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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

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AJ Hurt headshot image
AJ Hurt
AJ Hurt's passion for skiing and ski racing began at a very early age. Growing up in North Lake Tahoe, Palisades Tahoe was her winter playground. At four years old, she entered the Team Palisades Tahoe and fell in love with the sport.
Katie Hensien headshot image
Katie Hensien
Katie Hensien is a strong up and coming tech skier on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team.
Nina O’Brien headshot image
Nina O’Brien
Nina O’Brien started skiing out of Palisades Tahoe where she participated on the Mighty Mite program. O’Brien began her racing career on the West Coast with Team Palisades before moving back East to attend Burke Mountain Academy.