Double top for Zogg in Bansko, second ever win for Bormolini

A drama-filled second day of parallel slalom racing in Bansko (BUL) on Sunday (22 January) resulted in much movement on the PSL and overall leader boards as the riders head into the second half of the 2022/23 FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup season.

Julie Zogg (SUI) raised her arms aloft on crossing the finish line first for the second day in a row, the double haul of maximum points putting her top in both PSL and overall standings in the women's tour. Italy’s Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) matches the Swiss in topping both tables in the men’s editions, after claiming a second ever World Cup win, having only bagged his first in Bad Gastein earlier this month.

In a clash of the titans in the women's big final, Zogg beat crystal globe rival Daniela Ulbing (AUT) in a race that both knew would decide who would top the PSL rankings come day’s end. Despite holding a healthy lead throughout, the Austrian faltered on the last few gates to allow Zogg to come through for the win.

“I’m really happy that I win again today, but in the final, it was very crazy for me. Before the last gate, for me, the race was over and then I saw Dani crashed and then I was thinking about now you go straight to the finish line and fast to the finish line and then I win,” said Zogg, who expressed sympathy for her devastated rival. “For me it’s a big win yes but that’s our sport.”

The previous overall leader, Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT), who had overtaken Ulbing to the top spot in both tables after Ulbing was fourth yesterday to Schoeffmann’s second, was knocked out in the first race today in another huge match-up, against Ramona Theresia Hofmeister of Germany.

Prior to the two-days of racing in Bulgaria, Ulbing had been leading the standings overall and in PSL. Now Zogg leads the PSL pack on 309 points, 13 points ahead of Ulbing on 290 with Schoeffmann third on 238. The final two PSL races of the season take place in Livigno (ITA) on 12 March and Bechtesgaden (GER) on 18 March to decide the crystal globe winner, but riders will also be eyeing the in-form rivals ahead of the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships taking place in Bakuriani, Georgia from 19 February – 5 March.

In the overall standings, Hofmeister’s quest for a fourth consecutive – and fifth total – title has taken a knock after the German finished fifth today having been knocked out by Patrizia Kummer (SUI) in the quarter-finals. Crashing out to Jessica Keiser (SUI) in the round of 16 one gate from home while in the lead yesterday didn’t help her cause.

The standings at the close of Bansko now have Zogg top (433 points), Ulbing second (391) and Hofmeister third (327). The German, who is currently top of the PGS standings on 182 points, will be hoping the next two races in Blue Mountain (CAN) on Thursday and Friday (26 and 27 January), both in the longer discipline, will close the gap to the two above her. Zogg is currently sixth in PGS standings and Ulbing ninth.

Standings after 4 of 6 races on the women's PSL tour
1 Julie Zogg (SUI) 309 points
2 Daniela Ulbing (AUT) 290 points
3 Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) 238 points

Standings after 7 of 13 races on the women's overall tour
1 Julie Zogg (SUI) 433 points
2 Daniela Ulbing (AUT) 391 points
3 Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) 327 points
4 Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) 299 points

In the men’s edition, Bormolini went from fourth to first in the overall tour rankings after the previous 1-2-3, Austria’s Andreas Prommegger and Alexander Payer and Switzerland’s Dario Caviezel, yesterday’s winner, faltered.

In a shock under the blue skies of qualification in contrast to the foggy scenes yesterday, Prommegger, the top-ranked rider in both disciplines before today, did not make the knock-out phase, finishing 20th. Following a disappointing Bulgaria adventure – the Austrian claimed eighth place yesterday – the defending men’s parallel slalom champion dropped down the rankings, having been the one to catch so far this season.

No problems for Bormolini, however, who qualified top, enabling the Italian to choose his course throughout.

“For sure I had an advantage for this because the red course was maybe a little bit easier,” he told FIS. “It was not so tricky as the blue course.

“Today was my condition, I think,” Bormolini said after winning the big final against Arvid Auner, the Austrian thrown by a rut on the blue course to give the Italian an unassailable advantage. “I like it when the snow is a little soft and you have to turn, and you have to stay on the edge. I had fun. It’s amazing.”

A colossal first race against Caviezel, with whom Bormolini was separated by just 10 points in the PSL rankings prior to today, saw the Italian come out on top by 0.29s.

Fast-improving American Cody Winters was just pipped by 0.05s before a match-up against Stefan Baumeister (GER) enabled Bormolini to overtake PSL tour leader and second-place qualifier Alexander Payer (AUT), who was a DNF in the first round against Daniele Bagozza (ITA).

Local fans cheered on home rider Radoslav Yankov (BUL) who reached the small final after not having quite enough to beat Auner, who headed to the showpiece showdown. Despite raucous support, Yankov was beaten by Baumeister to claim fourth while the German secured a trio of PSL third places this season.

The PSL standings see Bormolini on 266 points, Payer on 225, Fabian Obmann (AUT) – who was pipped by Baumeister in the quarter-final by the tightest of margins, 0.03s – on 197 points, and Baumeister on 195. Edwin Coratti (ITA) 172, Caviezel 171 and Auner 171 are also still in with a shout of PSL accolades come season’s end.

The overall standings see Bormolini on 372 points, Prommegger on 337, and Payer on 317. Caviezel sits on 295 and Obmann on 290.

The top three in PGS – Prommegger first on 240, Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) on 174 and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) on 171, will be eyeing the next two races to up their game after none qualified for the knockout phases today.

Standings after 4 of 6 races on the men’s PSL tour
1 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 266 points
2 Alexander Payer (AUT) 225 points
3 Fabian Obmann (AUT) 197 points
4 Stefan Baumeister (GER) 195 points

Standings after 7 of 13 races on the men's overall tour
1 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 372 points
2 Andreas Prommegger (AUT) 337 points
3 Alexander Payer (AUT) 317 points
4 Dario Caviezel (SUI) 295 point

QUICK LINKS

Bansko full competition programme
2022/23 FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup calendar
Bansko PSL results WOMEN MEN
World Cup overall standings: WOMEN MEN
World Cup PGS standings: WOMEN MEN
World Cup PSL standings: WOMEN MEN
2023 World Championships programme
Photos
Videos