Bormolini sweeps in Krynica while Payer finds glory again

Mar 01, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Maurizio Bormolini celebrates his second win of the weekend. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was another sunny day on the slopes of Krynica. The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returned for the second PGS race of the weekend at the Polish site. There were some familiar faces on top of the podium once again.

Bormolini goes back-to-back

On the men’s side, Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) put together another spectacular day as he swept the weekend’s races. The win extended the Italian’s lead in the overall and PGS standings. It was all looking up for Bormolini this weekend.

“I just tried to enjoy everything. I was lucky because everything went perfectly,”– Bormolini said.

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The win was his fourth of the season and 11th of his career. It was a great bounce-back for the Italian after a disappointing Olympic finish.

“In the finals, the feeling was really nice. I tried to push with everything I had, and the result showed that,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini and Dalmasso celebrate with team Italy. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Bormolini edged past Stefan Baumeister (GER) in the big final. The German now has 18 career World Cup podiums.

Dario Caviezel (SUI) took the final podium spot with a win in the small final. It was his first podium of the season and 11th individual career podium.

“I struggled a bit in the finals. I did not find the perfect line. It was a tough race but I managed to make the top three, and I am super happy,” – Caviezel said.

Dario Caviezel made his first podium of the season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Olympic champion Benjamin Karl (AUT) was bested by Bormolini (ITA) once again in the semifinals. Karl settled for fourth.

Olympic bronze medalist Tervel Zamfirov (BUL) could not keep up with Bormolini, and was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Arnaud Gaudet (CAN) made the podium on day one but went home after the quarterfinals in Sunday’s race. Sangho Lee (KOR) also lost in the quarterfinals after a podium finish yesterday. He was the fastest in the qualification runs.

Roland Fischnaller (ITA) came into the weekend with the PGS lead but suffered a DNF in round one.

Alexander Payer (AUT), Aaron March (ITA), and Andreas Prommegger (AUT) were knocked out in round one.

Gabriel Messner (ITA), Arvid Auner (AUT), Tim Mastnak (SLO), Fabian Obmann (AUT), Sangkyum Kim (KOR), and Edwin Coratti (ITA) all missed out on qualifying for the knockout rounds.

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Payer tops the podium after tight battle

Olympic silver medalist Sabine Payer (AUT) took the top spot on the women’s side. Payer fought off a valiant effort from bronze medalist Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) in the big final.

“I had little mistakes, I think Lucia did too. We fought until the end. I had the advantage at the last gate. The blue course was a bit easier. I am so happy that I used that advantage,”– Payer said.

Sabine Payer raises arms in triumphant victory. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was the third win of the season for Payer. She is putting together a solid season despite missing some time with an ankle injury. Payer thrived with the conditions on the day.

“Today was way better than yesterday. It was a bit easier than yesterday. We had spring conditions today, which I like. The course setting was much nicer, more round and more turns, I like it to carve,”– Payer said.

Lucia Dalmasso races against Elisa Caffont in Krynica. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Dalmasso took second. It was her third individual podium of the season and ninth of her career.

“In the final, the conditions were so good. I preferred the red course and was happy with today’s result,”– Dalmasso said.

It was a tough battle in the semifinal as Malena Zamfirova (BUL) bested veteran Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER). Hofmeister settled for fourth after a DNF in the small final, she just missed a second straight podium.

The third-place finish for Zamfirova marks the second podium of the season for the youngster. It is just her third ever World Cup podium, the first coming in Krynica last season. She went into the small final with a lot of confidence.

“I didn’t know who I was racing against in the small final. I asked my dad here, do you know which girl I am racing against? He was like, I don’t know and I don’t care, you will win, believe in yourself. So I was like, okay, if you say so. He is my coach and my dad and said I will win so I was like okay then!”– Zamfirova said.

Tsubaki Miki and Maurizio Bormolini lead the PGS standings. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Zuzana Maderova (CZE) shockingly missed the finals after failing to qualify. The Olympic champion made the big final just a day ago.

Some softer snow conditions made things tricky early on. Elisa Caffont (ITA) and Jasmin Coratti (ITA) were both eliminated in round one.

Yesterday’s winner Tsubaki Miki (JPN) was upset in round one in the stunner of the day. Miki was ousted by Melanie Hochreiter (GER). The German went out in the next round.

Elsewhwre, it was a set of veterans knocked out in the quarterfinals with Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL), Ladina Caviezel (SUI), and Julie Zogg (SUI).

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup continues next weekend with the circuit debut of Spindleruv Mlyn in Czechia. There will be one parallel slalom race on March 7, the race scheduled for March 8 was cancelled.