Hofmeister set to return as World Cup resumes

Jan 09, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

The slope in Scuol as the season resumes after the holiday break. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The presents are opened, the fireworks have all been shot off and the holidays are over for most, including the best snowboarders. Three weeks later, the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returns to action in the Swiss Alps. The riders will reunite for a PGS race this Saturday in Scuol.

The action has delivered so far, as five different men and four different women picking up wins in the first month of the season. It will be a tough challenge in Scuol with difficult weather. The town saw 50cm of snow dumped on it this week. The local organizers are working day in and day out to remove the fresh snow and prepare the course.

Hofmeister is back

The race for the women’s crystal globe just shifted. Four-time overall globe winner Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) is set to return to the start list. The dominant German sat out the first month due to an offseason injury. Her rehab is now complete and she is always a contender.

"The recovery process went better than expected. I was able to get back to my athletic training right after the surgery. So I feel in good shape. But of course, I miss training days on snow. I don’t feel pressure at all. I'm simply happy to be back. I'll do everything I can in the upcoming races to qualify for the Olympics and be competitive,"– Hofmeister said.

Sabine Payer (AUT) will look to extend her PGS lead after picking up two wins and three podiums. She won in Scuol in 2022 and has shown the best form on tour so far this season.

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) trained hard during the break and will be gunning for her second win of the season. The defending crystal globe champion has made three of five podiums so far and is a heavy favorite to add another this Saturday. She came second in Scuol last season and third the year prior.

Her legendary Japanese teammate Tomoka Takeuchi (JPN) is retiring at the end of the year but is not done yet. The 42-year-old placed third in Scuol last season and would love another podium in her final year.

“I like the World Cup in Scuol and it is like a home competition for me. That is why I am always motivated and enjoy the race. I will try my best and see what is possible,”– Takeuchi said.

A snowboarder in an orange vest races downhill, kicking up snow, against a clear blue sky.

Tomoka Takeuchi (JPN) will hope for more success in Scuol one last time. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Even if she does not get the win, she has no regrets in deciding to hang up her boots at year’s end.

“I thought it would be sad to finish my career and thought some part of me would always stay with the Snowboard World Cup. But now, I think I have made the right decision because I have had so many positive experiences as an athlete. All of my family, friends and sponsors stay behind me so that I can have fun with snowboarding and compete without pressure,"– Takeuchi said.

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) and Elisa Caffont (ITA) picked up wins in December and will be leading Team Italy. Zuzana Maderova (CZE) is off to a career-best start with two podiums as well.

Men’s race is wide open

This will be a critical stretch for the men’s race for the PGS and overall crystal globes. Five different men won the first five races. Aaron March (ITA) leads Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) by 35 points in the PGS globe race.

Those two will be forces to be reckoned with on Saturday as is the rest of the dominant Italian team. Team Italy has won all four PGS men’s races thus far this season.

Those from other nations will be gunning for the tricolore. It will be another deep field with contenders in all slots of the bracket.

Dominik Burgstaller (AUT) made his only career podium with a second-place in Scuol last season. He will attempt to rise one more spot after missing some time in December due to injury.

Snowboarder celebrates victory holding flowers and trophy, wearing a helmet and a red Swiss flag, standing on a podium.

Dominik Burgstaller (AUT) on his first career podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

“After my crash in training, I fought back during the Christmas break. There was a lot of pain meds, physio, conditioning and some more medical checkups. Doc gave me the green light and my physio said we should slowly get back to training. So first snow contact was in Bad Gastein on the 2nd and it felt good,”– Burgstaller said.

He knows what it takes to succeed on the Scuol slope.

“The key is to push from start to finish but you have to be smart, it’s a long course on high altitude so you should keep that in mind. I think on the start you have to get used to the rhythm as fast as possible. After the first knoll you should start to accelerate and push it to the max, keep the rhythm till the finish. Then at the last four gates it gets sketchy. You need to invest in the line so you don’t get in trouble. But all in all like our coaches say, clear edge and full gas,”– Burgstaller said.

Burgstaller has competition from another athlete coming back from injury. Previous world champion Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) suffered a tough injury last year. He also skipped the race in Davos this season to focus on PGS. He is now back in action after the break.

“My rehab process was difficult for me, especially the first two months after surgery. When I was able to throw away the crutches, everything moved faster and I recovered my muscle strength really quick. It is still not perfect but I’m thinking positive and I feel ready to fight,”– Kwiatkowski said.

He has three podiums in Scuol including a win in 2023. That familiarity gives him an edge despite the injury.

“My key is to get my feeling from years ago when I was sitting on the podium in Scuol. This is my favourite World Cup spot. I was calm and self-confident those times. I’m trying to reach that feeling again,”– Kwiatkowski said.

Tim Mastnak (SLO) also knows Scuol well. He has three podiums there with the last coming in 2024.

“The race in Scuol is my favorite and also the most successful one for me. Since the course isn’t very long, every single turn really matters, and the changes in terrain from flat to steep are the key points of the course,”– Mastnak said.

It will be a thrilling battle as the athletes look to snag points and build momentum for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics next month.