Snowboard Cross returns to China for second World Cup of the season
Jan 15, 2026·Snowboard Cross
The world’s best riders have a final chance to impress their national selectors and pick up ranking points ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this weekend, as the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup heads to China.
The second and third World Cup races of the 2025/26 season take place in Dongbeiya, north-east China, on 17 and 18 January with qualification on 16 January. It is the first time that the tour has visited Dongbeiya, and only the third time in five years that the World Cup is raced in China.
Young French athletes Jonas Chollet and Lea Casta come into the weekend leading the overall standings after their individual victories in Cervinia in December, but both the men’s and women’s fields are tight behind them.
Sigenthaler relishing Snowboard Cross passion
The Snowboard Cross World Cup tour also stopped in China last season, with two races in Beidahu in early February 2025. There, Charlotte Bankes (GBR) took two wins, ahead of Michela Moioli (ITA) on day one and Josie Baff (AUS) on day two.
After an error in Cervinia, Bankes comes to Dongbeiya in ninth place overall. Moioli and Baff are second and third respectively behind Casta. Sitting in fourth place is Swiss rider Sina Sigenthaler, who performed well in Cervinia to reach the big final but was just off the pace in that race.
Last year, Siegenthaler finished third on day two in Beidahu, one of three podium finishes for the season; she ended the year ranked fifth, her best result in her career.
“I had a really great time in China last year. The whole SBX family stood together more than I’ve ever experienced before and the races were fantastic,” says Sigenthaler, ahead of Dongbeiya.
The Swiss rider is part of a young and talented team. Last year, Sigenthaler’s teammate Noemie Wiedmer was sixth overall and was named Rookie of the Year, while Aline Albrecht was 11th. Wiedmer finished 11th in Cervinia.
Siegenthaler says she was pleased with her own performance in Cervinia, although she missed the podium.
“I’m very happy with how the first race went. I was able to apply all the key things I worked on over the summer, which makes it a big success for me. And considering the season plan, it’s great to know there’s still room for improvement,” she says.
The course in Dongbeiya will be a new one for the athletes, but early videos showed pristine white snow and steep slopes. Sigenthaler is eager to test her skills on the Chinese slopes.
“My best races so far have been on tracks where gliding/generating speed, overtaking and mastering big features were key factors,” she explains.
A good result in Dongbeiya would set Sigenthaler up well for the rest of the season, starting with what would be her second Olympic Winter Games after she finished 16th in Beijing 2022. However, she is targeting another best-ever result in the World Cup standings, too.
Lambert looking for second podium
In Beidahu in 2024/25, eventual Crystal Globe winner Eliot Grondin (CAN) took both races on the men’s side, cementing his early lead in the competition. French riders Loan Bozzolo and Merlin Surget split the third and fourth places between them, each taking one podium finish across the weekend, while Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) and Leon Ulbricht (GER) claimed the two second places.
None of these riders managed to reach the big final at the first World Cup of 2025/26, with the race in Cervinia dominated by brothers Jonas and Aidan Chollet. Grondin finished seventh, never quite able to challenge the leaders.
Australian Adam Lambert was third in Cervinia, making his sixth career podium after two second places last season.
Like Sigenthaler on the women’s side, 2024/25 was Lambert’s best-ever season. He finished sixth overall and produced a string of consistent results. He puts his improvement down to improved mental strategies, saying: “In general, I feel like my mind is clearer around races last year and this year compared to previous years. I have done a lot of work on the psychology of SBX and I feel like last year I started getting my approach right.”
Beidahu was not Lambert’s best performance last season, although again he showed consistency through the weekend. He qualified in 11th place for day 1, and finished 12th; in qualification for day 2, he was 13th, and finished 10th.
The Australian is looking higher for this year’s trip to China.
“I have high expectations as always. Continuing my good form to be on the podium is always the goal,” he says.
Heading back to the slopes is a bit of a change for the Australian team. While northern hemisphere riders have been enjoying the cold snap over the New Year, it is summer in the south, and Lambert says: “I spent my Christmas break back in Australia, training in the gym and hanging out on the beach in 35 degree weather.”
Now it is time for him to put on his cold-weather gear, and challenge for another podium.
Dongbeiya teaser
Racing begins in Dongbeiya on Friday 16 January with qualification, starting at 10:45 local time (03:45 CET ) for the men and 13:25 local time (06:25 CET) for the women.
Finals begin on Saturday 17 January at 13:00 local time (06:00 CET). There will be a round of pre-heats on Sunday 18 January at 11:00 local time (04:00 CET) ahead of finals, again at 13:00 local time (06:00 CET).
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