Hofmeister back on top after injury while Fischnaller ages like fine wine

Jan 10, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister throws a fist in triumph after her win. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was tough, snowy conditions in Scuol on Saturday as the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returned to action.

Before the race, the athletes and spectators took part in a moment of silence to honor those lost in the fire tragedy of Crans-Montana. After the remembrance event, the riders took to the start gate.

The blue course seemed to have a slight advantage early on. Racers on the blue side went 12-4 in the first round.

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister shreds past a gate on her way to victory. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Romana Theresia Hofmeister (GER) rode the blue course all the way to a massive return triumph. On the men’s side, Roland Fischnaller (ITA) proved age is just a number once again.

Hofmeister back with a bang

The day belonged to Romana Theresia Hofmeister (GER) as she proved she is back and better than ever. The four-time overall champion sat out the first portion of the season rehabbing a tough offseason injury.

Scuol was her first race back but it was hard to tell. Hofmeister showed off her vintage speed and cruised to victory, smiling in disbelief after the win.

“I cannot believe this right now. I am so happy, I enjoyed every run. It is really crazy. It was an intense rehab the past three months. Now I am back on the podium, this is crazy,”– Hofmeister said.

With the win Hofmeister qualified within the German team for the Milano Cortina Olympic Games next month despite only one race under her belt. She took bronze at the Olympics in 2018 and fifth in 2022.

It is her 21st PGS World Cup victory and 30th overall. It is the second time she is victorious in Scuol.

“What a comeback. I am a bit speechless. It is so nice to be back doing what I love. My ankle is good and pain-free. I am back on the top and just happy. I have the qualification for the Olympics with Melanie, so happy," – Hofmeister said.

She will continue on the tour and is expected to start in Bad Gastein.

Hofmeister’s speed was too much for Elisa Caffont (ITA) in the big final. Caffont settled for second, a great result. It is her sixth individual World Cup podium and second in a row after the win in Davos.

“Today Ramona was stronger. Now we have another one that is so strong on the tour. But I am really happy with the second. The conditions were not easy, there were a lot of bumps and poor visibility,”– Caffont said.

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister and Melanie Hochreiter celebrate with the German team. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was a big day for the Germans. Rounding out the podium was Hofmeister’s teammate Melanie Hochreiter (GER), who flashed a huge smile after winning the small final. It is just her second individual World Cup podium after a third-place finish in 2022 at Simonhohe.

“I was happy enjoying the last run. The day was really good and I am so happy,”– Hochreiter said.

Sabine Payer rode hard but slid out of the small final due to an ankle injury.Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

There was plenty of action behind the podium. PGS leader Sabine Payer (AUT) settled for fourth place after an injury caused her to pull off the course in the small final. She might have won the most exciting race of the day on the women’s side with a mighty comeback to eliminate last year’s globe winner Tsubaki Miki (JPN) in the quarterfinals.

Miki (JPN) started her day with a win against her legendary teammate Tomoka Takeuchi (JPN). The two made the podium in Scuol last season, the first ever double podium for Japan.

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA), Zuzana Maderova (CZE), and Ladina Caviezel (SUI) did not qualify for the finals. Julie Zogg (SUI) could not get it done in front of her home fans as she lost in knockout round one.

Fischnaller is the ageless wonder

There were plenty of big names out early on the men’s side. Through the snowy fog, it was Roland Fischnaller (ITA) who came out on top.

“Scuol was always very difficult for me. I am so happy because that was one of the toughest races in my career. I always had to be on the red course, which was very difficult. This is 99.9% my last Scuol and I never had a good result here, so I am very happy,”– Fischnaller said.

Roland FIschnaller tops the podium ahead of Mirko Felicetti (left) and Tim Mastnak (right). Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The win gives Fischnaller 25 World Cup wins and 55 podiums. The 45-year-old will sit out Bad Gastein but had plenty of motivation with his family in attendance today in Scuol.

“Of course they give an extra boost, especially my daughter. She always writes me a letter saying ‘it would be nice if you, but you have to win’. So that gives me extra energy,”– Fischnaller said.

Fischnaller in another close battle in Scuol. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was an all Italian affair in the big final as Fischnaller beat Mirko Felicetti (ITA). Italian men have taken 13 of 18 podium spots so far this season. It is the 15th career world cup podium for Felicetti.

“I think it was a very fast (big final), I gave 100 percent for sure. The last part, Fischnaller was just a bit faster, but I am happy,”– Felicetti said.

Tim Mastnak (SLO) took the win in the small final for yet another successful result in Scuol.

“I am lucky that I had a semi good run on the red course. On the top it was hard to ride. The bottom part was good so I am happy to get third place. This venue is my favorite and my most successful one. It is my fourth podium here. I really like this slope,”– Mastnak said.

It was Mastnak’s first podium of the season and 12th of his career. Four of those came at Scuol. Radoslav Yankov (BUL) posted the fastest qualifying time and had a solid day, finishing in fourth.

The tough conditions resulted in two crashes on the men’s side with Andreas Prommegger (AUT) and Elias Huber (GER) suffering disqualifications after falls that saw them clip their opponents.

Tim Mastnak battles teammate Zan Kosir in one of many teammate matchups in Scuol. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Bad weather and a tough course also swallowed up a large group of contenders in qualifying. Tour leaders Aaron March (ITA) and Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) failed to make the knockout rounds.

Benjamin Karl (AUT) went out in round one.

World champion Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) suffered the same fate. Dominik Burgstaller (AUT) came second in Scuol last season but just missed the knockout finals this time around. Stefan Baumeister (GER), Arvid Auner (AUT) and Alexander Payer (AUT) also missed the final rounds.

The tour rolls on with two PSL races in Bad Gastein on January 13 and 14. The action will be electric under the lights for the night event.