“My approach won’t change after Soelden. Vonn? We’re very close and she told me that…”: Team USA counting on Moltzan in Levi

Paula Moltzan ended the taboo of winning a World Cup race after ten second- and third-place finishes, claiming victory in Soelden with a comeback second run to finally break through in giant slalom, moreover on her debut with new equipment.

Now it is on to Levi, for a slalom specialist of equally high calibre: in Lapland, the American, born in 1994, achieved her best results at the venue over the last two seasons, finishing 8th in 2024 and just off the podium twelve months ago, when Mikaela Shiffrin dominated completely.

Without the queen and reigning holder of the Crystal Globe, Team USA will be counting on Paula, who, incidentally, earned her podium finishes in the slalom at Semmering in 2022 and again in Austria a few months ago, under the lights in Flachau, behind Mikaela. After a winter with seven top-five finishes, there is confidence in this discipline too: “It’s true, after 14 years in the World Cup, it’s a relief that it finally happened – Moltzan said through the FIS channels, referring to her triumph on the Rettenbach glacier last October 24 – Knowing that I’m capable of winning makes me want more. I don’t think it will change my approach to the season, but this success definitely helps reinforce my confidence in my skiing ability.”

Regarding slalom specifically, it is clear that there are more factors and variables to consider: “Everything is always more chaotic, with lots of quick decisions to make, recoveries and tiny margins. For me, confidence and consistency are fundamental, and the more I can have them in my skiing style, the greater the chances of reaching the podium.”

A couple of days ago, interviewed by ServusTV, the 32-year-old born and raised in Minnesota spoke, among other things, about her relationship with Lindsey Vonn (who followed the same competitive path from a very young age, although the two are ten years apart), who underwent surgery again in Vail at the beginning of this week and about whom Paula had some important things to say. “We grew up at the same ski area, Buck Hill (in Burnsville, not far from Minneapolis, ed.), and we are really very close.

Lindsey has always supported me. Thinking back to last year, which was incredible for her until the accident, I asked her how you win a World Cup race and her answer was very clear: she told me I would do it as soon as I stopped wanting it at all costs. And in Soelden I didn’t think about anything in the second run, other than attacking.”