Paula Moltzan makes history: First race, first victory

American skier Paula Moltzan let her emotions run free after her victory on the Rettenbach Glacier. A fairy tale. There is no better way to describe this magical moment. Moltzan made her World Cup debut in 2012 as an 18-year-old. Now, at 32, she stood on the top of the podium as the oldest first-time World Cup winner in history, wearing the red bib of the overall World Cup leader, a picture destined for the time capsule.

Paula and the inspiration to reinvent herself

Paula’s victory in Sölden is a powerful symbol of what makes skiing so inspiring. It stands for the determination to never lose sight of a goal, and for the courage to embrace change in pursuit of a lifelong dream, even when things are already going well. This spring, Paula chose courage over comfort. Fresh off the most successful World Cup campaign of her career, with five podiums and an Olympic bronze medal in the team combined, she followed her instincts and took a leap into the unknown. As the first woman to join Marcel Hirscher’s racing team and make the switch to VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, she became a pioneer for the brand’s next chapter in women’s alpine ski racing.

At her very first visit to the headquarters in Scheffau, Paula made a remarkable statement: “I’m 32 now, but I still feel like I’m on the way to the peak of my career.” What followed was a summer defined by relentless work and a race against time in ski development. After an intensive snow-based Greenfield operation in New Zealand and countless testing days on European glaciers and race slopes, the breakthrough finally came during the final training sessions in Sölden: "Setup found. I think we’ve got our race ski." With confidence in her setup, Paula arrived at the official opening of the new brand store by VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports and THE MOUNTAIN STUDIO, in Sölden remarkably relaxed, despite the usual butterflies that come with the season’s first race.

Go behind the scenes of Paula’s final preparations for the season opener in Sölden: „A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PAULA MOLTZAN“.

Paula’s Principles: Success Is a Team Effort

Mindset matters. When Marcel Hirscher selects athletes for his racing team, he looks beyond results. Talent and speed are essential, but so are character, commitment, and the willingness to grow together. In the defining moment of her greatest triumph, Paula Moltzan made one thing clear: alpine ski racing may be an individual sport, but success is always built by a team.

Always by Paula’s side are her husband and ski technician, Ryan Mooney, who has accompanied her throughout the past decade of her career, and the development and racing team at VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. What unites them all is a principle that has guided Paula from the very beginning: “I am not a big goal setter. I set standards rather than goals and my standard is to give my absolute best every single day.”

Paula’s historic maiden victory in her 149th World Cup start marks the next level of her career. When she lines up for start number 150 in Levi, she will do so for the first time as the leader of the World Cup standings. Does that come with added pressure? “Pressure is a privilege. I have an incredible team around me, and my family and friends are an important part of both my life and this journey. Of course, I want us all to enjoy the rewards of the work we've put in together. That’s the motivation I’ll carry with me into the coming weeks.”

Personal Best for Eirik Hystad Solberg

The season opener in Sölden also marked a personal best for Norwegian skier Eirik Hystad Solberg following his move to the VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports racing team. With a strong second run, he secured the eighth place and achieved his best World Cup performance to date. Like Paula, Eirik now shifts his focus to the next challenges of the season. Together with his teammates, preparations are already underway for the first two World Cup slaloms of the winter, set to take place in Levi and Gurgl in November.