It was all Italy as Snowboard Alpine opens season in China

Dec 06, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup season is officially under way after the world’s best took to the slopes of Mylin, China for the opening event of the season. The men and women competed under the bright China sun in a thrilling PGS race to decide the first podium of the season.

The Italians brought it from the jump and all the way until the end taking both victories on day one.

Dalmasso dominates on day one

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) strung together strong performances to top the podium. She took down her Italian teammate Elisa Caffont (ITA) in the big final. A familiar battle for the two.

“We do some runs together in training so the final was like a training. I did what I wanted to do and what I do in training and it was perfect,"– Dalmasso said.

The win is the first for anyone this season and the third individual World Cup victory for Dalmasso. She seems to enjoy the trip to the Eastern hemisphere after winning the PGS race in Yanqing last season. She now has 10 career World Cup podiums.

Caffont settled for second, already besting her best finish of any race last season (third in Rogla). It is her fourth World Cup podium. The battling amongst the Italian team will be fierce all season.

"There are just a few places at the top and we are so many. I think it is good to be really strong because everyone makes the best if we are always training with our strong teammates," – Caffont said.

Malena Zamfirova made her second career podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was a pair of rising stars battling it out for the third podium spot. Malena Zamfirova (BUL) continued her run of form from the end of last season by taking third place. The 16-year-old Zamfirova now has two podiums to her name following a second-place in Krynica last season followed by her breakout at the world championships. Zamfirova was the youngest in the race today. She beat 22-year-old Zuzana Maderova in the small final.

"It was a very hard race to be honest. The blue course was very hard, I kept pushing and pushing. So third place in the first race, I am very happy," – Zamfirova said.

The field was wide open on the women’s side as defending world champion Ester Ledecka (CZE) and four-time World Cup championship winner Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) were not in the start list.

All eyes were on Tsubaki Miki (JPN) as she tried to claim her first win on Asian snow. It was not meant to be as she was ousted in the quarterfinals by Dalmasso. It was also a rough day for another favorite as Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) was disqualified during qualification runs.

Yuyue Dong (CHN) provided a nice moment for the home fans as she advanced to the quarterfinals.

Ladina Caviezel (SUI) and Tomoka Takeuchi (JPN) both announced their retirements at the end of this season. Both veterans did not advance past qualification on Saturday.

Bormolini back to winning ways

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) carried the banner on the men’s side. His strong finishes all day long led to victory. It was a tight battle in the big final as he took down the legendary Benjamin Karl (AUT). The veteran Austrian was no match for the high-flying Italian in the end.

Maurizio Bormolini celebrates on the podium with Benjamin Karl and Aaron March. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

“It is always crazy with (Karl). I like competing against him because we always push each other to the limit. He gives everything and I have to do something more to beat him so when I can do that, it is really nice,"– Bormolini said.

"Italy was strong again. It felt like old school snowboarding. I am 40 now so I need to go and rest to recover for tomorrow. This is my last season, as successful as it is, I will take it. If i can take an Olympic medal or performances like today, I'll take it," – Karl said.

Bormolini showed off why he claimed the overall and PGS crystal globes last season. His offseason training paid off but he had other inspiration besides all of that hard work.

“I was really motivated. I want to dedicate this to my sister, she knows why. I promised her I would do it. And I had some extra motivation as my girlfriend and I are expecting a child,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini picked up his eighth win of his World Cup career. Meanwhile Karl adds to his never-ending tallies with his 59th World Cup podium. Karl announced he will retire at the end of the season but shows no signs of slowing down.

It was more hardware for Team Italy in the men’s small final. Aaron March (ITA) beat Mirko Felicetti (ITA) to finish out the podium. That gives Italy four of the six podium spots this season.

"It is always nice to ride against someone from our team. We have such a strong team. I made some mistakes but in the entrance in the flat, I risked it all to make up time and it worked," – March said.

One member of Team Italy not involved was Roland Fischnaller (ITA). He sat out due to an injury suffered in training as he attempted to be ready for the races in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Edwin Coratti (ITA) won the opening race in Mylin last year but went out in the first round of the knockouts today.

There was further history made on the mountain on Saturday. Zubair Ahmad Lone (48th after first run) became first-ever snowboarder to represent India.

The riders will return to the same slope with a different setup on Sunday for another PGS race. Check out the schedule and standings below.

December 7 - PGS race 2