Ledecka back on top in Simonhohe as Fischnaller claims third PGS win of the season

Jan 23, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Ester Ledecka (CZE) after winning the Women's PGS in Simonhohe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It was a day where race experience and not just speed mattered most at the Parallel Giant Slalom World Cup on Friday in Simonhohe (AUT) during the eighth stage of the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup season.

Ledecka returns to the top

The return of reigning PGS World Champion Ester Ledecka (CZE) in her first Snowboard Alpine World Cup start since 2024 could not have gone better.

Simonhohe women's PGS winner Ester Ledecka (CZE). Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The defending Olympic Parallel Giant Slalom champion and dual sport superstar dominated the women’s races on Friday to win the big final against Michelle Dekker (NED).

The 30-year-old Czech racer was the top qualifier earlier in the day and never looked in doubt as she lined up for the women’s decider after booking her final berth by defeating last season’s PGS Crystal Globe winner Miki Tsubaki (JPN) in the semifinal.

Ledecka’s win on Friday also extends her victory streak to six events – she has now won six of her past seven individual Snowboard Alpine World Cup starts. Friday’s win also marked Ledecka’s 20th PGS World Cup victory.

Her performance in Simonhohe also comes days after Ledecka finished third in the Alpine Skiing Super G World Cup in Tarvisio, Italy in her first top-three finish in that sport since 2024.

The dual sport Olympic champion and triple gold medalist said she was excited to be back snowboarding again.

I’m really happy that I can be back on snowboard, it’s so much fun. I think two podiums in five days in two different sports, it’s a pretty good week.– Ledecka said.

"It was awesome, we didn’t have that much time to prepare this time right after the Tarvisio ski race so it was really cool that we managed that. I have to say huge thanks to my coach, my whole team, because they did an amazing job. It’s really cool to have this team around me.”

Ledecka said she is happy she can perform on skis and on a snowboard.

I enjoyed the ski race and I enjoyed today. I was really excited to snowboard. I told Justin (my coach) I’m almost too excited, I have to focus because after such a long time to be back on snowboard it made me really happy. – Ledecka said.

Runner-up Dekker said Ledecka was hard to beat on Friday.

“Racing today was amazing. It was a beautiful course, the snow was perfect. It was a gorgeous day. I’m super stoked about this day and the podium of course. Fighting for that win, but Ester was still a little bit faster but we’ll get there,” she said.

Runner-up Michelle Dekker (NED). Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The 29-year-old’s performance on Friday is her second podium of the season after the Dutch racer was also runner-up in Parallel Slalom in Bad Gastein (AUT) earlier in February.

Every top-three performance this season is good preparation for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Dekker said.

I think this was a good race also to boost confidence for the Olympics coming up. I want to repeat that next weekend in Rogla and then head to Milano (Cortina 2026) to Livigno for an Olympic medal.– Dekker said.

Zuzana Maderova (CZE) claimed third place and her third podium finish of the 2025/26 season after winning the small final against Tsubaki Miki.

Overall women’s Parallel World Cup leader Elisa Caffont (ITA) did not make it past the first round on Friday after she was out-paced by Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL).

Local legend Sabine Payer (AUT) – who skipped the Bansko races to prepare for Simonhohe – lost her quarterfinal against Dekker despite home slope advantage.

Fischnaller records third victory of the season

In the men’s event, Italy's Roland Fischnaller stormed to victory in the big final to deny local favorite Fabian Obmann (AUT) a win on home snow.

Men's PSG winner Roland Fischnaller (ITA). Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The 45-year-old Italian was fastest out of the gate against his younger opponent and did not relinquish his lead as 29-year-old Obmann gained speed down the slope.

He is really fast today. The run before I told him I really want to do the big final with you and that was good motivation, and yes of course he is a lot of years younger than me. His legs are faster than mine but I have the experience to handle this situation. – Fischnaller said.

The reigning men’s PGS World Champion, who will compete at his seventh Olympic Winter Games at Milano Cortina 2026, said Friday’s race conditions suited him.

“That’s the slope how every race should be. It’s grippy, it’s very nice to ride. For me easy to ride (laughs).

I was just focused on my execution of my performance and I did it until the final and against Obmann, of course you have to push a lot against a local hero. I was super happy with my performance today.– Fischnaller said.

After three victories thus far this season, Fischnaller now plans to recover before the next event in Rogla ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

“The plan for the upcoming weeks – definitely next week I stay on the couch (laughs). I have to recover a little bit, we train a lot and we travel a lot. It was very intense in January until now, and now I have to go to my farm to go with my cows. I need a free spirit some days and of course I will train a lot, but the next few days I have to recover.”

Despite not walking away with the win on Friday, Obmann said he enjoyed racing in front of a home crowd in Simonhohe.

Fabian Obmann (AUT) celebrating in front of fans after his semifinal run. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

It’s crazy good snow condition, it was so much fun riding here. It’s just awesome and it’s so close to my home region. I learned my first snowboard turns here and it’s so much fun.– Obmann said.

Runner-up Fabian Obmann (AUT), winner Roland Fischnaller (ITA) and third-placed Aaron March (ITA). Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

But the Austrian is hoping home snow advantage can help him and his race partner for Saturday’s mixed team event.

“I will send it tomorrow and let’s see where I end up.”

Meanwhile, Aaron March (ITA) claimed the last men’s podium spot on Friday after winning the small final against Sangho Lee (KOR).

I had a good feeling from the beginning. It was pure pleasure to ride on this slope, it’s very tough because it’s an easy slope and everyone pushes like hell, and so you have to be at every gate, push every gate, and have a good line. Especially in the small final, I had a really good run from the beginning until the end, so very happy with the race.– March said.

With Friday’s third-place result, March now has both the overall leader’s orange jersey and the men’s PGS leader’s yellow jersey previously held by Austria’s Benjamin Karl.

“He took the yellow one in Bankso, and so I took it back. It’s great, we had also a good fight today in the quarterfinal. It’s a lot of races still, so let’s keep the rhythm,” said March.

“I’m happy with how I’m riding and happy with the yellow bib for sure. Let’s go to the next race.”

Meanwhile, teammate and last season’s PGS Crystal Globe winner Maurizo Bormolini dropped out in the quarterfinal after he did not finish against eventual runner-up Obmann.

Friday’s athletes will return to the same Simonhohe slope on Saturday for the mixed team event beginning at 10:00 Central European Time (CET).