Moltzan, O’Brien, Bocock Post Career Bests at Stifel Killington Cup

The Stifel Killington Cup was fraught with emotion on Saturday, Nov. 30, when the U.S. women’s alpine team had not one, not two, but three athletes achieve career-best results in front of a home crowd in Vermont. Paula Moltzan led the charge, finishing fifth, her best result in giant slalom, followed by Nina O’Brien in sixth, a career-best World Cup result. 

“Crossing the line and getting the green light and hearing the crowd scream is just the best feeling ever,” O’Brien said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that here in Killington, so that was pretty incredible.”

Katie Hensien also had a stellar day, posting the 11th fastest speed in the second run to move her from 21st into the final position of 13th. World Cup rookie Elisabeth Bocock made a storied fight to the finish in her second run to earn her first World Cup points in 23rd.

Bocock pushed out of the start gate wearing bib 47 and drove through the course’s bumps and divots to earn eighth in the first run. In her second run, the 19-year-old never lost her ferocity and continued to push despite clipping a gate and losing one of her ski poles -- Bocock ended up skiing the second half of her run with just one pole. 

“Today, there is no one I look up to and am more inspired by than Elisabeth,” said O’Brien. “Here skiing first run was so sick and incredible, but for me, it’s even more impressive to have a first run as she did and then go and send it on the second run because that takes courage, and she skied with a lot of courage second run.” 

Shiffrin was the final racer to ski down Superstar on the second run. After winning the first run by 0.32 seconds, anticipation was high. Shiffrin was on the brink of winning her first giant slalom in Killington and her 100th World Cup. After coming over the pitch, Shiffrin took a tumble into the b-netting, a rare sight, as Shiffrin does not often take tumbles on the public stage. Despite being dragged down the slope in a sled, Shiffrin still took a moment to wave to the crowd on her way to an ambulance and asked about her splits in the interim moments during evaluation. 

“Not really too much cause for concern at this point,” Shiffrin reported to Instagram a few hours after the race while being evaluated at the hospital. “I have a pretty good abrasion, and something stabbed me? But I’m okay. I am so sorry to scare everybody, and it looks like all scans so far are clear, so thank you so much for your support and concern.” 

On The Stifel U.S. Alpine Team will compete in the slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup on Sunday, Dec. 1st. Shiffrin will not start due to injury. 

RESULTS 
Women’s giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH

10:00 a.m. ET - women's slalom, run 1, Killington, Vermont - LIVE: Outside TV, On Demand: Outside