Fischnaller leads Italian men podium sweep, Payer continues hot start

Dec 18, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

Roland Fischnaller celebrates the win. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Another Italian Dolomite setting, another dramatic race on the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup tour. The fog rolled in but it could not dim the fast-paced action of Parallel Giant Slalom racing on Thursday. Sabine Payer (AUT) and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) shone the brightest through the haze as they walked away winners.

Fischnaller leads Italian podium sweep

The Italian men finally got their podium sweep they seemed destined for this season. However, the leader of the triumvirate was a bit surprising. Roland Fischnaller, 45, topped the podium in his 160th career World Cup PGS start. He is the fourth different Italian man to win this season.

His run started early in a headliner battle of legends in the first round. Fischnaller used his home snow advantage to beat 40-year-old Benjamin Karl (AUT) in the first round. Karl had two-second place finishes already this season.

He then went on to take out another Austrian in Alexander Payer (AUT) before defeating two younger teammates on the way to his win. It is his 13th career PGS win and 24th overall. It is the third time he is victorious in Carezza.

“We trained here last week and I was only riding half the slope because of my injury so it was not easy. But I had good timing and I was fast. Today is very special because it could be my last race in Carezza and that gave me a lot of energy. I found a very good feeling and am super happy,”– Fischnaller said.

Rounding out the Italian podium was Aaron March (ITA) in second. His hot start to the season continues after a third in Mylin and a win in Cortina last week. March moves into first in the overall and PGS standings and will wear the yellow bib in the next race. It is his 24th career podium.

“It was a great race. This slope, I have done it a lot of times but, never this well or on the podium. Today, I was not feeling super good in the beginning but in the end I made good runs and this was a great result,”– March said.

Mirko Felicetti (ITA) embraces his father. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Winning the small final was Mirko Felicetti (ITA). It is his second podium of the season and 14th of his career.

“It was tricky against Andy Prommegger. He is always fast. I made some mistakes in the qualifying but they made some changes to the gates. The feeling was good, especially on the red course. I am very happy with my race,”– Felicetti said.

In the stunner of the day, Maurizio Bormolini’s (ITA) podium streak was ended as Andreas Prommegger (AUT) edged him out in the first round of the knockout stage. The veteran leaned on his experience for a late push to take the win and send the tour leader home early.

Prommegger continued to wreak havoc against the home side with a win against Edwin Coratti (ITA) in the quarterfinals.

Last year’s Carezza winner Radoslav Yankov (BUL) struggled on the day, failing to qualify for the knockout rounds. Tim Mastnak (SLO) could not repeat his Carezza success from a year ago as well. He came second here last season but suffered a DNF in round one this time around.

Unlike his teammates, Daniele Bagozza (ITA) had no luck on home snow with a first round loss.

Payer proves she is the one to beat

It was all chalk in the women’s race as the top four qualifiers made the semifinals and then the drama came.

Sabine Payer (AUT) continued her blazing hot start with her second win and third podium in a row. It was her first career win in Carezza and 12th career individual victory.

Payer took down Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) in a close match in the big final.

“It was a big fight. I love fighting with her, we have done it for years now. It was amazing but very tough. Carezza is always difficult, I never have good runs here but am so happy that today it worked out,” – Payer said.

Aleksandra Krol-Walas, Sabine Payer and Tsubaki Miki on the podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Despite her dominance so far, Payer was shocked at the result.

“I never expected to win or even podium at Carezza. It is one of the toughest slopes. I think it is the most challenging course in the World Cup. I am so happy that I somehow managed to be on the top of the podium,”– Payer said.

Krol-Walas pulled off a big upset in the semifinals with a win against Tsubaki Miki (JPN). It is the first podium of the season for the veteran Krol-Walas. It is the third time she finished second in Carezza.

“Yeah it is second place again. I always say second is not bad. I was counting on first a little bit, I did my best but so did Sabine. I am very happy with it,”– Krol-Walas said.

She will not race in the next race on Saturday.

Miki found redemption with a win in the small final. This gives her two podiums this season and 25 in her career. Zuzana Maderova (CZE) continued her run of form with a fourth-place finish.

Aleksandra Krol-Walas in action at Carezza. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

“It was a tough race. The last run was my first time on the red course, which was a little scary. I was against Zuzana (Maderova) who I raced against in training a lot. It was fun in the end,”– Miki said.

Much like her male counterpart from a year ago, last year’s Carezza winner Jasmin Coratti (ITA) struggled, falling to her teammate Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) in the first knockout round. The other Italian women did not fare much better. Dalmasso and Elisa Caffont (ITA) were knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, veteran Julie Zogg (SUI) was disqualified in qualifying.

WOMEN’S PGS STANDINGS

Sabine Payer (AUT) - 296 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) - 245 points
Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) - 211 points
Zuzana Maderova (CZE) - 160 points
Elisa Caffont (ITA) - 197 points

MEN’S PGS STANDINGS

Aaron March (ITA) - 285 points
Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) - 249 points
Benjamin Karl (AUT) - 211 points
Mirko Felicetti (ITA) - 210 points
Stefan Baumeister (GER) - 150 points

It will be a quick turn around as the tour moves to Davos, Switzerland for the first PSL race of the season. A tough challenge as riders have been focused on PGS racing for the first month of the season. It will be the last event before the holiday break.