Hensien and O’Brien Lead U.S. Slalom Domination at ANC Races

Palla, O’brien, Hensien, Heaydon, Waldauf ANC Slalom photo Julia Bentley

Coronet Peak, Queenstown – September 2025 – Many racers come to New Zealand every northern hemisphere summer to train, and several of the world’s best athletes go there to race, which includes some of the fastest members of the Stifel US Ski Team in 2025.

Oveland Opens With GS Win in Mt. Hutt — Aug. 18

The ANC women’s series opened at Mt. Hutt with giant slalom on Aug. 18. Helene Unhjem Oveland of Norway (NOR) skied aggressively to win in 2:17.91. Sophia Waldauf of Austria (AUT) was second, +1.58 back, and Phoebe Heaydon of Australia (AUS) finished third, +1.84.

Sophia Palmquist of the United States (USA) was the top North American in seventh.

Podium — Aug. 18 GS, Mt. Hutt

1. Oveland (NOR), 2:17.91
2. Waldauf (AUT), +1.58
3. Heaydon (AUS), +1.84

O’Brien and Hensien Share Mt. Hutt Spotlight — Aug. 21–22

The slalom event at Mt. Hutt put the U.S. women in the spotlight. On Aug. 21, Nina O’Brien (USA), an Olympic veteran from San Francisco, returned to sharper slalom form with victory in 1:26.79. Heaydon (AUS) was second, +1.08, and Eleri Smart of Canada (CAN) took her first ANC podium in third, +1.11.

Podium — Aug. 21 SL, Mt. Hutt

1. O’Brien (USA), 1:26.79
2. Heaydon (AUS), +1.08
3. Smart (CAN), +1.11

The second slalom on Aug. 22 ended in a dead heat. Katie Hensien (USA), a World Cup skier out of Rowmark Ski Academy in Utah, matched O’Brien’s winning time of 1:30.33. Smart (CAN) again placed third, +0.62, giving the North Americans a full sweep of the podium.

Podium — Aug. 22 SL, Mt. Hutt
1T. Hensien (USA), 1:30.33
1T. O’Brien (USA), 1:30.33
3. Smart (CAN), +0.62

Robinson Dominates GS at Coronet Peak — Sept. 3 & 6

At Coronet Peak, Alice Robinson of New Zealand (NZL) reminded everyone of her world-class power in giant slalom. A World Cup winner, Robinson stormed to victory on Sept. 3 in 1:40.56, more than three seconds ahead of Oveland (NOR), +3.08, and Waldauf (AUT), +3.51. Josie Sarchett (USA) was seventh, with Abby Kelleher (USA) ninth, as two Americans skied into the top ten.

Podium — Sept. 3 GS, Coronet Peak

1. Robinson (NZL), 1:55.84
2. Oveland (NOR), +3.08
3. Waldauf (AUT), +3.51

Robinson returned on Sept. 6 with another devastating display in 1:44.16, this time ahead of Waldauf (AUT), +2.73, and the impressive 16-year-old, Alaska Speedy of New Zealand (NZL), +7.93. Sarchett (USA) moved up to sixth, while Esme Roberts (USA) finished eighth.

Podium — Sept. 6 GS, Coronet Peak

1. Robinson (NZL), 1:56.10
2. Waldauf (AUT), +2.73
3. Speedy (NZL), +7.93

U.S. Slalom Domination in Queenstown — Sept. 8 & 9

The slalom races at Coronet Peak capped a dominant stretch for the Americans. On Sept. 8, Hensien (USA) led after the first run and closed out with a winning time of 1:25.60. O’Brien finished second, +1.30, while Heaydon (AUS) claimed third, +1.75. Smart (CAN) and Charlotte Boies (CAN) both failed to finish, while AJ Hurt (USA) and Elisabeth Bocock (USA) foreran with aggressive and fast skiing.

Podium — Sept. 8 SL, Coronet Peak

1. Hensien (USA), 1:25.37
2. O’Brien (USA), +1.30
3. Heaydon (AUS), +1.75

The final slalom on Sept. 9 saw O’Brien ski out on the first run, leaving the stage clear for Hensien to complete the double. The 25-year-old from Redmond, Washington, won in 1:29.54, ahead of Japan’s Asa Ando (JPN), +0.91, and Heaydon once again (AUS), +1.55.

Podium — Sept. 9 SL, Coronet Peak

1. Hensien (USA), 1:29.54
2. Ando (JPN), +0.91
3. Heaydon (AUS), +1.55

Hensien Secures Valuable Points

Hensien’s three victories earned her the minimum 15 FIS points in slalom, a result that will significantly improve her World Cup start number next season. She finished the ANC slalom season in third place with 300 points, just 80 shy of the title. O’Brien closed the series fourth, only 20 points behind her teammate.

Hensien Reflects on Wins and Preparation

For Katie Hensien (USA), the ANC block was about more than victories. “It felt good to get back in the start gate and brush off the cobwebs,” she said. “Especially this early in the season. No expectation, only goal was to get some decent points to help my starting position going into the season.”

She added that having new staff in place made the races valuable beyond the results. “It was good to go through the motions of race day before the World Cup season kicks off,” Hensien said.

Training days in New Zealand were mixed, with weather interruptions as usual. “But we ended up having some good days of training in Roundhill, Ohau and Coronet,” she said. “Happy to step away with some decent points and good training under my belt.”

North American Takeaway

The ANC series highlighted a resurgence in slalom for two American World Cup GS skiers. Hensien (USA) closed with three slalom wins, while O’Brien (USA) added two victories and a runner-up finish. Both enjoyed strong GS seasons in 2025, but had only limited success in slalom. Their slalom form in New Zealand showed they are once again serious contenders in both disciplines ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Cortina.

For Canada, Smart (CAN) earned two third-place finishes in Mt. Hutt slalom, proving consistent early in the series.

Palmquist (USA) added a GS top-10 at Mt. Hutt, while Sarchett (USA), Kelleher (USA), and Roberts (USA) produced consistent top-10s at Coronet Peak.

Together, the North Americans didn’t just compete — they swept podiums, gained confidence, and Hensien locked in an improved start position for the coming World Cup season. With these results in mind, there’s even more to be excited about heading into the Olympic campaign.

Heaydon Consistent for Australia

Phoebe Heaydon of Australia (AUS), who trained with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail as a junior, proved one of the most reliable skiers in the ANC women’s circuit. In New Zealand, she reached the podium four times — third in the opening Mt. Hutt GS, second in the Mt. Hutt slalom, and third in both Coronet Peak slaloms. Earlier, during the Australian ANC races, she added even more highlights: a slalom victory and a second, as well as two second-place finishes in giant slalom. Those results helped her secure a personal Continental Cup World Cup start spot in both slalom and GS.

British Presence in Queenstown

In both of the Coronet Peak slaloms, Victoria Palla of Great Britain (GBR) came through with fifth-place finishes. As Britain’s top-ranked slalom skier, the results represent an encouraging step as she builds momentum toward a potential first Olympic appearance in 2026.