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Moltzan Top 10; O’Brien, Bocock Top 15 in Åre

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
March, 8 2025
paula
Paula Moltzan lands sixth in Åre giant slalom World Cup. (Getty Images)

On Saturday’s women’s giant slalom race in Åre, Sweden Stifel U.S. Ski Team women Paula Moltzan, Nina O’Brien and Elisabeth Bocock all performed very strongly in sixth, 11th and 14th. Plus AJ Hurt landed 19th. 

“I’m super happy with my second run, I left a little time out there but still coming down in the green is a great feeling,” said Moltzan. “It is so awesome for the whole team to be able to push hard on the second run and everyone ended up in the top 20!”

It was another excellent giant slalom race for the U.S. women after a first run that brought a mixed bag of results. All of the women with a few mistakes on the first run which led to some lost time and a few DNFs. Despite the first run not going as planned, the women were able to refocus and send on the second run. 

The sun came out on run two and brought very spring like conditions underfoot with a touch more slush than hard surface. First up for the team was O’Brien who knifed her second run taking full advantage of the early start number. She would end up moving up almost 20 places to end up 11th overall. She was also notably second on the second run - proving that she can ski amongst the best. 

Next it was Bocock who had a stellar day. Bocock, fresh off of her World Juniors bronze medal, pushed hard to move up on the second run too. She would end up 14th. Her first-ever World Cup top 15 and career best result to date. 

“Spring conditions up here in Åre, which can be challenging so I was happy to make it into the second run and take advantage of the cleaner track,” said Bocock. “I’m super happy with the result, this weekend is my final World Cup of the year so I’m just trying to ski aggressively with nothing to lose!”

Hurt also had a solid day but with a few too many mistakes, she would land 19th. Mikaela Shiffrin and Katie Hensien did not finish the first run but are OK.  

It was also a historic day for Stifel U.S. Ski Team coach Karin Harjo who set the first run of giant slalom. Harjo, already a trailblazer as a woman in alpine coaching, became the first woman to set a slalom World Cup course in 2016 and on Saturday she became the first woman to set a giant slalom World Cup course. Notably accomplished on International Women's Day. 

The World Cup weekend is not over yet - on Sunday the women race the final slalom of the regular World Cup season. 

RESULTS
women's giant slalom 

HOW TO WATCH
4:30 a.m. ET - women’s slalom run 1 - skiandsnowboard.live
7:30 a.m. ET - women’s slalom run 2 - skiandsnowboard.live

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Elisabeth Bocock headshot image
Elisabeth Bocock
Elisabeth Bocock began skiing at Snowbird where she cultivated a love for the sport free skiing the mountains with her coaches. For Bocock, Development team coach Foreste Peterson is the most influential person in her career.
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.
Paula Moltzan headshot image
Paula Moltzan
Paula Moltzan is a Minnesota girl hailing from Buck Hill Ski Racing Club and Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. A slalom and giant slalom specialist, Moltzan became the first woman to win a slalom gold at Junior World Championships.