Hofmeister and Karl prove experience is crucial in Cortina

Dec 17, 2023·Alpine Snowboard

The 2023-24 FIS World Cup Alpine Snowboard tour made the short drive over to Cortina for a parallel giant slalom showdown under the lights. Some of the biggest names on the tour shone brightest in the nighttime event.

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) handled the primetime pressure with no issue and redeemed her second-place finish at Cortina last season. She cut through the field to take her second title of the season in as many races. It is her 17th career World Cup win. You would think the German rider may be used to winning but she was overjoyed after topping the podium.

“Amazing. It was so much fun today. The slope today was perfect. It always is here, so thank you to the organization. I can’t believe it right now, but it is a really good feeling,” Hofmeister said.

Hofmeister’s day began a little shaky with an eighth-place qualifying time. She then escaped the first round with a photo finish against Michelle Dekker (NED). Hofmeister advanced after the video replay.

She then ousted the top qualifier Miki Tsubaki (JPN) in a blazing quarterfinal. In the semifinals, Hofmeister found the turbo button and used a late acceleration to defeat Zuzana Maderova (CZE) in the semifinals.

Hofmeister put down a solid run in the final to claim gold against the Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) who had the home crowd support. She is two-for-two on the season and increased her overall and PGS standings lead. It is Hofmeister and everyone else in the women’s field for FIS Alpine Snowboard early in the season.

She is on pace to defend her PGS and overall crystal globes from last season. Can she make it three in a row next week in Davos?

“Hopefully,” Hofmeister said with a laugh.

Dalmasso used a late lean to take her semi by 0.01. It was her third career podium and her first podium at an Italian event. She finished fourth at Cortina last season.

Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) won the small final to fill out the podium. It is her 20th World Cup podium in 125 starts.

“Cortina, I love this place, the view is amazing. It is a bit distracting really but, I like it and I think today was a bit different. The course was not my favorite today, but I somehow managed it and am really happy,” Schoffmann said.

Her Austrian teammate Daniela Ulbing had a tough day. The second-place finisher in Carezza suffered a fall and was eliminated in round one.

Last year’s winner Gloria Kotnik (SLO) did not have the speed today to defend her title in Cortina and fell in the quarterfinals. Julie Zogg (SUI) overcame her 12th place bib with a comeback win in the first round. She was then eliminated in the quarterfinals.

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Race Results Women’s PGS Cortina

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER)
Lucia Dalmasso (ITA)
Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT)
Zuzana Maderova (CZE)
Tsubaki Miki (JPN)

WOMEN’s Overall and PGS standings after Race 2

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) – 200 points
Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 125 points
Daniela Ulbing (AUT) – 109 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 105 points
Julie Zogg (SUI) – 86 points

Benjamin Karl (AUT) takes home the top spot in Cortina. © Miha Matavz/FIS

Experience was key on the men’s side as well, like, a lot of experience. The podium was filled with evergreens who knew each nook and cranny of the Cortina course.

The 38-year-old Benjamin Karl (AUT) took home first in an all-Austrian final. He took down his compatriot Andreas Prommegger (AUT) by 0.44 seconds.

“Victory always feels awesome. But to be on the podium with two good friends is great. We are three of the oldest of the World Cup. We are laughing about that, it seems like you need a little bit of experience here in Cortina,” Karl said.

Karl earned the win with a tough path to the top of the podium. He took out the top two qualifiers on his way to gold.

“When I came against (Fischnaller) in the small final I knew I had to do everything I can do. I was really, really pushed in the final too. I have been on the podium many times here, but this is my first victory, and it is one of the most exciting places we have in World Cup,” Karl said.

Karl continues his solid start to the year with his second podium after taking third in Carezza. It is his 20th win of his World Cup career.

Prommegger took second place at Cortina for the second straight year. The 43-year-old now has 51 World Cup podiums to his name. He too knows the value of experience.

“In parallel riding, you always need experience because everything is pretty close and some decisions you can win in your mind and with your head. Today you saw it, each guy on the podium was almost 40 so yeah, all the oldest made it,” Prommegger said.

Roland Fischnaller (ITA) was the defending champion in Cortina. He settled for third after falling in the semifinals to Karl. He caught an edge and clipped a gate in the loss. The 43-year-old said the snow was perfect pre-race but was a little weary of the course being too straight.

Cortina remains his favorite course. He extended his podium streak on the Dolomite mountain. He has five wins in Cortina and made it ten podiums in ten starts there.

The winner from Carezza, Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) escaped in the first round with a dramatic 0.06 win against Lee Sangho (KOR). He then lost to Fischnaller in the quarterfinals.

The FIS World Cup Alpine Snowboard tour will march on to Davos, Switzerland for the first time in its history. The racers will take on a parallel slalom race on December 23.

Race Results Men’s PGS Cortina