Lee and Ledecka dominate in Winterberg to close season

Romana Theresia Hofmeister (GER) held a comfortable 73-point lead in the parallel slalom standings, and already clinched the overall and PGS crystal globes coming into the final individual race of the FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup season in Winterberg, Germany. That did not stop the big names on the women’s side from coming to play. The favourites and top racers all advanced to the quarterfinals for a dramatic day of racing to close the individual season.  

The marquee matchup came when Ester Ledecka (CZE) faced off against Hofmeister in the quarterfinals. Ledecka returned to the tour after only racing in two previous events this year. She won both, getting the best of Hofmeister both times.

This one would likely decide the day’s winner and both athletes pushed hard but Ledecka prevailed as Hofmeister suffered a fall halfway down the slope.

Ledecka would go on to win the parallel slalom event in Winterberg, asserting her dominance once again. She makes it three-for-three in Alpine Snowboard events she entered this season. She also posted the fastest qualifying time on Saturday. What is the secret to her success?

 “I don’t know (laughs). I am riding quite fast is my strongest tool. It’s really fun to come back and try to win another race. Today I was very well prepared. I am super happy to be here and it was really fun,” Ledecka said.

Things were not always so simple for Ledecka this season.

“This year was a slow start because I was injured last year and was sick for two months at the start of the season. In Pamporovo I wasn’t feeling 100 percent. Today I enjoyed it and had my full powers and could really go for it,” Ledecka said.

Ledecka will enter the mixed team event in Winterberg on Sunday to keep her winning streak alive. She will then return to the Alpine Skiing tour for the final races of the season.

“I will do the team race tomorrow. I have never done a team event before, but I figured I am here and want to do some more runs so why not,” Ledecka said.

Hofmeister is not going home empty handed. She did just enough with an escape in the first round by .01 seconds to earn the necessary points to win the PSL crystal globe. She was greedy with the award this season, taking all three globes and winning five races.

The season sweep gives her ten career World Cup crystal globes – four overall, one PGS, five PSL.

“It feels unreal. I am proud of myself and whole team. What a season, it is really crazy,” Hofmeister said. “It was not easy for me today. I was really nervous today but now I have three globes. It is really crazy. It is difficult to find the right words.”

Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) had an outside chance to claim the PSL globe with a run to the big final and a bad result from Hofmeister. It was not enough as she finished in second on Saturday, losing to Ledecka in the final. She made the big final with an incredible comeback in the semifinals to beat Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) by 0.02 seconds. 

Schoeffmann finishes third in the overall standings with seven podiums this season.

Dalmasso (ITA) knocked out six-time podium finisher Miki Tsubaki (JPN) in the quarterfinals and then came through in the small final to round out the podium. It is her fourth World Cup podium of the season. She ends the season fourth in the overall standings. Miki took second in the final standings.

 Last year’s overall globe winner Julie Zogg (SUI) fell in the quarterfinals. She finished fifth in the overall standings for the season.

Winterberg PSL Results

1.        Ester Ledecka (CZE) – 100 points

2.        Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) – 80 points

3.        Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 60 points

4.        Cheyenne Loch (GER) – 50 points

5.        Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 45 points

 Women’s Overall Alpine Snowboard Standings

1.        Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) – 786 points

2.        Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 639 points

3.        Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) – 638 points

4.        Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 580 points

5.  Julie Zogg (SUI) – 469 points

Women’s Final PSL standings

1.        Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) – 357 points

2.        Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) – 332 points

3.        Ester Ledecka (CZE) – 300 points

4.        Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 250 points

5.        Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 216 points

Lee Sangho (KOR) takes PSL crystal globe with win

Lee Sangho (KOR) came in 27 points off the lead for the PSL globe. He was one of four riders with a chance at the globe before the final race of the season. He posted the fastest qualifying time and was flying high all day on the way to the win in Winterberg.

Lee knocked off tough competition on the way to the top of the podium. It is his second win of the season and second podium of the year. It is the first PSL globe for Lee and second career globe after he won the overall title in 2021-22.

“Thanks for everyone who prepared the event. Today’s race was really tough. I was fighting for the crystal globe,” Lee said. “I was pretty nervous but I had a good result and am really happy.”

Andreas Prommegger (AUT) had a strong performance to close the season. He took second after losing to Lee in a close race in the big final. The Austrian veteran finished the season second in the overall race.

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) bested Arvid Auner (AUT) in the quarterfinals to eliminate Auner from contention for the PSL crystal globe. He would move on to the small final and came out victorious to take third place on the day. It is his fourth podium of the season and second in a row. He ends the year third in the overall standings.

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) came into the day with the lead in the parallel slalom standings. He lost his chance at the crystal globe with a mistake in qualifying and did not advance to the knockout rounds. He finishes the season second in PSL and fourth overall.

 Benjamin Karl (AUT) was the unlucky racer who qualified in 17^th and missed the knockout stages by one spot. Karl will go home happy as he already claimed the overall crystal globe title as the individual season ends.

“My last overall globe was 12 years ago, so it is a special moment. When everybody asked me when was the last globe and I said 12 years, they said it can’t be because I had world championships titles and Olympic gold, but the overall globe was a long, long time ago. It’s a special thing. I feel like I could defend it next year, my shape is good. I am where I want to be,” Karl said.

It is the fourth overall title for the evergreen and first since 2011. He also clinched his first career PGS crystal globe earlier this season.

Edwin Coratti (ITA) had an outside shot at the PSL globe on Saturday. He saw his chances whisk away in the wind after he was beaten by world champion Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) in the first knockout round. He finishes the season sixth overall.

Alexander Payer (AUT) could not defend his title in Winterberg as he fell in the first knockout round to Roland Fischnaller (ITA).

Men’s Winterberg PSL Results

1.        Lee Sangho (KOR) – 100 points

2.        Andreas Prommegger (AUT) – 80 points

3.        Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) – 60 points

4.        Rok Marguc (SLO) – 50 points

5.        Cody Winters (USA) – 45 points

Men’s Overall Alpine Snowboard Standings

1.        Benjamin Karl (AUT) – 626 points

2.        Andreas Prommegger (AUT) – 560 points

3.        Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) – 548 points

4.        Daniele Bagozza (ITA) – 508 points

5.        Lee Sangho (KOR) – 477 points

Men’s Final PSL standings

1.        Lee Sangho (KOR) – 313 points

2.        Daniele Bagozza (ITA) – 252 points

3.        Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) – 244 points

4.        Arvid Auner (AUT) – 243 points

5.        Andreas Prommegger (AUT) – 231 points

UP NEXT

The FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup season will end on Sunday with a mixed team PSL event. The action starts at 15:50 CET. The final scheduled race in Berchtesgaden was canceled due to lack of snow.

QUICK LINKS

2023/24 FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup calendar
2023/24 Women’s overall standings
2023/24 Men’s overall standings
FIS Alpine Snowboard photos
FIS Snowboard YouTube