Spindleruv Mlyn makes its debut in Snowboard Alpine

Mar 06, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Lucia Dalmasso won the last PSL race in Bad Gastein. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The jam-packed final month of the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup rolls on but in a new place. The circuit stops in Czechia for the first-ever snowboard Alpine World Cup race in Spindleruv Mlyn. The snowboarders will assemble for a parallel slalom race on March 7. A second PSL race scheduled for March 8 was canceled.

Spindleruv Mlyn is no stranger to big snow sporting events. The area hosted a women’s Alpine Ski World Cup slalom and giant slalom race earlier this year. Its debut on the snowboard tour brings an exciting new challenge as the race for the crystal globes hits its final stretch.

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Krashniak and others hope to cool off Bormolini’s hot streak

Alexander Krashniak is ready to tackle the new slope and thinks it may level the playing field.

“A new course poses a challenge for all athletes, as no one has racing experience on the slope. This however, equalizes in some sense both the younger and experienced riders,”– Krashniak said.

The switch to parallel slalom racing also deepens the contender list. Krashniak will be among those fighting for the podium after a second-place finish in the previous PSL race in Bad Gastein on January 13. He knows what it takes to succeed at the more technical discipline.

“For me, the key to the PSL is being in an agile state of body and mind, and a little luck goes a long way,”– Krashniak said.

Alexander Krashniak on the PSL podium in Bad Gastein. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Krashniak will be fighting off a deep field. Arvid Auner (AUT) has three PSL career victories, including one this season in Davos.

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) won the other PSL race this season in Bad Gastein. Bormolini is coming off a weekend sweep of two PGS races in Krynica. He took hold of the lead of all three crystal globe standings after the win and will be the one to beat this weekend.

His Italian teammates will also be in the mix. Aaron March (ITA) and Gabriel Messner (AUT) also have a PSL podium to their names this season and will be ones to watch.

The contender list stretches on with names like Stefan Baumeister (GER) and Cody Winters (USA), and never count out the Olympic champion Benjamin Karl (AUT).

Can Caffont hold on to her PSL standings lead?

The switch to parallel slalom racing also opens up the women’s field that has seen six different winners so far this season.

Elisa Caffont (ITA) holds the lead in the PSL crystal globe standings. She has been solid all season, including her first career World Cup win in Davos, and will be one to watch.

One contender hoping to knock off Caffont is Michelle Dekker (NED). The Dutch athlete came second in the PSL race in Bad Gastein and is comfortable with the technical discipline.

“I am just hoping to keep riding like I am in training and keep the upbeat momentum going just taking it one step at a time,”– Dekker said.

Michelle Dekker during the PSL race in Davos. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Dekker is excited for the unknown challenges of the new slope.

“You never know exactly how the course is going to run until your first run. Inspection is important, and knowing the shape of the hill is also really important. I’m really excited to try out this new venue too,”– Dekker said.

Dekker and Caffont will be competing with a strong crop of top talent for the podium spots. Tsubaki Miki (JPN) is leading the overall standings and has six podiums this season. Sabine Payer (AUT), Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER), Zuzana Maderova (CZE), and Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) are the other big names gunning for the victory.

Another potential contender would have been rising young star Malena Zamfirova (BUL). Unfortunately, Zamfirova was injured in an accident during training at Spindleruv Mlyn. Another skier collided with her, causing multiple fractures. Zamfirova was airlifted to a nearby hospital. She is undergoing medical treatment and will have to end her season early. Zamfirova podiumed twice this season and will be missed.

Malena Zamfirova on the podium last week in Krynica. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The weekend events begin with an opening ceremony and bib draw in the city center on Friday. The race finals will be on Saturday after a qualification competition in the morning. Check out the full schedule below.