Hofmeister, Caviezel top podium while Miki, Bormolini clinch PGS globes

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup trekked to North America for the finale of the parallel giant slalom campaign. It was difficult conditions in Val St. Come, Canada with heavy snow coming down overnight. The athletes still delivered thrilling races all day long. 

In the end it was Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) reclaiming the top of the podium while Dario Caviezel (SUI) won his first race of the season. 

Hofmeister back on top, Miki clinches the globe

It was a dramatic day on the women’s side as Tsubaki Miki (JPN) came in with a sizable lead for the PGS crystal globe race. Miki had another strong day running all the way to the big final.

She met a familiar foe in the big final, Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER). The two have faced off in many finals over the years, this time it was Hofmeister taking the win. 

The win is Hofmeister’s third win and fifth podium of the season after missing the first month due to injury. She now has 33 World Cup victories in her storied career. Hofmeister (GER) started the knockout rounds with a photo-finish win in round one against Michelle Dekker (NED). 

She then ran through the brackets and used a late charge to sneak past Miki, going all out to the line. It is her third straight win at Val St. Come after sweeping last season’s races.

Miki still had a solid day despite the loss. It is her fourth podium in the past five races. She also did enough to clinch the PGS crystal globe for the second consecutive year. Miki is not ready to celebrate just yet.

Miki also clinched the overall title for the second straight season as she sits more than 200 points clear of Elisa Caffont (ITA). 

Rounding out the podium was Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) who won the small final. It was her fourth podium of the season, something she hopes to repeat on Sunday.

Flurina Neva Baetschi (SUI) ended the day in fourth after a strong performance. 

Coming into the day Sabine Payer (AUT) and Caffont were chasing an outside shot at the PGS globe. Unfortunately, they were matched up against each other in the first round with Payer edging out the Italian, eliminating any hopes for Caffont. 

Payer then saw her chances at the PGS globe diminish after losing to Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) in the quarterfinals.

Olympic champion Zuzana Maderova (CZE) made a big mistake on an early gate and did not finish her quarterfinal matchup. She will try for her first World Cup win once again on Sunday. 

Aurelie Moisan (CAN) could not use the home crowd to her advantage as she was eliminated in the first knockout round. Her teammate Kaylie Buck (CAN) made it to the quarterfinals before suffering a DNF. 

The Kizuka sisters - Kaiya, Mika, and Akina (USA) - made history by being the first set of three siblings to compete in the same snowboard Alpine World Cup event. All three did not qualify in the top 16 to advance to the finals.

Caviezel breaks through and Bormolini grabs the globe

On the men’s side, it was a day full of shocking results. In the end, Caviezel stood above the rest for his first win of the season and fourth of his career.

It was a tough race for Caviezel, especially in the big final.

Although he came up short on the day, Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) still had something to smile about. 

Bormolini (ITA) was cruising after qualifying in first. However, he was edged out in the quarterfinals. With the result though, he clinched his second consecutive PGS crystal globe.

Bormolini is ready to spray some champagne, or perhaps some Canadian whiskey when he gets his globe after Sunday’s race.

Bormolini also holds a 212-point advantage in the overall standings, ahead of Aaron March (ITA), which means he clinched his second straight overall title as well. 

Aside from the winners on the day, a few others had reasons to celebrate. 

Edwin Coratti (ITA) finished second. It was his 23rd career podium, but this one was a long time coming.

Rounding out the podium was Arnaud Gaudet (CAN), who enjoyed the home snow advantage.

It is the Canadian’s third podium of the season. In the small final, he edged out Walker Overstake (USA), who was also jubilant on the day. 

Overstake had his career-best performance. The 19-year-old advanced to the semifinals, finishing fourth. It is his best individual World Cup finish, beating his previous best of 26th. 

Elsewhere, Daniele Bagozza (ITA) and Gabriel Messner (ITA) were also eliminated in the quarterfinals. 

Benjamin Karl (AUT) already claimed another Olympic gold medal and several career achievements this season. He came in 80 points behind Bormolini for the PGS globe, but was eliminated in the first knockout round and is now 101 points behind Bormolini.

Olympic silver medalist Sangkyum Kim (KOR) was also eliminated in the first knockout round.

Elias Huber (GER) won in Val St. Come last season but did not qualify for the finals this time around. Zan Kosir (SLO) also won in Val St. Come last season and qualified in fourth. However, he was eliminated by 0.02 seconds in the first round by Overstake. 

March was hanging around the PGS standings, coming in 107 points behind Bormolini. However, his chances at the title were dashed when he lost in the first knockout round. 

There were other big names who did not qualify for the knockout rounds as well. Roland Fischnaller (ITA) had an outside shot at the PGS globe but he suffered a DNF in qualifying. 

Arvid Auner (AUT), Andreas Prommegger (AUT), Radoslav Yankov (BUL), and Fabian Obmann (AUT) were among the unlucky racers to miss out on the knockout rounds. 

The athletes will hit the same slope on Sunday for the final PGS race of the season. The qualifications will be at 9:00 local time (14:00 CET) and the finals will start at 13:00 local time (18:00 CET).

QUICK LINKS

• Stats to Know

• Video Highlights

• Val St. Come Results and Start Lists

• Women's Overall Standings 2025-26

• Men's Overall Standings 2025-26