In a move set to reverberate throughout the elite echelons of women’s alpine skiing, American technical specialist Paula Moltzan has announced her departure from Rossignol skis after more than a decade of partnership, signing on with Marcel Hirscher’s burgeoning VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports race program. This strategic shift marks a pivotal moment for both Moltzan and the relatively nascent ski brand, positioning her as the first female athlete to be officially signed by VAN DEER and, critically, the highest-profile woman to date to make such a significant equipment transition within the World Cup circuit. The announcement, stemming from a VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports press release, heralds what Moltzan herself describes as a "new team, new approach, new era" in her already illustrious career.
Moltzan’s decision comes on the heels of arguably her most successful professional season to date in 2025-26, a period during which she solidified her standing as one of the most consistent and formidable technical skiers on the global stage. Her performance trajectory included an impressive four second-place finishes in World Cup events, a testament to her refined skill and competitive tenacity. Beyond the World Cup, Moltzan further burnished her resume with an Olympic bronze medal in the team combined event at the Cortina Games, complementing her World Championship gold in the team event from 2023 and an individual giant slalom bronze at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach. Such a strong run of form makes her equipment change particularly noteworthy, suggesting a profound belief in the innovative vision and technological edge offered by VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, even at a career high.
The Genesis of VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports: A Champion’s Vision
To fully appreciate the gravity of Moltzan’s move, it is essential to understand the foundation and philosophy behind VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports. The brand is the brainchild of Marcel Hirscher, arguably the most dominant male alpine ski racer of his generation. Following his retirement from professional competition in 2019, Hirscher, an eight-time consecutive overall World Cup champion with multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medals, channeled his unparalleled expertise and relentless pursuit of perfection into developing his own line of race skis. Launched officially in 2021, VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports was initially focused on the men’s technical disciplines, aiming to challenge the long-established giants of the ski manufacturing industry.
Hirscher’s vision was clear: to create skis that offered a distinct performance advantage through meticulous engineering, cutting-edge materials, and an athlete-centric development process. The brand quickly gained traction, attracting top male athletes like Henrik Kristoffersen, who has since achieved significant successes on VAN DEER equipment, validating Hirscher’s innovative approach. The partnership with Red Bull further amplified the brand’s reach and resources, providing not only financial backing but also access to Red Bull’s extensive network in sports science, marketing, and athlete development. This synergy has allowed VAN DEER to rapidly establish itself as a serious contender, known for its dynamic, high-performance skis and a philosophy that prioritizes individual athlete needs and feedback.
Moltzan’s Ascent: A Decade of Dedication
Paula Moltzan’s journey to becoming a top-tier World Cup racer has been marked by resilience and a steady progression. Her career began with considerable promise, but also faced its share of challenges, including injuries that often test an athlete’s resolve. For over a decade, she entrusted her competitive performance to Rossignol, a brand synonymous with alpine skiing heritage and success. This long-standing partnership provided a stable platform for her development, allowing her to hone her skills primarily in slalom and giant slalom, disciplines demanding extreme precision, agility, and power.
Her breakthrough into consistent podium contention has been a gradual but decisive process. While Moltzan had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in her career, it was in the mid-2020s that she truly found her stride. The 2023 World Championships saw her secure a team event gold, hinting at her burgeoning potential. This was followed by a career-defining 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, where she clinched an individual bronze in the giant slalom, signaling her readiness to compete at the very highest level individually. The subsequent 2025-26 World Cup season, as highlighted, became her most prolific, culminating in four second-place finishes across various technical events – a level of consistency that placed her among the elite in both slalom and giant slalom standings. Observers note that this period saw Moltzan not only skiing faster but also with a newfound tactical maturity and confidence, leveraging her technical prowess to consistently challenge for victories. Her overall World Cup standings in the technical disciplines for 2025-26 were among her best, securing her a top-five position in the slalom and a top-ten in the giant slalom.
The Strategic Rationale: Why Now? Why VAN DEER?
The decision to switch equipment after such a strong season is not taken lightly by any athlete, especially one as experienced as Moltzan. It often involves a calculated risk, weighing the potential for incremental performance gains against the disruption of changing a deeply ingrained system. For Moltzan, the appeal of VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports appears to lie in its promise of innovation and a fresh perspective. "Like everyone else, I was blown away when VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports entered the World Cup," Moltzan stated, underscoring the brand’s immediate impact and the buzz it generated among athletes.
Marcel Hirscher himself articulated the strategic fit, explaining that expanding into women’s ski racing had always been part of the brand’s long-term plan, following its successful establishment on the men’s side. "We always make sure that personality and performance potential match," Hirscher commented, emphasizing the meticulous selection process for athletes joining his program. "Paula brings both." This statement highlights that Moltzan was not merely chosen for her recent results, but for a holistic alignment with the brand’s values – her competitive drive, her analytical approach to skiing, and her potential for further growth. The move signifies VAN DEER’s confidence in Moltzan to be the standard-bearer for their women’s program, believing she possesses the unique blend of talent and temperament to lead their charge into a new competitive arena.
Defying Age: Moltzan’s Quest for Longevity and Peak Performance
At 32 years old, Paula Moltzan’s declaration, "I’m 32 now, but I still feel like I’m on my way to my career peak," offers a compelling narrative that challenges conventional wisdom in elite sports. Ski racing, often seen as a sport where athletes peak in their mid-to-late twenties, is increasingly witnessing examples of longevity. Moltzan is keen to be a part of this evolving trend. "I want to show that skiing fast is much less a question of age than people generally think," she asserted. This ambition resonates with the journeys of other accomplished athletes who have extended their careers and even achieved some of their greatest successes later in life, such as Lindsey Vonn, who continued to compete at the highest level into her mid-thirties, or Mikaela Shiffrin, whose sustained dominance speaks volumes about modern athletic conditioning and preparation.
Moltzan’s consistent development, with half of her career podium finishes accumulating in her most recent season, provides tangible evidence for her belief. This upward trajectory suggests that rather than nearing a decline, she is refining her technique, optimizing her physical conditioning, and gaining invaluable mental fortitude through years of experience. The VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports program, with its emphasis on cutting-edge technology and individualized athlete support, may provide the ideal environment for Moltzan to further unlock her potential and prove that age is merely a number when passion and performance align. Her proactive engagement in a "new era" and "new approach" underscores her commitment to continuous improvement.
The Enduring Partnership: Ryan Mooney’s Critical Role
A unique and particularly reassuring aspect of Moltzan’s transition is the continued involvement of her husband, Ryan Mooney, as her dedicated ski serviceman. In alpine racing, the relationship between an athlete and their serviceman is paramount. This individual is responsible for the meticulous preparation of skis – tuning edges, applying wax specific to snow conditions, and ensuring the equipment is perfectly calibrated to the racer’s preferences and the demands of the course. It is a highly specialized role that requires deep technical knowledge, an understanding of the athlete’s style, and often, an intuitive connection built over years.
Mooney’s continuity provides Moltzan with an invaluable layer of stability and trust amidst the significant change of ski brands. He intimately understands her feedback, her preferences, and how she interacts with her equipment. This existing synergy will undoubtedly smooth the transition to VAN DEER skis, allowing for quicker adaptation and optimization. As Moltzan embarks on the intensive summer program of physical conditioning and equipment testing, leading up to the 2027 World Championships in Crans-Montana, Mooney’s expertise will be crucial in fine-tuning the new skis to her exact specifications. "A new era – exciting," Moltzan remarked. "For someone as competitive as I am, it’s exactly the right kind of summer program." This statement reflects her eagerness to dive into the work, confident in the team around her, including her most trusted technical partner.
Broader Implications and Industry Repercussions
Moltzan’s signing with VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports carries significant implications for the broader alpine skiing landscape. For VAN DEER, it marks a definitive expansion into the women’s World Cup, signaling their ambition to become a dominant force across all disciplines. Successfully integrating a high-profile female athlete like Moltzan could pave the way for other top talents to consider the brand, potentially reshaping the competitive balance among ski manufacturers. It also validates Hirscher’s business model and his ability to attract and develop elite athletes beyond his own storied career.
For the established ski brands, particularly Rossignol, which enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Moltzan, her departure will necessitate a reevaluation of their athlete rosters and development strategies. While such changes are part of the sport’s natural evolution, losing a top-performing athlete always prompts reflection. Rossignol, a venerable name in skiing, is expected to continue its strong presence with other leading athletes and robust development programs, likely expressing well wishes for Moltzan’s future endeavors while reaffirming their commitment to their existing team.
From a U.S. Ski & Snowboard perspective, Moltzan’s move highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of equipment partnerships. The organization will undoubtedly support her decision, recognizing that optimal equipment is crucial for an athlete’s continued success. Her pursuit of excellence, particularly her aim to demonstrate longevity in the sport, aligns with the broader goals of athlete development and performance advocacy within the national team.
Looking ahead, the 2027 World Championships in Crans-Montana will serve as a critical proving ground for Moltzan and her new equipment. Her performance there, along with her results throughout the preceding World Cup seasons, will be closely watched as a barometer of this historic transition’s success. This move is more than just an equipment change; it represents a bold statement from an athlete at the peak of her powers, an ambitious brand eager to disrupt the status quo, and a compelling narrative about age, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of speed on the global stage. Paula Moltzan’s new era with VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports is set to be one of the most intriguing storylines in alpine skiing for years to come.
