

Moltzan, O'Brien, Hurt and Hensien will compete in the fourth World Cup slalom of the season on Sunday, Dec. 29.

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
4:30 a.m. ET - women's giant slalom, run 1, Semmering, Austria - live/on-demand on Peacock TV
7:30 a.m. ET - women's giant slalom, run 2, Semmering, Austria - live/on-demand on Peacock TV

Seymour Top 15 in Alta Badia Slalom

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
December, 23 2024
seymour
Seymour skis to a 13th place in the Alta Badia slalom. (Getty Images)

On Monday’s Alta Badia slalom Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Jett Seymour closed out the 2024 year with a 13th place finish, his second best slalom result to date. 

“It was a battle but it was fun and a good fight and yeah that is what ski racing is all about,” said Seymour. 

It was a sunny yet frigid day in Alta Badia for the slalom skiers. The hill injected once again overnight to create a slick course. The conditions allowed skiers out of the top 30 to get in the mix of the race. 

Seymour running bib 32 took full advantage of this and skied strong to land the 13th first run. An outstanding jump compared to those around him on the start list. Fellow teammates Ben Ritchie and River Radamus also showed their slalom prowess. At first Ritchie seemed to be within reach of a second run but he skied a touch too conservative and landed in 31st. Radamus, historically a giant slalom and super-G skier, skied aggressively to find himself in 25th after run one. 

“I expected a lot from myself from the first two races and was very disappointed with those so it was nice to build some momentum in Val d’Isere and see it through to Alta Badia,” said Seymour. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the slalom year, especially January and to keep building on these performances.” 

On the second run the hill was somehow even icier than first run - a great opportunity to move up in the rankings. Seymour ran 17th on run two and was able to maintain his skiing from run one to stay in position for a top 15, ultimately landing in 13th overall. 

The Norwegian men once again proved their depth and talent as they claimed first and third with Timon Haugan on top and Atle Lie Mcgrath in third. Second place went to Swiss skier Loic Meillard. Radamus ended up in 27th position. 

The next men’s slalom race is in Madonna di Campiglio for a night race on Jan. 8. Meanwhile the men’s team is going to stay in Europe over the holidays with teammates, friends and family as they prepare for a packed January. 

RESULTS
men's slalom