Back-to-back home wins for Ulbing in Bad Gastein and a first top for Bormolini
Jan 10, 2023·Snowboard Alpine
Fans cheered back-to-back home wins for Daniela Ulbing in the women’s parallel slalom at the night race at Bad Gastein (AUT) on Tuesday 10 January, the first race event after the festive break and second PSL of the season. The men’s edition was claimed by first-time World Cup winner Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) who showed serene form throughout the day, holding off a strong Austrian contingent who were looking to repeat the heroics of the 2022 race in which they claimed the top four spots.
The crowd really had nothing to lose with the women’s big final at the iconic venue with an all-Austrian tie. Ulbing, 24, screamed with delight on crossing the finish line to claim a fifth individual World Cup win. Veteran Claudia Riegler finished nearly three quarters of a second behind despite being on the favoured blue course but the 49-year-old, whose first Word Cup podium was in snowboard cross in 1997, was thrilled with second place on the hill she triumphed on herself in 2019.
In an all Swiss small final, Ladina Jenny just pipped her younger team-mate Jessica Keiser by 0.23s to take third. The experience of 105 World Cup starts against Keiser’s 32 proved invaluable but this was the youngster’s best result to date.
“I really felt comfortable today from early on,” Ulbing told FIS post-race, “and in the finals the slope was just perfect. Conditions were amazing and I was confident, and I really showed my best snowboarding and I’m really happy. I’m also happy to share it with my family who are here cheering for me.”
The win takes Ulbing, who also claimed a third place in the PSL in Winterberg (GER) in December, top of the overall and PSL rankings, with 216 and 160 points, respectively. Slovenia’s Gloria Kotnik, who was unable to progress past qualifying this time out, sits second overall courtesy of a first-ever World Cup win, in the PGS in Cortina (ITA), the last race before the break.
Germany’s Ramona Theresia Hofmeister, who has had a slow start to the season due to a back injury, is still in the hunt for a fourth consecutive overall title sitting ominously in third overall, despite being knocked out in the quarter finals by Jenny in Bad Gastein.
Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT), who was knocked out of today’s race in the quarter finals by just 0.07s by compatriot Riegler, sits second in the PSL rankings courtesy of a win in Winterberg and seventh place in Austria (136 points). Riegler is equal third on 109 points with Julie Zogg (SUI).
Standings after 4 of 13 races on the overall tour (women)
1 Daniela Ulbing (AUT) 216 points
2 Gloria Kotnik (SLO) 194 points
3 Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) 173 points
Standings after 2 of 5 races on the PSL tour (women)
1 Daniela Ulbing (AUT) 160 points
2 Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) 136 points
3= Claudia Riegler (AUT) 109 points
3= Julie Zogg (SUI) 109 points
The men’s event was won by Bormolini who qualified top and continued his serene form throughout the day, beating local favourite, Alexander Payer in the big final.
“It’s really, really a big emotion for the first victory, and especially for me because the last year when I was here in Bad Gastein was after my injury of my knee two years ago and now with the victory I’m really happy and I’m really satisfied for this,” Bormolini told FIS post race while sporting a helmet emblazoned with 'Livigno', the location of the freestyle and snowboard competitions at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games in 2026.
“I’m really happy because I work a lot for comeback and Bad Gastein, it’s my favourite slope. I had already three podiums here and with this victory I have to say that’s my slope I think.”
Payer recorded a DNF, coming unstuck after pushing too hard on the tricky rutted red course to try and claim the win. The 33-year-old did manage to improve on the third position last time out, part of the quartet of Austrian men who claimed the top four positions in 2022.
The winner then, Arvid Auner was knocked out by Aaron March (ITA) in the first round of finals today and Benjamin Karl, second in 2022, was beaten by Payer in the quarter final after making one too many mistakes on the red course.
Stefan Baumeister (GER) came out on top against Fabian Obmann (AUT) in the small final, but the Austrian is putting a consistent season together.
Baumeister knocked out Austrian legend Andreas Prommegger in the quarter finals but the 2021 world silver medallist in this discipline still sits top of the overall standings for 2022/23, helped by the inability of another icon, Roland Fischnaller's (ITA) inability to progress to the finals today. Prommegger has 234 points overall, and also tops the PGS rankings, with the next race Scuol, Switzerland on Saturday (14 January).
Payer tops the PSL rankings (180 points) and is second overall (232 points) while Bormolini is third overall (214 points) and second in PSL (140 points).
The second team event of the season takes place on Wednesday (11 January), starting at 12.45pm CET.
Standings after 4 of 13 races on the overall tour (men)
1 Andreas Prommegger (AUT) 234 points
2 Alexander Payer (AUT) 232 points
3 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 214 points
Standings after 2 of 5 races on the PSL tour (men)
1 Alexander Payer (AUT) 180 points
2 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 140 points
3 Stefan Baumeister (GER) 120 points
QUICK LINKS
Bad Gastein World Cup FIS data page (results, etc.)
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