Davos delivers drama as Auner dominates and Caffont breaks through

Dec 20, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

Elisa Caffont celebrates her first win. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The Swiss crowd in Davos was rocking for the first PSL race of the 2025-26 Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup. It was a sunny day with good conditions as the snowboarders attacked the tight turns of the course. There were photo finishes and jury’s decisions highlighting the intense action as Elisa Caffont (ITA) broke through and Arvid Auner (AUT) showed off his PSL mastery.

The setting in Davos was picturesque and a rollicking event with 4000 in attendance. The organization held multiple concerts around the sporting event. They also set up a kid-friendly area including a mini course with gates for the little ones to test out a Snowboard Alpine slope. FIS Sport and Event Director Sandra Spitz was in attendance as was FIS CEO Urs Lehmann.

“This event in Davos is a showcase of just how spectacular Snowboard Alpine can be: a slope in a central location with easy access to the public, great atmosphere, thrilling head-to-head races. You really can’t ask for more from a snow sports event,"– Lehmann said.

The incredible crowd erupts in Davos as Dario Caviezel wins the round. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Annamari Dancha races down the slope for her best World Cup result. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

A finger is just enough

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) looked to be on the way to another career win but was disqualified after winning her semifinal heat. She was sent down to the small final creating a big opportunity in the big final.

Zuzana Maderova (CZE) had a run of form and luck as she skated through to the big final. Elisa Caffont (ITA) benefitted from Miki’s disqualification in the semifinals to set up a matchup of two rising stars who had never won a World Cup race.

It was a battle until the end that was the epitome of a photo finish. Both riders waited in anticipation as the jury reviewed who crossed first. After an eternity the image flashed and Caffont won by the length of a finger. She screamed out in joy and fell to her knees for her first World Cup victory in her 70th start.

“The final run with Zuzana was crazy. It was really fun and I am really happy to finally win. Today was not easy competing with these two girls. This is for my grandfather. He is special to me. It is my first and for him even more special,”– Caffont said.

The first career victory deserves a celebration.

“I saw some friends from Livigno so for sure now we will have a party, then after Christmas we will have some training,”– Caffont said.

Maderova settled for second and continued her career best season. The young Czech rider has finished no worse than fourth in all five races this season including three podiums.

“I am super happy with second place. I don’t think I could have gone any faster, I pushed as hard as I could. I am happy with it and congrats to Elisa. The course is super straight which I like. It was hard but grippy so it was super good,”– Maderova said.

Urs Lehmann gives Aaron March his trophy on the podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Miki bounced back to take the small final to reach her 26th career World Cup podium. Annamari Dancha (UKR) came fourth for her best World Cup career result in her 156th start. It was a bit disappointing for Miki.

“To be honest, I am so frustrated today. I really wanted to get the victory here like last year. Today the feeling on the board was so nice. I thought I was in the final but then I had a DQ, so I want to train more for the next races,”– Miki said.

The headliner matchup of the day was a quarterfinal bout of the best of the best. Miki showed off her technical skill to edge out Sabine Payer (AUT). Payer was on fire with two wins and three podiums in a row coming in.

The Swiss hopes were dashed early. Julie Zogg (SUI) lost by a mere 0.03 seconds in the first round to Gloria Klotnik (SLO). Last year’s podium finisher Flurina Neva Baetschi (SUI) also fell in the first round after a disqualification.

Last year’s second-place finisher Michelle Dekker (NED) went down in the first round as well.

Jasmin Coratti (ITA) faced a tough draw and could not overcome Miki in the first round. Her teammate Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) posted a DNF in round two.

There is a new king of Davos

Arvid Auner (AUT) shut down the home crowd's hopes, edging out Dario Caviezel (SUI) in the semifinals. Auner went on to show off his PSL prowess as he took the big final to defend his Davos title.

The defending PSL Globe winner and Davos champion posted the fastest qualifying time and was unbeatable from the jump.

“Racing here in Davos is a bit difficult to go over the roller. You have to be focused and have a plan but look at this slope, it is so freaking nice. It was great, I did my riding and the course was set for me. I can only do my best and that is what I did today,”– Auner said.

Arvid Auner on his way to another win in Davos. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Auner now has four individual World Cup wins. Even sickness could not hold Auner back from the podium summit.

“Yesterday I was comfortable enough to ride but everything between the rides felt like slow motion, I was really out of energy. For the six runs, I knew I could push through and I did,”– Auner said.

Auner atop the men's podium in Davos. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Rounding out the podium was Gabriel Messner (ITA) in second. It is his first podium of the season.

“Arvid is a good friend and I knew I had to give 100 percent. I thought I was in the small final but then it changed. Dario (Caviezel) told me no, you're in the big final. So I knew Arvid, we raced many times and are good friends. It was a good run for me but today he was a little bit faster,”– Messner said.

Dario Caviezel (SUI) races on home snow. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Elsewhere, the disqualifications kept coming as Aaron March (ITA) was ruled to have run over a gate after his semifinal win. He was forced to the small final. March bounced back to win the small final and take third. It is his fourth podium of the season as he extends his orange bib lead.

He did not mind the disqualification too much.

“I knew I was close. Unfortunately they said no, it was not correct (laughs). It is okay you have to push and stay on the limits. The third place is exciting and very nice for me going into the Christmas break,”– March said.

Caviezel could not deliver for the home crowd as he made one small mistake and missed a gate in the small final finishing fourth.

Last year’s overall champion Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) was easing through until a DNF in the quarterfinals as he lost to his teammate Gabriel Messner (ITA).

Benjamin Karl (AUT) could not overcome the Swiss crowd as he lost to Dario Caviezel (SUI) in a photo finish in round one. Defending PSL world champion Tervel Zamfirov (BUL) missed a gate and suffered a DNF in round one.

It was not an easy day in qualifying. Many big names on the men’s side did not progress to the knockout rounds. Roland Fischnaller (ITA) was coming off a win but failed to qualify. Daniele Bagozza (ITA) won in Davos in 2023 but was the first one out of the qualifying top 16. Alexander Payer (AUT), Edwin Coratti (ITA), Mirko Felicetti (ITA), Andreas Prommegger (AUT) and Stefan Baumeister (GER) all missed the knockout stages.