Paula Moltzan: Greenfield Operation on Snow
After months of training in the gym and outdoors at home in Vermont, Paula Moltzan, the first woman to join Marcel Hirscher’s race team, is now 15,000 kilometers away in New Zealand for her first on-snow mission with VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. Here’s her update from New Zealand.
Paula is heading into her 13th World Cup season this year. And yet, nothing feels routine. Instead, everything feels exciting and new. The area around picturesque Lake Tekapo offers wide-open horizons and panoramic views of the Southern Alps. Here, at the small Roundhill ski area, a new era began at the end of July. For Paula Moltzan, it marks the start of a new chapter following her switch to VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. For VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, it marks the brand’s entry into women’s ski racing.
The Joy of Progress
“My first few days on snow here in New Zealand have been absolutely amazing. It’s exciting to ski on new equipment. Everything looks different and feels different, but with each day, I’m getting more comfortable with it. I’m really happy with the progress we’re making,” says the pioneering female racer on Marcel Hirscher’s race team. After spending the preparation period training at home, being back with the team in New Zealand is another highlight for her: “The time without the team is long, so it’s always something special to be back together. They bring so much positive energy.”
Greenfield Operation on Snow
That positive energy also comes from the process itself and from the unique position Paula holds as the first woman on the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports team. Paula describes the Greenfield Operation on Snow as both rewarding and challenging. Having her husband, Ryan Mooney, continue as her serviceman in this new era is a major advantage. “Having Ryan and the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports experts by my side during this phase, working to find the right setups for each discipline, is incredibly valuable. I feel like everyone is working as hard as they can to help me become as fast as possible.”
From Roundhill to Ohau
The team has since moved on, two hours southwest of Roundhill. Until the beginning of September, Paula will be training on more challenging slopes in Ohau that more closely resemble World Cup conditions. The goal is to make the most of every run and gather as many insights as possible during this first phase on snow, passing them on to the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports headquarters in Scheffau am Tennengebirge, 18,000 kilometers away. Paula’s personal takeaway from the New Zealand mission so far? “Now that I’m back on snow, I can tell that I absolutely love this sport and the challenges that come with it.”
“Until then, there’s still a long way to go, and it’s a journey we’ll take together as a team. The mindset is simple: stay focused, work hard, and let the skiing speak for itself.”