One more ride in Rogla before the Olympics

Jan 30, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Roland Fischnaller has three wins on the season two months in. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The hype is building around the upcoming Winter Olympics but many snow sports still have massive events before heading to the Italian Dolomites. The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup stops in Rogla, Slovenia for the final race before the Olympic break.

It is the ninth stage of this campaign. It will be the 14th time Rogla hosts a snowboard Alpine World Cup race. There will be one parallel giant slalom race on January 31, which will mimic the snowboard Alpine schedule at the Olympics.

Rogla was a pivotal race last season as the two winners went on to claim the overall crystal globes - Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) and Tsubaki Miki (JPN).

Miki looking for back-to-back-to-back titles in Rogla

Miki will be a favorite to make it three wins in a row in Rogla. The Japanese star has made four podiums in a row in Rogla as well. If she can avoid any major issues, she will be a near-lock to make it five in a row at the Slovenian slope.

Her success gives her the perfect mindset going into the race.

“What I do (in preparation) won't change much from usual. But since it's a course I really love, I want to ski freely and enjoy myself,"– Tsubaki said.

Tsubaki Miki will don the orange bib in Rogla as one of the overall leaders. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Miki is not at the torrid pace she was last season but is still tied for the overall standings lead. She wants more and is enjoying the process.

“While my results this season don't compare to last season's, I feel like I'm growing. It's like I'm gradually gaining more skills,”– Tsubaki said.

Miki is tied with Elisa Caffont (ITA) atop the overall standings. She knows that Caffont will be one of the main contenders attempting to knock Miki off the Rogla podium.

“Elisa is a very strong competitor. We've battled many times in Rogla, always going down to the wire, so I'm looking forward to competing against her again in the next race,”– Miki said.

Caffont has four podiums and two wins this season. She found success in Rogla last season with a third-place finish. She also had a unique insight into the slope.

“No secrets for the Rogla race, the slope is easy, all the women are able to go fast, so it's just about pushing to the limit,”– Caffont said.

Elisa Caffont hopes to retake sole possession of the orange bib with a win. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Caffont has never won a crystal globe and feels a bit of the pressure that comes with the orange bib.

“Having the orange bib with Miki is exciting but also stressful, we still have to fight a lot in the remaining races to win the cup. Of course, having the orange bib makes me feel the responsibility to do well and keep it, but there are still a lot of races left, so I try to have fun and enjoy the moment,”– Caffont said.

Caffont and Miki have their work cut out for them. Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) leads the deep field. The German has podiumed in three of her five starts this season after missing the first month of the season due to injury. She has four podiums in Rogla, including three wins.

Sabine Payer (AUT) and Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) are big names to watch as well. Last week’s winner Ester Ledecka is in Crans Montana for Alpine ski duties and will not make the start list. Keep an eye out for the always strong Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) and Julie Zogg (SUI) as well.

Julie Zogg and Aleksandra Krol-Walas duel it out down the slope. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Fischnaller proving age is just a number

Roland Fischnaller (ITA) may be 45 years old but is feeling better than ever after a win last week in Simonhohe.

“My body is feeling good and getting better and better. After Simonhohe, (my ankle) was a bit swollen again, but I do a lot of physical therapy and functional training. I always keep in mind not to do much, to keep my ankle okay, it got a bit swollen after the race but is better now,”– Fischnaller said.

The win was his third of the season and 25^th in his storied career. Fischnaller says his board and setup are giving him new life. His gear and mental preparation continue to give him an edge 29 years after his first season. Even the pressure of a Winter Olympics in his home nation is no match for Fischnaller’s poise.

“My mindset is the same, just focused on the execution. I try my best techniques and stay as relaxed as possible, no thinking, just doing,” – Fischnaller said.

Fischnaller leads the mighty Italian men’s team who have won seven of ten races this season. Aaron March (ITA) continues to lead the overall standings. Defending overall champion Bormolini has two wins this season and will be trying to enter the Olympics coming off a win.

Fischnaller is not the only veteran still getting it down. Defending Olympic champion Benjamin Karl (AUT) has enjoyed a solid season with three podiums including a win in Bansko. Karl has two previous wins in Rogla (2018 and 2024).

Despite the dominance of the Italian men, the men’s season has been wide open. Sixteen different men have reached podiums in the ten races so far this season.

Karl’s teammate Fabian Obmann (AUT) could be a dark horse contender after placing second in the previous two World Cup races.

Elias Huber (GER) is another name to watch. He reached his first career podium in Rogla last season. He knows the technical elements of the course well.

Elias Huber hopes to make another podium in Rogla this weekend. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

“I would divide the slope into three parts: in the first section you try to sneak through the flat segment before entering the carving section where you can fully pick up the rhythm of the course. Then you approach the final three gates where it’s a fine line between falling out and finishing strongly,”– Huber said.

The athletes will have to push for top speeds while avoiding mistakes in the final stretch.

It will be a short calendar as the qualification and race will take place on the same day. Each snowboarder will look for a good result and positive momentum heading into the biggest day in snowboard Alpine at the Winter Olympics in a few days time. The snowboard Alpine event will be on February 8.