Payer and Prommegger give Austria PGS team victory on home snow in Simonhohe

Jan 24, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Austria's Andreas Prommegger and Sabine Payer celebrate in Simonhohe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Austria’s Sabine Payer powered her team to victory in Simonhohe in the second mixed team event of the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup after shaking off an early individual exit from the day before.

The Austria 4 team of Payer and Andreas Prommegger denied the Italy 2 duo of Aaron March and Lucia Dalmasso top spot by 0.52 seconds in Saturday’s big final.

March and Dalmasso were strong contenders coming into Saturday’s Parallel Giant Slalom Team decider after the pair topped the first mixed team event of the 2025/26 season in Bad Gastein, also in Austria, earlier in January.

In Saturday’s big final, not much separated Prommegger and March at the end of their heat but the Austrian’s performance was enough to give teammate Payer a slight advantage out of the start gate.

A mistake from Payer as she was pulling ahead of Dalmasso allowed the Italian to gain some ground, but Payer still proved too fast for the Italian and Payer crossed the finish line first in front of a cheering home crowd.

Prommegger said he was confident Payer would put in a good performance in her race.

It’s always difficult (to wait) but Sabine is such a strong partner and we’ve had in the past very good races together, so I trusted her. – Prommegger said.

The Simonhohe victory is Prommegger’s 32nd World Cup career win and his first since his PGS win in Krynica, Poland in March 2025.

The 45-year-old Austrian legend said Saturday’s race will help boost his confidence after finishing outside of the podium in all of his PGS events this season.

It’s amazing. But for me it’s very important because the season was tough so far with not the best results, and Simonhohe gave me back the confidence and it’s very important for the mindset.– Prommegger said.

“Today it felt so good, it was different from the rest of the season for me because I had … joy in snowboarding. We had a very good qualification together, and riding with Sabine is always fun.”

Payer said Saturday’s races felt different from her performance in the women’s PGS event on Friday where she lost her quarterfinal.

I had a good feeling today and I was not so nervous, like yesterday, but still enough (nervous), let’s say. First podium in 2026 and I hope it goes on.– Payer said.

Team Austria in Simonhohe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Being able to claim victory on her home slope also made Saturday’s win extra special, Payer said.

“It’s so cool. It was amazing just all the fans and all the helpers, they make this race possible. I’m so thankful for that.

“Racing today with Andy, it’s always so nice. He’s a very fast and constant rider so you can trust him at everything. I think it (his performance) was a very good help today.”

With their second-place finish behind Austria 4, Italy 2 keep the mixed team leader’s yellow bib.

“We have the yellow bib and I’m happy. And Aaron I think he’s happy too,” said Dalmasso.

Simonhohe is the second team podium finish of the season for Italy 2's Aaron March. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

March said he was happy with the pair’s performance on Saturday.

I just cheered for Lucia. Sabine was also fast, also against Andy I had a really good run and was happy with the run. I enjoyed riding. The final was really tough and they also did a good job. I think we can be happy with second place.– March said.

Runners-up Italy 2, winners Austria 4, and third-placed USA 1 in Simonhohe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

March and Dalmasso’s second-place finish on Saturday follows March’s third-place performance in the men’s PGS event on Friday.

Meanwhile, USA 1’s Walker Overstake and Iris Pflum took third place on Saturday in a photo finish against Slovenia 1, with Pflum edging ahead of Slovenian Gloria Kotnik by an arm’s length in the small final.

The U.S. pair’s performance is the first podium finish by the USA in the team event, as well as Pflum and Overstake’s first career World Cup podium, which the ecstatic pair celebrated in the finish area.

“It’s amazing in this event because you get a teammate and do it together,” said Pflum.

Overstake said he was happy the pair walked away with third place given how well the rest of the field performed on Saturday.

“It was difficult today because of how easy it was. The snow was super easy, the course was easy, so everyone was riding at absolute peak performance,” said the 19-year-old.

To be able to compete with the top guys at their best was definitely a challenge, but I’m happy with my riding today and I’m just happy to finally show what I've got because it’s been a difficult season.– Overstake said.

Iris Pflum (USA) and Walker Overstake (USA) celebrate their first World Cup podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Overstake and Pflum also delivered the first upset of the day when the U.S. pair knocked out Italian superstars Maurizio Bormolini and Elisa Caffont in the quarterfinals.

Switzerland 1 was also disqualified after a minor flag error from Dario Caviezel in his quarterfinal race against Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak.

Slovenia's Gloria Kotnik (pictured) and Tim Mastnak finished fourth in Simonhohe. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Rogla in Slovenia will host the next World Cup on 31 January in the last event of the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup before the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games begin on 6 February.

The third and final mixed team event to decide the discipline Crystal Globe will take place in Winterberg, Germany on 22 March.