Snowboard Alpine returns with races in Krynica

Feb 27, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

The course in Krynica, Poland. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The VISA Snowboard Alpine World Cup returns in full force with a pair of parallel giant slalom races this weekend. Krynica, Poland will set the stage for the thrilling action. It will be a flurry of thrilling races in the jam-packed final month of the season. The races for all of the crystal globes are still up for grabs.

Krynica will be the first race after the Olympic break. All eyes will be on Benjamin Karl (AUT) and Zuzana Maderova (CZE) who took home the ultimate prize in Livigno at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Benjamin Karl rips off his top layers after taking gold at Milano Cortina 2026. Photo: Naoki Morita

Karl is set to retire this year but ended his final Olympic effort with a repeat gold after topping the podium in Beijing 2022. Karl fought off a field full of veteran surprises and shocking upsets. Veteran Kim Sang-kyum (KOR) took silver for his first Olympic medal, while rising star Tervel Zamfirov (BUL) claimed bronze for his first Olympic hardware. Sang-kyum may see his good fortune continue this season as he finished second in one of the Krynica races last season.

Karl may have his eyes on his ride into the sunset after winning another gold. He is already eyeing a move to pro cycling after the season. His calendar was full after the big win, but he still wants a few more snowboard trophies.

“It was super busy since I won. The most motivation for me now is to have the chance for the PGS and overall globe. That’s the goal,”– Karl said.

Please accept marketing cookies to see the content

Maderova dashed past a stacked field of veterans seeking their first Olympic medal. The young Czech rider asserted herself as a force to be reckoned with on the tour. She is still chasing her first World Cup victory but is a consistent podium threat for the rest of the season.

Zuzana Maderova took home gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

“I don’t think the gold medal will affect the rest of the season. It was an amazing day and I’m really happy it turned out that way, but now I approach every race from zero again,”– Maderova said.

Sabine Payer (AUT) was on the doorstep of gold, but was bested by Maderova. The silver was Payer’s first Olympic medal. Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) also picked up her first Olympic medal with bronze in her home country. Both will be names to watch in Krynica.

Elsewhere, Aaron March (ITA) leads the men’s overall standings with 541 points, 21 points ahead of his teammate Maurizio Bormolini (ITA). Karl is in third. March and Bormolini lead a deep Italian team eager to erase the bad results from the Olympic race in their backyard. Bormolini took third and second in the two races in Krynica last season.

Their teammate Roland Fischnaller (ITA) won the first Krynica race in 2025. He is the current PGS standings leader. Andreas Prommegger (AUT) topped the podium on day two last season.

Tsubaki Miki clinched the PGS globe in Krynica last season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

On the women’s side, Tsubaki Miki (JPN) leads the overall standings by 40 points over Elisa Caffont (ITA). Miki won in Krynica last season and will be powering towards another win to extend her crystal globe lead.

Malena Zamfirova (BUL) is another youngster with serious speed. She took second in one of the Krynica races last season and could reach the podium once again.

Malena Zamfirova made a podium in Krynica in 2025. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) came up short for an Olympic medal but she is still one of the best on the tour. She won the first Krynica race last season and will be a threat to top the podium this weekend.

The action begins on Saturday with a second race on Sunday. There will also be a bib-giving ceremony in the Arche Hotel on Friday. Check out the full schedule below.