In a jaw-dropping display of grit and glory, Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan stormed to third place in the FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom, nabbing her seventh career podium just days after a terrifying crash in Semmering left her battered but unbreakable. The Minnesota powerhouse turned heads on the unforgiving Podkoren slope, delivering two flawless runs under perfect, firm snow conditions that let her unleash her full speed demon mode.
“I’m over the moon,” Moltzan beamed post-race. “Bouncing back from two DNFs last weekend to stand on the podium? It’s proof I still own this game.” Despite lingering pain from her Semmering wipeout, Moltzan credited the stellar snow for helping her ski with precision and power. “We’re blessed with epic conditions today—it let me attack the hill exactly how I envisioned.”
But the U.S. domination didn’t stop there. Skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin, the all-time win queen, charged to a solid fifth place, a mere 0.2 seconds shy of the podium. This marks her third top-five GS finish this season, a massive leap forward after her devastating Killington crash last year. Shiffrin, flashing her trademark grin in the finish area, is clearly rebuilding her giant slalom empire with laser-focused momentum ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
“Happy and satisfied aren’t the same—I crave more speed,” Shiffrin admitted. “But one year after that crash, being in the hunt with the world’s elite? It’s mind-blowing progress.”
Teammate Nina O’Brien locked in eighth with two steady, aggressive runs, calling it a “solid team vibe” reminiscent of their Soelden triumph. “We all clicked today—it’s awesome seeing everyone shine together,” she said.
Rising star Elisabeth Bocock crushed doubts with a 14th-place rebound after a string of DNF heartbreaks, breathing a sigh of relief: “Finally getting through that first run felt like a weight lifted. Pushing harder in the second was the move.”
AJ Hurt snagged 25th to bag valuable World Cup points, while Mary Bocock fought hard but missed the second-run cut. Switzerland’s Camille Rast claimed victory, with Austria’s Julia Scheib in second.
This U.S. squad’s powerhouse showing has fans buzzing—could this be the spark that propels them to Olympic gold? The action heats up tomorrow with slalom, where Shiffrin eyes extending her insane winning streak. Stay tuned—this team’s on fire! 🚀
