Karl wins again while Dalmasso finally breaks through in Scuol

Jan 16, 2024·Alpine Snowboard

The FIS Alpine Snowboard stop in Scuol was full of surprises. The parallel giant slalom race brought thrilling upsets from the first run and continued to deliver stunners all day.

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) scored redemption as she navigated the madness on her way to the win. Dalmasso displayed the power of perseverance as she tops the podium following two straight second place finishes.

The men’s side was slightly calmer as Benjamin Karl (AUT) took his second straight PGS World Cup title after winning in Cortina. Karl increased his lead in the overall standings with the win.

Dalmasso took the headlines but was far from the only story. The women’s day started with a bang as Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) was ousted in the first round. The overall leader’s win streak ends at three as she was previously undefeated on the season.

She was barely edged out by 0.04 seconds in the first round against Tsubaki Miki (JPN). Hofmeister looked strong after posting the fastest qualifying time but could not advance as Miki used a late charge to take the win on the blue course.

The blue course racer won the first nine races on the women’s side. The blue side of the slope was a victorious 14-2 on the day for the women. (The red course was good for 13-3 on the men's side).

The blue proved to be the fast track for Dalmasso as she won every round from the blue side. The win brought Dalmasso to tears following the race. She was a woman of few words due to the joyous emotions.

“I am really happy. Finally I win a race. This is unbelievable,” Dalmasso said.

It is her first World Cup victory of her career. The 26-year-old now has four podiums, three of which came in the last three races.

Another Italian youngster had a great day as 22-year-old Jasmin Coratti (ITA) claimed her first ever World Cup podium with a second-place finish. Coratti used a late lean to beat Miki by 0.01 seconds in the semifinal. She then suffered a crash in the big final but was okay and happy to take the silver spot.

“It was awesome, I think it was really special to do the big final against my teammate (Dalmasso). We are good friends, it was really cool,” Coratti said.

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) finally tops a World Cup podium. © Miha Matavz/FIS

Miki ended her solid day with a third-place finish. It is her sixth World Cup podium and second this season. It was quite the contrast of competitors in the battle for third. The 20-year-old Miki beat out 50-year-old Claudia Riegler (AUT) in the small final. It was a successful day for the evergreen who just missed out on her 30th career World Cup podium in her 382nd start.

Three of the top five qualifiers lost in the first round of the women’s event. Aside from Hofmeister, usual favourites Julie Zogg (SUI) and Sabine Schoeffman (AUT) both had disappointing days with first round exits.

Hofmeister maintains her lead in the overall standings but Dalmasso has emerged as a legit contender for the crystal globe. The two could be in store for a season-long duel.

PGS Scuol Women’s Results

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 100 points
Jasmin Coratti (ITA) – 80 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 60 points
Claudia Riegler (AUT) – 50 points
Elisa Caffont (ITA) – 45 points

Women’s overall standings after race 4

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) – 329 points
Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 305 points
Tsubaski Miki (JPN) – 176 points
Sabine Schoeffman (AUT) – 170 points
Jasmin Coratti (ITA) – 163 points

On the men’s side, Karl took home the glory once again. He threw down strong run after strong run on the way to his second win of the season and 47th career World Cup podium. Karl seemed comfortable all day.

“I am very honored. Roland Fischnaller came to me after the race and said it was the best run he had seen in the past three years so I am really honored for him to say something like this. You saw the race, it felt really good and this snow and slope in Scuol is like free riding in racing and it was unbelievably good,” Karl said.

Karl took down Tim Mastnak (SLO) in the big final. It is the first podium for Mastnak this season. He is the first non-Italian or Austrian man to make a podium this season on the Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour. It has been a solid start to the season for the Slovenian rider.

“I don’t know, the start of the season was not good for me but I was also riding good so I was staying confident and calm. I knew this moment would come. I am super happy with second place and I know a victory will come,” Mastnak said.

Mastnak took first in qualifying and continued his strong runs to make the final. The slopes of Scuol have been kind to Mastnak. It is his second podium in Scuol. He won here in 2018.

“I have won qualifying here four times, so it was nothing new. I have a good feeling on this hill in these conditions, so I know that I am fast and showed that. I stayed calm for the finals and showed some good runs today,” Mastnak said.

Andreas Prommegger (AUT) showed off his consistency once again. He rounded out the podium. It is his second podium of the season and 53rd of his World Cup career.

It was a bit of a disappointing day for the Italian men who had previously occupied five of the nine podium spots this season. Roland Fischnaller (ITA) settled for fourth. Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) stumbled a bit in the first round and was eliminated early.

Karl increases his lead in the overall standings with the win. He also leads the PGS standings after three races this season.

PGS Scuol Men’s Results: