Moltzan and Lapanja just off the podium at Junior World Championships
The U.S. Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan, a product of Buck Hill Ski and SSCV, finished just shy of the podium Friday at the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships slalom in Jasna, Slovakia, just a half-second behind the day’s local winner, Petra Vlhova.
“It was a close one,” said Moltzan. “It’s hard to be fourth but I’m still really happy with it.”
Joining Moltzan in the top 10 was teammate Lila Lapanja, originally of Sugar Bowl Academy/Diamond Peak, in sixth place. Foreste Peterson, who grew up as a member of the Squaw Valley Ski Team, also put in a solid performance to finish 19th. Moltzan was sixth just a day earlier in the giant slalom.
“Basically (the conditions were) the same as yesterday — super foggy, raining/snowing,” Moltzan said. “I don’t really know what you’d call it today, but it was the same, you’ve got to fight through everything.”
Local favorite Vlhova clinched gold in the event with Slovakia’s only World Cup victor — Veronika Velez-Zuzulova — looking on. Sweden’s Charlotta Saefvenberg and Germany’s Marina Wallner took silver and bronze, crossing the finish line 0.17 and 0.59 seconds slower, respectively. It was not the first time Vlohva has flexed her slalom skills; she claimed the bronze medal at World Juniors in 2012 at Roccaraso, Italy.
Despite the tough weather, Moltzan said the courses held up well for the competitors.
“The course conditions were so good. The course crew has been really amazing here, so many slippers and volunteers. The first course set was a little tight, and quick and turny all the way down to the finish line. I don’t think too many people had too many problems, but the fast girls were really fast on it,” she said. “Second run was way more distance and quick and fast down the fall line, and the Slovakian just had it together. It was awesome.”
These championships could not have started out better for the Slovakian host nation. Vlhova’s friends and family, spectators, the race organizers and volunteers alike all celebrated her home victory on the hill and in the finish area. Born and residing in Liptovsky Mikulas, the town at the bottom of the Jasna slopes, and racing for the local ski club, Vlhova was swarmed by the press after her race.
“What a feeling,” the 18-year-old said. “Becoming Junior World Champion is already very special but taking the honor in my home country and my home town makes it even more precious.”
For the American ladies, representing their country and competing together as a team was a great privilege.
“There’s a great team vibe,” said Lapanja. “We are basically siblings now. We’ve been traveling, training and living with each other, with Paula especially, for almost three years, so we have a healthy relationship off snow and on snow we’re very competitive and we push each other to keep doing our best.
“Last year it was a huge goal of mine to even get top 15 at World Juniors and I did accomplish that in the slalom and knew I had so much left,” added Lapanja. “I got another year of training under my belt and to finish in the top 10 knowing that I have so much more left is really exciting. I’m so excited of my potential when I put it all down for two solid runs.”
For the U.S., Alice Merryweather (Stratton Mountain School) and Libby Gibson (Ski and Snowboard Club Vail) also started, but did not finish the first run. Jocelyn McCarthy, a member of Alberta Alpine, was the top Canadian in 16th followed by development team skier Candace Crawford in 18th.
The Junior World Ski Championships continue Saturday with a men’s downhill training run followed by the medal race. Friday’s downhill training was canceled due to fog, and Thursday’s training run was completed on a shortened course. The next individual event for women is super G and super combined on March 3.
—With reporting from the USSA and FIS press offices
RESULTS
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | Diff. | FIS Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | 705423 | VLHOVA Petra | 1995 | SVK | 48.15 | 47.94 | 1:36.09 | 6.00 | |
2 | 3 | 506583 | SAEFVENBERG Charlotta | 1994 | SWE | 48.07 | 48.19 | 1:36.26 | +0.17 | 7.10 |
3 | 17 | 206536 | WALLNER Marina | 1994 | GER | 48.67 | 48.01 | 1:36.68 | +0.59 | 9.81 |
4 | 7 | 539909 | MOLTZAN Paula | 1994 | USA | 48.68 | 48.49 | 1:37.17 | +1.08 | 12.97 |
5 | 21 | 56199 | KAPPAURER Elisabeth | 1994 | AUT | 50.20 | 47.32 | 1:37.52 | +1.43 | 15.23 |
6 | 8 | 539927 | LAPANJA Lila | 1994 | USA | 49.47 | 48.37 | 1:37.84 | +1.75 | 17.29 |
7 | 15 | 516344 | KOPP Rahel | 1994 | SUI | 49.75 | 48.78 | 1:38.53 | +2.44 | 21.74 |
8 | 14 | 56206 | KOECK Hannah | 1994 | AUT | 49.59 | 48.97 | 1:38.56 | +2.47 | 21.94 |
9 | 24 | 565417 | PLUT Eli | 1994 | SLO | 50.25 | 48.46 | 1:38.71 | +2.62 | 22.90 |
9 | 9 | 56241 | SCHNEEBERGER Rosina | 1994 | AUT | 50.06 | 48.65 | 1:38.71 | +2.62 | 22.90 |
11 | 12 | 56174 | HAASER Ricarda | 1993 | AUT | 49.66 | 49.31 | 1:38.97 | +2.88 | 24.58 |
12 | 22 | 56217 | BRUNNER Stephanie | 1994 | AUT | 50.26 | 48.82 | 1:39.08 | +2.99 | 25.29 |
13 | 31 | 405138 | JELINKOVA Adriana | 1995 | NED | 50.51 | 48.73 | 1:39.24 | +3.15 | 26.32 |
14 | 18 | 425981 | SKJOELD Maren | 1993 | NOR | 50.33 | 49.13 | 1:39.46 | +3.37 | 27.74 |
15 | 25 | 516394 | SUTER Jasmina | 1995 | SUI | 51.01 | 48.67 | 1:39.68 | +3.59 | 29.16 |
16 | 43 | 107556 | MCCARTHY Jocelyn | 1996 | CAN | 51.08 | 48.73 | 1:39.81 | +3.72 | 30.00 |
17 | 29 | 225518 | GUEST Charlotte | 1993 | GBR | 51.24 | 48.66 | 1:39.90 | +3.81 | 30.58 |
18 | 33 | 107387 | CRAWFORD Candace | 1994 | CAN | 50.66 | 49.63 | 1:40.29 | +4.20 | 33.10 |
19 | 37 | 539678 | PETERSON Foreste | 1993 | USA | 50.91 | 49.80 | 1:40.71 | +4.62 | 35.81 |
20 | 5 | 516284 | GISIN Michelle | 1993 | SUI | 51.97 | 48.90 | 1:40.87 | +4.78 | 36.84 |
21 | 32 | 565428 | BREZOVNIK Sasa | 1995 | SLO | 51.58 | 49.48 | 1:41.06 | +4.97 | 38.07 |
22 | 35 | 385092 | KOMSIC Andrea | 1996 | CRO | 51.85 | 49.44 | 1:41.29 | +5.20 | 39.55 |
23 | 39 | 107613 | GRENIER Valerie | 1996 | CAN | 52.18 | 49.61 | 1:41.79 | +5.70 | 42.78 |
24 | 54 | 197812 | GERACI Romane | 1997 | FRA | 52.23 | 50.34 | 1:42.57 | +6.48 | 47.81 |
25 | 72 | 565453 | KOPSE Desiree | 1996 | SLO | 52.97 | 51.05 | 1:44.02 | +7.93 | 57.17 |
26 | 26 | 155727 | CAPOVA Gabriela | 1993 | CZE | 52.24 | 51.81 | 1:44.05 | +7.96 | 57.36 |
27 | 61 | 185383 | AHONEN Saana | 1994 | FIN | 52.68 | 51.43 | 1:44.11 | +8.02 | 57.75 |
28 | 45 | 385069 | MISAK Iva | 1993 | CRO | 52.75 | 51.67 | 1:44.42 | +8.33 | 59.75 |
29 | 70 | 185427 | ANDERSSON Camilla | 1997 | FIN | 52.94 | 51.51 | 1:44.45 | +8.36 | 59.94 |
30 | 36 | 35156 | BANCORA Salome | 1993 | ARG | 52.50 | 52.21 | 1:44.71 | +8.62 | 61.62 |
31 | 20 | 307493 | ANDO Asa | 1996 | JPN | 52.96 | 52.15 | 1:45.11 | +9.02 | 64.20 |
32 | 42 | 385071 | SOLA Matilda | 1994 | CRO | 53.72 | 51.92 | 1:45.64 | +9.55 | 67.62 |
33 | 76 | 485926 | KRYUKOVA Kristina | 1997 | RUS | 53.78 | 52.64 | 1:46.42 | +10.33 | 72.65 |
33 | 53 | 155698 | RUDOLFOVA Veronika | 1993 | CZE | 53.48 | 52.94 | 1:46.42 | +10.33 | 72.65 |
35 | 88 | 715167 | MERDANOVIC Sejla | 1997 | BIH | 54.22 | 52.48 | 1:46.70 | +10.61 | 74.46 |
36 | 65 | 435371 | WASEK Katarzyna | 1996 | POL | 54.66 | 52.16 | 1:46.82 | +10.73 | 75.23 |
37 | 64 | 485905 | ROMANOVA Anna | 1996 | RUS | 54.74 | 52.21 | 1:46.95 | +10.86 | 76.07 |
38 | 56 | 485799 | ALEXEEVA Nadezda | 1995 | RUS | 54.52 | 53.05 | 1:47.57 | +11.48 | 80.07 |
39 | 71 | 255367 | VILHJALMSDOTTIR Helga Maria | 1995 | ISL | 54.49 | 53.32 | 1:47.81 | +11.72 | 81.62 |
40 | 66 | 155740 | STRAKOVA Bara | 1994 | CZE | 54.13 | 53.88 | 1:48.01 | +11.92 | 82.91 |
41 | 83 | 705436 | KAMENICKA Daniela | 1996 | SVK | 54.87 | 54.27 | 1:49.14 | +13.05 | 90.20 |
42 | 85 | 65108 | NELLES Mathilde | 1997 | BEL | 54.98 | 54.28 | 1:49.26 | +13.17 | 90.98 |
43 | 34 | 307255 | ISHIKAWA Haruna | 1994 | JPN | 54.91 | 54.85 | 1:49.76 | +13.67 | 94.20 |
44 | 81 | 255352 | ASGEIRSDOTTIR Erla | 1994 | ISL | 54.95 | 55.09 | 1:50.04 | +13.95 | 96.01 |
45 | 91 | 705402 | TRAJCIKOVA Eva | 1993 | SVK | 57.15 | 54.89 | 1:52.04 | +15.95 | 108.91 |
46 | 93 | 705407 | SAXOVA Andrea | 1993 | SVK | 58.03 | 57.56 | 1:55.59 | +19.50 | 131.82 |
47 | 95 | 255364 | SOLVADOTTIR Audur-Brynja | 1995 | ISL | 59.96 | 57.38 | 1:57.34 | +21.25 | 143.11 |
48 | 101 | 235292 | SAMARINOU Maria | 1996 | GRE | 1:01.30 | 1:00.20 | 2:01.50 | +25.41 | 169.95 |
49 | 106 | 345098 | KEIROUZ Celine | 1995 | LIB | 1:08.67 | 1:06.75 | 2:15.42 | +39.33 | 259.77 |
50 | 110 | 625024 | DEVI Varsha | 1995 | IND | 1:19.26 | 1:16.05 | 2:35.31 | +59.22 | 388.10 |
Disqualified 2nd run | ||||||||||
109 | 135010 | ONG CHENG Jung | 1997 | TPE | ||||||
62 | 435313 | MAJERCZYK Sabina | 1993 | POL | ||||||
Did not start 2nd run | ||||||||||
74 | 565393 | KOSI Mihaela | 1993 | SLO | ||||||
Did not start 1st run | ||||||||||
105 | 695119 | NAVROTSKA Anastasiia | 1997 | UKR | ||||||
100 | 465099 | CAILL Andra Corinne | 1997 | ROU | ||||||
Did not finish 2nd run | ||||||||||
92 | 695108 | KNYSH Olha | 1995 | UKR | ||||||
87 | 415205 | HUDSON Piera | 1996 | NZL | ||||||
86 | 435347 | KLUSAK Magdalena | 1995 | POL | ||||||
84 | 255357 | EINARSDOTTIR Freydis Halla | 1994 | ISL | ||||||
79 | 299383 | MELESI Roberta | 1996 | ITA | ||||||
77 | 35177 | SIMARI BIRKNER Angelica | 1994 | ARG | ||||||
73 | 435334 | GASIENICA-DANIEL Maryna | 1994 | POL | ||||||
68 | 298694 | PICHLER Karoline | 1994 | ITA | ||||||
60 | 197407 | WILLMANN Alison | 1993 | FRA | ||||||
48 | 426100 | HOLTMANN Mina Fuerst | 1995 | NOR | ||||||
47 | 385093 | TRSINSKI Sasa | 1996 | CRO | ||||||
44 | 298868 | NOGLER KOSTNER Tatiana | 1994 | ITA | ||||||
41 | 426092 | CHRISTENSEN Nora Grieg | 1995 | NOR | ||||||
38 | 506762 | KARLSSON Hildur | 1996 | SWE | ||||||
30 | 197497 | MIRADOLI Romane | 1994 | FRA | ||||||
19 | 155699 | PAULATHOVA Katerina | 1993 | CZE | ||||||
16 | 565401 | BUCIK Ana | 1993 | SLO | ||||||
6 | 506557 | GRASSL Paulina | 1994 | SWE | ||||||
2 | 506664 | FJAELLSTROEM Magdalena | 1995 | SWE | ||||||
1 | 206487 | WIESLER Maren | 1993 | GER | ||||||
Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
108 | 245070 | CSIMA Laura | 1997 | HUN | ||||||
107 | 345095 | NASSAR Lea | 1995 | LIB | ||||||
104 | 695110 | BELOBORODOVA Rada-oleksandra | 1996 | UKR | ||||||
103 | 115143 | VYHMEISTER Stefanie | 1993 | CHI | ||||||
102 | 115173 | MONTESINOS Macarena | 1995 | CHI | ||||||
99 | 605004 | GASPAR Veronica | 1995 | ISV | ||||||
98 | 695101 | TIKUN Tetyana | 1994 | UKR | ||||||
96 | 465092 | CIOCANEL Raluca Georgiana | 1996 | ROU | ||||||
94 | 555037 | GASUNA Evelina | 1997 | LAT | ||||||
90 | 185354 | HIRVONEN Roosa | 1993 | FIN | ||||||
89 | 95126 | POPOVA Aleksandra | 1996 | BUL | ||||||
82 | 35202 | RONCALLO Manuela | 1996 | ARG | ||||||
80 | 705424 | MIKLOSOVA Katarina | 1995 | SVK | ||||||
78 | 6535600 | MERRYWEATHER Alice | 1996 | USA | ||||||
75 | 355056 | FRICK Joana | 1993 | LIE | ||||||
69 | 6535086 | GIBSON Libby | 1994 | USA | ||||||
67 | 299466 | DELAGO Nicole | 1996 | ITA | ||||||
59 | 155790 | CAMKOVA Veronika | 1996 | CZE | ||||||
58 | 185357 | VIRKKULA Sohvi | 1993 | FIN | ||||||
55 | 298767 | SOSIO Federica | 1994 | ITA | ||||||
52 | 206520 | DORSCH Patrizia | 1994 | GER | ||||||
51 | 485807 | OVCHINIKOVA Daria | 1995 | RUS | ||||||
50 | 197616 | ALPHAND Estelle | 1995 | FRA | ||||||
49 | 107532 | TOMMY Mikaela | 1995 | CAN | ||||||
46 | 426153 | NORBYE Tuva | 1996 | NOR | ||||||
40 | 298583 | MEDETTI Alessia | 1993 | ITA | ||||||
28 | 307120 | ARAI Makiko | 1993 | JPN | ||||||
27 | 506421 | WESTMAN Hanna | 1993 | SWE | ||||||
23 | 107583 | REMME Roni | 1996 | CAN | ||||||
13 | 506555 | BLOMQVIST Lisa | 1994 | SWE | ||||||
11 | 56258 | AGER Christina | 1995 | AUT | ||||||
10 | 206532 | SCHMOTZ Marlene | 1994 | GER |