Val St. Come Hosts the Parallel Giant Slalom Finale

Mar 13, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Val St. Come will make its second appearance on the World Cup circuit. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup is nearing its end with two weekends to go. The snowboarders will travel across the pond to Canada for the final two parallel giant slalom races of the season. Val St. Come will host the weekend festivities after making its World Cup debut last season.

The PGS crystal globes will be given out after the races on Sunday. There will be some tough conditions and weather for the athletes to deal with.

Bormolini closing in on crystal globe

On the men’s side, Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) leads the way in the PGS standings. He is on a three-race win streak after missing out on a medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

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Bormolini is the favorite for his second consecutive PGS crystal globe. He has not quite clinched it yet as he sits 80 points ahead of Benjamin Karl (AUT). Bormolini also has an outside challenge from his teammate Roland Fischnaller (ITA) who is 83 points behind.

The veterans Karl and Fischnaller will need to win and hope Bormolini falters early to make a surprising steal of the globe.

Another PGS globe for Karl would just be a cherry on top of an already incredible final season, as he plans to retire at the end of the season. Karl knows the Canadian conditions make things tough to pull off a win and the Austrian is still enjoying his second Olympic title.

“I wanted to be strong in GS and overall this year. I wanted to win (a race) before the Olympics, and I wanted to be Olympic champion. So all goals achieved,” – Karl said.

Benjamin Karl finished second in Val St. Come last season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Fischnaller will be gunning for the win after placing second in Val St. Come last season, although he is not preoccupied with the standings talk.

“Honestly I never watched the points and I really don’t care about them. I try to go as fast as possible. I haven’t talked about it to Maurizio (Bormolini), but of course he’s riding, at the moment, the wave of success, but never forget a 45-year-old farmer!”– Fischnaller said.

Roland Fischnaller in the Canadian snow last season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

His Italian teammate Aaron March (ITA) is another contender this weekend after a solid season. He sits in fourth in the PGS standings and cannot win the globe but can make plenty of noise.

“This year I feel very comfortable in giant slalom, and I am also very satisfied with the equipment,”– March said.

Aaron March racing down the slope in Canada. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The Italian men have been the dominant force this season. They have won 10 of 14 races thus far. March credits the team’s work ethic for their success.

“We have prepared very well, especially with regard to the Olympic Games. Winning becomes the norm and thus raises the expectations for each of us,”– March said.

Sangho Lee (KOR) and Stefan Baumeister (GER) could also play spoiler. Arnaud Gaudet (CAN) leads the home country's hopes. Zan Kosir (SLO) and Elias Huber (GER) won in Val St. Come last season.

Tsubaki Miki on the verge of PGS crown

On the women’s side, Tsubaki Miki (JPN) has been the epitome of consistency this season. Her late charge has her in the lead for all three crystal globes once again.

Miki has nearly clinched the PGS crystal globe as she holds a 141-point lead over Sabine Payer (AUT). Miki has won three of the previous four races. She has six podiums on the season.

Payer will need a stellar performance, perhaps a weekend sweep, to take the globe from Miki.

“I am really happy with my PGS season. The goal this year was the Olympics and not the globe. I also skipped two races in Bansko, so I just wanted good PGS results and the globe was not the focus. The races in Canada will be interesting,” “I never had three PGS wins in one season so there is still some motivation for the final two ones,” – Payer said.

Sabine Payer took second in Val St. Come last season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Payer has won three PGS races this season. Elisa Caffont (ITA) is third in the PGS standings and is also not letting her foot off the gas.

“I’m always super motivated to give my best and I'll do everything possible to end the season in the best position possible in the PGS and overall standings,”– Caffont said.

Elisa Caffont has had a career-best season. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Caffont has had a breakout campaign with two victories this season. She too has an outside shot at the title if Miki slips up. Caffont has leveled up this season, especially in PGS.

“I’ve always preferred slalom, but this year, due also to the Olympics, I've improved my PGS performance and discovered my passion for this discipline too,” – Caffont said.

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) started the season late due to injury but has still been a consistent threat. She swept both races in Val St. Come last season.

Another interesting note on the women’s side - history will be made no matter the results.

American sisters Kaiya, Mika, and Akina Kizuka (USA) will be the first trio of siblings ever to compete together in the same alpine snowboard World Cup event. The three Pennsylvania-bred athletes have competed at FIS Junior World Championships but this will be their first time competing at the same World Cup event. Akina and Mika Kizuka are making their individual World Cup debuts.

The sisters will join the other riders on the Canadian mountain this weekend for the final PGS races of the season. Check out the full schedule below.