Liv Moritz Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Moving on Up
Liv Moritz Makes World Cup Debut in Kronplatz
Liv Moritz’s first run at the Europa Cup giant slalom in Puy St. Vincent moved her from 40th to 11th and caught the attention of the U.S. Ski Team World Cup coaches. After the race, she got the call that they wanted her to come to Kronplatz and start in the World Cup.
“It was actually a pretty big surprise,” Moritz said. “I knew it was a possibility, but it wasn’t one of my top goals. I just wanted to target Europa Cups and get some results there.”
If anyone has a habit of setting and exceeding goals, it’s Moritz. Let’s review:
A Quick Study
Last season, as a member of the U.S. Ski Team’s D Team, Moritz also began her NCAA career, competing for the University of Denver in both skiing and soccer. She found success in all areas. On the soccer field, she started in all 18 matches and scored seven goals.
In November, she traded her cleats for ski boots. While taking three classes—only one of which was online—she raced for both DU and the U.S. Ski Team, qualifying for and competing in the 2024 World Junior and NCAA Championships. At World Juniors, she won the second run of the giant slalom and helped Team USA earn a bronze medal in the team parallel event. On the NCAA tour, she claimed victories, leading the Pioneer women at the NCAA Championships by finishing fifth in the giant slalom and earning All-America First Team honors.
The Balancing Act
“It’s been pretty challenging,” she admitted. “I missed seven out of 10 weeks in a quarter, which was kind of crazy. So it’s definitely tough.” Nevertheless, the environmental studies major maintains a 4.0 GPA.
To compete in both sports, Moritz prioritizes strength and conditioning during the summer, working out with her C and D team teammates in Park City. After a one-week ski camp in Norway, her soccer season began Aug. 1.
“I did that until Nov. 10 and then got on to snow for a couple of weeks and started racing,” she said.
Moritz’s schedule requires coordination between Denver coach Joonas Räsänen and her Europa Cup coach, Miha Kurner. “We keep the communication pretty open. It’s been awesome, because they’re all super flexible with me,” she said.
This season, her plan was to narrow her focus, at least in skiing. She still played in all 19 soccer matches and finished as the team’s second-highest scorer with five goals, but she opted to redshirt in skiing. That allowed her to take fewer classes—just one online course this term—and preserve a year of eligibility. It also allowed her to focus on the 2025 World Junior Championships, which overlap with the NCAA Championships this year. The event, held Feb. 25 to March 6 in Tarvisio, Italy, will be her third and final World Junior appearance.
A Family of Multitaskers
To prepare for the event, Moritz has been racing Europa Cups with her U.S. Ski Team teammates, including her twin sister, Kjersti, a first-year student at Middlebury College. In her comeback season from injury, Kjersti plans to race a couple of carnivals for Middlebury and could qualify for either the World Juniors or the NCAA Championships.
The two provide motivation and support for each other, especially when they’re together on the road.
“I know that we’ve definitely made each other better just because we’re so competitive, so we’re always sort of trying to push each other,” Moritz said. “But it is super nice, especially this past couple of months, to be together. It provides the sort of comfort that you can’t really get anywhere else.”
Their aunt, Randi, was a three-sport athlete at Middlebury (field hockey, skiing, lacrosse), and their mother, Kaia, was a two-sport athlete at Dartmouth (skiing, rugby). Both will be in Kronplatz to cheer on Liv.
It Takes a Village
She’ll have plenty of familiar faces in Kronplatz, including coaches Zan Spilar, who worked with her at last year’s World Juniors, and Thomas Woolson, who she knew from Ski Club Vail.
“It’s just awesome to get a different perspective on my skiing,” she said. “And they’ve all been super supportive and reaching out to me.”
Her teammates Mary and Elisabeth Bocock, who made their World Cup debuts in Sölden last season, will also be at the start, as will their Rossignol technician, Jesus Calzada. “He definitely makes things easier and a lot more fun and calms me down,” Moritz said.
Moritz emphasized that her wide-ranging aspirations are only possible with a massive support system, including family, teammates, and many coaches.
“I just want to shout out all my coaches for supporting me,” she said. “I have a lot, spread out over multiple teams.” That includes her U.S. C, D, World Cup, and DU teams. “They’ve all been super supportive of me kind of doing my own thing and making my own decisions.”
She also thanked her soccer coaches, who “let me do this whole ski season thing.”
The Plan, Technically Speaking
Stepping onto the World Cup is a major jump for anyone, and Moritz is the second Pioneer to make that leap this season. DU junior Mia Hunt competed in the Killington World Cup slalom in November.
Moritz said her debut might be easier. “It’s a little bit different because debuting on home soil is probably more intimidating, and all the eyes are on you.”
The goal in a World Cup start gate is always to make the flip and earn a second run, but there are many ways to make a first World Cup a success.
“I’m going to try to push the thought of results out of the way because it is my first World Cup, and I should go in with no expectations,” she said. “I’m just going to try to execute my plan and see how that turns out for me.”
Her plan is to be active in her skiing, moving her hips forward into her outside ski. “Stuff like that has been really helping.”
What will make it a win?
“If I know that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried to really go for it, I think then I’ll be proud of myself and excited to reach the finish.”
Good Advice From the Masters
Teammate Paula Moltzan, herself a World Junior medalist and NCAA veteran, offered Moritz advice about enjoying the moment and managing expectations.
“She’s been telling me, ‘Don’t worry about results. It’s not going to be easy, but just go in and try to soak it all in,’” Moritz said. “I’m looking forward to getting on a new hill and obviously skiing with some of the people I’ve been watching on TV for all of these years.”
Moltzan also offered advice for settling into the World Cup neighborhood:
“Paula said that if I make one friend around my bib, that’s a win. I liked that.”
How to Watch
Moritz and her American teammates will compete in Kronplatz on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Watch the race live or catch the replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
About the Author: Edie Thys Morgan
