Karl gets a storybook ending while Dalmasso finds the fun in winning

Mar 15, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Tsubaki Miki and Maurizio Bormolini hold up their PGS crystal globe trophies. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returned to the slope at Val St. Come, Canada for the final parallel giant slalom race of the season. It was another thrilling day of action as all of the athletes challenged for the final PGS podium.

It was a storybook ending for Benjamin Karl (AUT) as he topped the podium in what may be his final PGS race of his storied career. On the women’s side, Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) bookended her PGS campaign with a win.

Karl rides off with a win in possibly his final PGS race

The two-time Olympic champion, four-time overall World Cup winner, and 2023-24 PGS champion Karl added one more honor to his astonishing career in snowboard Alpine.

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It was a perfect big final matchup as Karl matched up with Maurizio Bormolini (ITA). It was the 2024 PGS champion against the 2025 and 2026 PGS champion. These two were first and second in the PGS standings as well.

Karl pulled out the win as Bormolini clipped a gate and suffered a DNF. The two embraced after crossing the finish line. Karl knew it was a special moment.

“I think Maurizio and I had a great season. We were one and two in the PGS standings, so this says everything about the season. Winning against him in my last PGS race, maybe, it is a lot for me,”– Karl said.

Maurizio Bormolini, Benjamin Karl, and Mirko Felicetti on the podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

He had kind words for his competitor.

“I want to say that Bormo really deserved this. After the Olympics, I was really sad for him and I am really happy now that he took the globe for the second time. We each took 50 percent of this season to our side, so it was amazing for us both,”– Karl said.

Benjamin Karl takes the win in Val St. Come. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The win is Karl’s 24th individual World Cup victory and his 62nd overall World Cup podium. He has two wins and four podiums in his potential final season.

Bormolini ends the PGS season with six podiums and three wins. He now has eight total podiums this season.

“It was a difficult fight in the final, (Karl) is like a lion, he always gives everything. It is nice to ride with him because you have to give everything. I tried but made a little mistake with the line on the last roller, but that is racing. I pushed 110 percent and am so happy,”– Bormolini said.

Mirko Felicetti (ITA) took third after winning the small final. It was his fifth podium of the season.

“Today it was perfect conditions. The organizing staff worked very well this morning. In the small final, I was faster, but I saw he made a mistake, and I tried to control everything, but then I pushed again in the last three gates,”– Felicetti said.

In the semifinals, it was Bormolini beating his teammate Felicetti. It was an all-Austrian affair in the second semifinal with Karl edging out roommate Arvid Auner (AUT), who ended fourth.

On Saturday, Dario Caviezel (SUI) won after taking out the PGS globe winner Bormolini in the quarterfinals. This time around it was Bormolini who got the best of Caviezel in the quarterfinals as the Swiss rider crashed out.

Felicetti (ITA) advanced to the semifinals after Fabian Obmann (AUT) caught an edge and interfered with the Italian, causing both to DNF.

Edwin Coratti (ITA) was second on Saturday for his first podium since 2024. However, he was less lucky in race two, bowing out in the first knockout round. Arnaud Gaudet (CAN) was also on the podium on Saturday, but the Canadian was eliminated in the first knockout round on Sunday.

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) was also knocked out at the same stage after posting the third-fastest qualifying time.

Walker Overstake (USA) could not repeat his career-best performance from Saturday and missed out on the knockout rounds. Aaron March (ITA), Roland Fischnaller (ITA), Zan Kosir (SLO), and Elias Huber (GER) were some of the surprising names to miss out on qualifying for the knockout rounds as well.

Huber and Kosir won at Val St. Come last season. March, meanwhile, had five podiums this season.

Dalmasso tops the podium

It was an all-Italian big final, with Dalmasso going up against her roommate on tour Jasmin Coratti (ITA). The two Italian veterans battled down the hill with Dalmasso taking the win.

“It was really fun battling with Jasmin. Now I think we will go drink something together (laughs). Yesterday, I said I would do my best today, and I did that,”– Dalmasso said.

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It is a fitting end of the PGS season for Dalmasso after she won the first race of the PGS season as well in Mylin. Dalmasso also won a PSL race in Bad Gastein and has five podiums this season.

“I am really happy with first place today and second in the PGS standings,” – Dalmasso said.

It was the first podium of the season for Coratti and sixth of her career.

“I am really happy, I didn’t expect it anymore. I had a tough season. It was really difficult, so now I am even happier to get second place. It is difficult to race against your teammate because you know how strong they are and what they can do. It was a great fight,”– Coratti said.

Jasmin Coratti rides down the slope on the way to her season-best result. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Hofmeister had won all three women’s races at Val St. Come before Sunday. She settled for third on Sunday. It is her seventh podium of the season (all in PGS), after missing the first five races of the season due to injury.

“I really like it here in Canada. I had another good race and another podium. I am just happy and proud of myself. I got fifth in the PGS ranking. It was a tough start to the season with the injury and surgery in September, so I am proud of my performance and the results,”– Hofmeister said.

Dalmasso got by Hofmeister after the German caught an edge, slowing her down before she missed a gate. Coratti edged out Buck in the other semifinal, quieting the home Canadian crowd. Buck finished in fourth.

In the matchup of the day Sabine Payer (AUT) was edged out by 0.01 in her quarterfinal heat versus Dalmasso. It was a quality battle until the end between the two Olympic medalists.

Elisa Caffont (ITA) made a mistake around a corner and could not overcome the gap created, as she was eliminated by Buck in the quarterfinals.

Olympic champion Zuzana Maderova (CZE) came up short of her first World Cup win once again as she was knocked out in the first round of the finals.

The biggest stunner of the day came early in qualification. Tsubaki Miki (JPN) was second at Val St. Come on Saturday and was hungry to win. However, the PGS champion struggled in her second run and did not qualify for the knockout rounds. It was the first time she failed to qualify all season.

Flurina Neva Baetschi (SUI) was fourth on Saturday, but also missed out on the knockout rounds on Sunday.

Miki and Bormolini raise their globes

After the day’s action, Miki and Bormolini raised their PGS crystal globes which they clinched on Saturday. It was the second consecutive PGS globe for both athletes. They both clinched the overall title as well this weekend, marking the second straight overall globe for both snowboarders.

It was an achievement Miki eyed before the season.

“I am so glad to win this globe. This is because of my full season results, even though today did not go so well for me. I am so glad. I had two goals this season. One was to get the big globe and the other one was to win the Olympic gold. I made a mistake at the Olympics, but my season was still strong,” – Miki said.

It was not an easy route to another title for the Japanese rider.

“It was a nice season for me. Sometimes I had too much pressure, but now I am so glad that everything ended fine,”– Miki said.

Bormolini was also in good spirits holding the globes again. He was able to ride with a freer mind after his struggles in the Olympics.

“It is amazing and incredible. I am really satisfied after the Olympics especially, which was not how I hoped. In the end, after the Olympics, I tried to give everything to keep the globe and I did it. I want to say thank you to my family, especially my girlfriend, she did a lot for me this winter. And now we have a baby, and that is the most important thing,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini now has two career overall crystal globes and two PGS globes.

“I have five babies now with this, it feels good,”– Bormolini said with a laugh.

Team Italy celebrates together after Dalmasso win and Bormolini globe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was a battle for the podium spots on the overall PGS standings. March edged out Fischnaller by one point in the end. The difference on the women’s side was also one point between third and fourth with Caffont on top of Payer, while Dalmasso took second by 25 points.

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup travels back to Europe next weekend for the final stage of the 2025-26 season. The races will take place in Winterberg, Germany. There will be one individual parallel slalom race, with both PSL crystal globes still up for grabs.

The men’s and women’s individual races will be Saturday, March 21. The athletes will then close out the campaign with the final mixed team event on Sunday, March 22.

Also, do please head to Reuters Connect and Actionpress.de to view and purchase a wide selection of photographs from this race and from all FIS events.

Men’s Final PGS Standings