Fahrni and Delson dominate at Big White Para SBX World Cup

The penultimate stop of the FIS Para Snowboard World Cup took place at Big White (CAN) last weekend with Snowboard Cross races on consecutive days in British Columbia.

In the men’s Upper Limb category, Aron Fahrni (SUI) claimed two wins out of two to clinch the Snowboard Cross globe. Fahrni trailed Jacopo Luchini by five points going into the weekend, but the Italian had to settle for second place on both occasions. James Barnes-Miller (GBR) was third on Saturday but did not start on Sunday with Dean van Kooij (NED) achieving his second career World Cup podium finish in the Briton’s absence.

Fahrni has a near-unassailable lead of 161 points in the overall standings with two Banked Slaloms to come next weekend. The 27-year-old leads the Banked Slalom standings by over 50 points from Pengyao Wang, but the Chinese may not compete in the season finale in Steamboat (USA).

In the men’s Lower Limb 1, Tyler Turner (CAN) made a winning return to the hill where he won the Snowboard Cross world title last March. The 37-year-old beat Noah Elliott (USA) into second place on Saturday with another American, Mike Schultz, third.

On Sunday, Elliott reversed the placings as he clinched both the Snowboard Cross and overall titles. Turner was second ahead of Schultz with just six points separating the pair in the overall standings. However, Elliott is well clear of his rivals and will bid to extend his perfect season in Banked Slalom next weekend.

Surprise win for Von Gruenigen as Perathoner falters

Emanuel Perathoner (ITA) suffered his first defeat in over a year in Saturday’s Lower Limb 2. Yet another victory looked on the cards for the 39-year-old two-time Winter Olympian, but he found trouble in the final and finished down in fourth. That allowed Fabrice Von Gruenigen to claim his first World Cup win ahead of Ben Tudhope (AUS) and Zach Miller (USA).

Normal service was resumed on Sunday as Perathoner - who is due to compete in his first Winter Paralympics next month - returned to the top of the podium. Rapolas Micevicius (LTU) took second to secure his first World Cup podium finish with Von Gruenigen in third. The Italian will bid for a perfect Banked Slalom season next weekend having already clinched all three Crystal Globes.

Delson sweeps the board

There were just two women’s individual races on the weekend with the Upper Limb contests cancelled. In the Lower Limb class, Kate Delson (USA) maintained her stellar Snowboard Cross form with a double triumph at Big White. The 20-year-old got the better of teammate Brenna Huckaby Clegg on Saturday with Sandrine Hamel (CAN) taking third.

On Sunday, Clegg could only manage fourth in the final as Delson took victory from another American, Jaclyn Hamwey, who made a World Cup podium for the first time. Hamel again rounded out the top three. Delson’s double saw her clinch both the Lower Limb Snowboard Cross and overall titles, and she trails Cecile Hernandez (FRA) by just four points in the Banked Slalom standings.

Delson then paired up with Joe Pleban to take the Mixed Team event on Monday ahead of Clegg and Noah Elliott. It was a United States 1-2-3 with Dennae Russell and Zach Miller taking third ahead of Canada’s Hamel and Chase Jacob Nicklin.

The 2025-26 Para Snowboard season draws to a close next weekend with two Banked Slaloms at Steamboat deciding the destiny of the Crystal Globes, as well as offering hints as to who will be contending for medals at next month’s Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games.