Folgaria hosts the Snowboard Alpine Junior World Championships this weekend

The World Cup circuit may be over but now it is time for the FIS Snowboard Alpine Junior World Championships 2026 to take center stage. It will be the chance for the young guns to add some hardware to their incredible seasons and spark their next career step towards chasing crystal globes. 

The scenic resort of Folgaria, Italy will host the festivities. 

There will be three action-packed days of racing. Due to snowy conditions the schedule has shifted a bit. 

The action will begin on March 27 with the mixed team event. One man and one woman from the same country will pair up in a timed race. The men will ride down first, with the winner setting the time advantage for their partner. 

The men and women will then vie for the junior world title in parallel giant slalom race on March 28. They will then take on the more technical parallel slalom course for a chance at a world championship in PSL racing on March 29.

Tervel Zamfirov (BUL) swept both PGS and PSL races last season. Fortunately, for this year’s field, he is not on the start list. 

Tommy Rabanser (ITA) finished second in both races last year. He will be the one to beat this time around in Folgaria. He will have the home crowd on his side. He is the highest-ranked athlete at these junior world championships, finishing 28th in the overall World Cup standings. 

He will have to fend off a field of worthy competitors. 

Krystof Minarik (CZE) finished third in PGS at the 2025 junior worlds and will be hungry for gold this time around. He has 36 World Cup starts under his belt, with a career-best finish of 11th. 

Walker Overstake (USA) is another one to watch. He will be a podium favorite as one of the top-ranked entries. He finished the overall World Cup standings in 35th. He also finished fourth in a World Cup PGS race in Val St. Come just a few weeks ago.

On the women’s side, last year’s top finishers in PGS, Aurelie Moisan (CAN) and Malena Zamfirova (BUL), are not on the start list. 

That opens up the door for Xenia von Siebenthal (SUI) as the favorite. The Swiss athlete already has three junior world championship podiums under her belt, including winning the PSL races in 2023 and 2025. She is currently 30th in the world and finished 24th in the overall World Cup standings. 

Hot on her heels will be Mathilda Scheid (GER). The German finished 23rd in the World Cup standings this season. Her season-best finish was 10th. 

Her teammate Hannah Gunkel (GER) will also be in the podium hunt. She is currently 37th in FIS rankings. 

Best of luck to all of the young athletes as they go for glory to close the season. Check the full results and schedule for the event HERE.