World Cup in Lenk: Sanctions, podium firsts, and team events on the Swiss slopes

In the third stop of the FIS Para Snowboard World Cup, athletes contested Cross races both individually and in teams in Lenk, Switzerland.

The event broke new ground, implementing the yellow and red card system – similar to that in football – for the very first time in the Para discipline. With several athletes racing alongside each other, this was put in place to avoid accidents or participants gaining an unfair advantage.

In Snowboard Cross, punishable actions are split into three categories: contact from behind or the side, blocking or interference with the body, and the third covers line deviations such as drastic changes of direction.

Should the action not lead to a crash or affect the result, a warning will be issued. If it does, the athlete will be "Ranked as Last" (RAL) or receives a yellow card and will be RAL in their heat, preventing them from advancing. If an incident occurs, where an athlete is taken out purely by accident, no sanction occurs.

Two warnings lead to a yellow card, but that stands for the whole season meaning that in the event of a second yellow card, an athlete will be handed a red card and banned from the next race in the same level of competition.

PERATHONER DOMINATES; PODIUM FIRST FOR NADREAU

In the men’s LL2 category, it comes as little surprise that Emanuel Perathoner (ITA) continued to dominate the standings. In the six races contested in this season’s World Cup so far, including the two in Lenk, Perathoner has yet to finish below first. His performances across two racing days saw the Italian clinch another two gold medals, maintaining his marvelous form on the snow.

Perathoner’s long-time rival Ben Tudhope was unable finish higher than 5^th place, being Ranked as Last in race one. 

In the unchanged second spot was Keith Gabel of the USA, the 41-year-old earning a spot on the podium in back-to-back races. It marks his first medaled outings of the 2025/26 season so far.

Third was the only spot that saw any variation in this race. Zach Miller (USA) earned his fourth podium finish of the current campaign in the second race. But the big story came from race one, where Philippe Nadreau (CAN) finished in a World Cup top three for the first time in his career.

“It felt like a dream coming through; I asked for it and it came through,” the 29-year-old said. “Over three years ago, I was in my hospital bed after learning I was going to get amputated. I asked my dad to show me a video of Para Snowboarding, and it gave me the motivation and the purpose to get on a Paralympic quest.

“I really pushed hard this summer to train and change some life habits. I want to thank my coaches, my family, and my friends for supporting me, and all the staff at Team Canada for making it possible.

“It’s hard to describe the satisfaction that goes with this victory.”

STRONG SHOWING FOR CHINA IN UL

China enjoyed a commanding showing across the board during this stop of the World Cup, with some of their best results coming in the men’s UL category. In race one, they occupied the top spots, Lijia Ji (CHN) coming in first for his second podium of the season, but first gold. Just behind him was compatriot Yiqi Zhang (CHN). It was the first World Cup podium of the 21-year-old’s career, pipping Switzerland’s Aron Fahrni who finished third.

Race two was the turn of Pengyao Wang (CHN), who came from eighth in the first race to clinching gold. It marked his third podium of the current campaign. Italy’s Jacopo Luchini came in at second, which is his best result of the 25/26 term so far, while Fahrni held onto the third spot.

KATE DELSON CONTINUES TO RISE

Kate Delson (USA) is continuing her meteoric rise to the top, delivering yet another two impressive results in the Swiss stop.

After finishing behind the experienced Cécile Hernandez (FRA) in race one and just ahead of Yanhong Geng (CHN) in the women’s LL1/LL2 category, Delson improved on her initial outing by winning her second gold of the season in race two. The 20-year-old has surpassed her best-ever performance in a World Cup with her fifth podium finish of 25/26, bettering last year’s tally of four.

Similar to Delson, Geng improved on her first race to pick up silver in the second, the 21-year-old making a World Cup podium for the first time since 2022. Hernandez was pushed down to third in the second race, her first bronze of the season.

OGURI, WU WIN MEN’S LL1 GOLD

In the men’s LL1 category, Daichi Oguri (JPN) was crowned the winner of the first race, collecting the fifth World Cup gold of his career. The 45-year-old has been on the podium twice this season, including a bronze medal finish in January.

The second day of racing marked a momentous occasion for Zhongwei Wu (CHN), who won the first World Cup gold medal of his career, and sixth medal overall. He earned his first podium finish of the season earlier this month, carrying that form into Lenk.

Second and third remained unchanged in this event, occupied by Noah Elliott (USA) and Chris Vos (NED) respectively.

DOUBLE FOR IDIAKEZ LOPEZ

It was another golden double for Spain’s Irati Idiakez Lopez in the women’s UL category, racing uncontested in both outings.

The 29-year-old now has six podium finishes from six this term, these two races in Lenk make up her fourth and fifth golds, equaling her best tally from last season.

CHINA DOMINATE MIXED TEAM

Rounding off what was a real showcase of their up-and-coming status in Para snow sports, China dominated the mixed team event.

While it was an even big final, two teams from the United States up against two from China, it was the latter who had both on the podium at the end of the race.

Yanhong Geng and Yonggang Zhu were the gold medal winners, while Kate Delson and Joe Pleban (USA) came in second and Xinyu Wang and Zihao Jiang (CHN) were third.

NEXT STOP

The end of this month will see athletes head to North America for the penultimate stop of the World Cup before Milano Cortina in March. Big White will host competitors, for more Snowboard Cross action.