Snowboard Alpine returns to action with season opener in China

Dec 05, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The winter winds are swirling, and the world’s best snowboarders are trekking across continents to the mighty mountains of Mylin. The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returns for a new campaign beginning in the Far East. China will host the opening races for the second consecutive season after Mylin made its debut on the circuit last year.

The action begins with a men’s and women’s parallel giant slalom race on Saturday. The racers will do it all again on the PGS course for another race on Sunday. This is a bit of a switch up from last season when the Sunday event was a normal parallel slalom. The course will be set differently on Sunday however while the slope stays the same.

Huge opportunity in women’s opener

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) is the defending world champion and overall title winner. She will be hungry to start off the season atop the podium once again. Miki picked up four victories on her way to the sweep of the crystal globes last season.

In 2024, she came up short in the first weekend in Mylin with a third and second place finish. She would eventually go on to win her first of the season in Yanqing a week later.

Miki is the heavy favorite on opening weekend. She will not face Ester Ledecka (CZE).

The reigning world PGS champion Ledecka won the first event last season in Mylin. However, the dual-sport athlete did not make the trip as she focuses on her Alpine Ski commitments.

Miki’s biggest threat to her crystal globe defense will be Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) but not this weekend. The four-time World Cup overall champion will miss all of December’s action due to an offseason injury.

Miki will still face a tough test from a deep field. Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) leads the pack after a solid season. The Polish boarder placed second in the opening race in Mylin last season. She knows the keys to success on this course.

“Just snowboard aggressively from edge to edge and make as few mistakes as possible,”– Krol-Walas said.

Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) glides along in Mylin last year. Miha Matavz/FIS

There are a few key notes to carving the course in China. The elements offer a bit of a unique challenge for the athletes who often train on European snow. Krol-Walas is aware of the trials that await.

“Snow is way different in Asia, it is more compact and aggressive but I actually love it!”– Krol-Walas said.

There are some other things that might be harder than the difficult snow. Time zones.

“For me it’s not easy to compete there because I have problem with switching to different time zone. Last year I didn’t switch at all but than it was easier when I came back to Europe,”– Krol-Walas said.

She will hope her fellow competitors also struggle with the jet leg. Sabine Payer (AUT) had no issues with the clock last season as she won the PSL race in Mylin and will be a top competitor this weekend. Julie Zogg (SUI) made a podium in Mylin last season and will hope for more success in her final season on the circuit as she is set to retire at the end of the season.

Ester Ledecka topped the 2024 podium ahead of Miki and Krol-Walas. Miha Matavz/FIS

Italian men look to dominate again

Team Italy took the top spot on the men’s podium eight times during last season’s World Cup. They also captured gold and a bronze at the world championships.

Roland Fischnaller (ITA) was the holder of the gold but will be out this weekend in Mylin. He is resting after an injury in training and will try to return for the event in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Italy will still be well represented. Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) led the bunch last year as he claimed the overall and PGS titles. He will be one to watch once more after winning the PSL race in Mylin last season.

His teammate Edwin Coratti (ITA) won the opening PGS race in Mylin. He will be a strong force once again building on that experience.

“I will try to remember the key points of last year's race. And I'll try to ride them the best way I can,”– Coratti said.

Edwin Coratti celebrates his win in Mylin last season with Team Italy. ©Miha Matavz/FIS

Coratti is coming back stronger after putting in a lot of work on the mental side of his game this offseason and is excited about his snowboard setup this season.

There may be some extra pressure on Coratti and his Italian brethren as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in their backyard. Coratti is putting off the Milano Olympic opportunity to the side for now.

“⁠It doesn't affect me a lot. I try to take the season as a ‘normal’ one with a short focus for the Olympic race,”– Coratti said.

Coratti and Bormolini will have challenges from other Italians including Gabriel Messner (ITA), Daniele Bagozza (ITA), Aaron March (ITA) and more all season. The Austrian men are also strong once again led by Andreas Prommegger (AUT), Benjamin Karl (AUT) and Arvid Auner (AUT).

Here is how you can watch all of the action from Mylin this weekend and check out the schedule below.