Kristoffersen and Moltzan switch ski brands ahead of new season

The off-season has once again brought notable changes to alpine ski teams. After the end of the 2025/26 World Cup season, several well-known athletes announced changes of ski brands. The biggest move was Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen's switch from Van Deer to HEAD.

Kristoffersen was one of the leaders of the team representing the brand founded by Marcel Hirscher, but the past season did not turn out quite as the Norwegian had hoped. Nevertheless, Henrik announced his move to HEAD with enthusiasm. During the first 18 years of his career, he competed on Rossignol skis, before switching to Van Deer in 2022.

It was on Van Deer skis that Kristoffersen won the 2024/25 World Cup slalom title, claimed a bronze medal in slalom at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February this year and became world slalom champion in 2023.

“I am proud to join the HEAD team. It is a team with a great history of victories, and I am looking forward to what comes next. I have been warmly welcomed from day one, and I am ready to get to work. I have always had a slightly rebellious attitude, so being part of the HEAD Worldcup Rebels team is a perfect fit for me,” said Henrik.

The women's World Cup also saw a major strengthening. American Paula Moltzan left Rossignol and joined Van Deer. In the new season, Marcel Hirscher's brand will present women's alpine skis for the first time, with one of the world's strongest alpine skiers among the team's first athletes.

Last season, Moltzan reached the podium five times in technical disciplines at World Cup events. At the Olympics in Italy, the American won bronze in the team combination alongside Jacqueline Wiles.

“If someone had told me, ‘Paula, in four years you will be the first female alpine skier working with this brand,’ I would not have believed them,” Moltzan wrote on social media.

Hirscher had planned to enter the women's alpine ski segment when he founded the brand. Now, together with Paula, Marcel intends to strengthen Van Deer's position in the American market.

Other well-known athletes also announced moves:

• Alice Robinson left Salomon but has not yet announced which team she will join;
• Slovenian Zan Kranjec left Rossignol;
• Croatian Filip Zubcic left Atomic;
• Ramon Zenhäusern, who was not selected for Switzerland's main team, ended his partnership with Rossignol and joined the Völkl team.

Photos: HEAD press service, Van Deer press service

19:18 06.05.26