Polish pride on display as World Cup makes first ever stop in Krynica

The world’s best riders are raring to go again as the FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup tour returns from an extended break this weekend.

Having not competed since January 28 following the cancellation of last week’s event in Craigleith, Canada, the snowboarders will tackle the slopes in Krynica, Poland for the first time ever – and it’s a proud moment for the nation’s world champion, Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL).

“This is a new feeling for me,” the 27-year-old said. “To have such a big event in our home country, we are very excited. I still don’t believe that we figured out how to have a World Cup event in Poland.”

When the Polish ski resort hosts the final two parallel giant slalom races of the season, there will be pressure to finish the campaign on top, and Kwiatkowski is well aware.

“Now I feel more pressure than usual,” the PGS world champion said. “I am more focused to recover well and to do my best.

“My whole family is coming. They have never been to a World Cup race to cheer me on. I am super happy about that. We expect it to be really crowded. We are happy it is already scheduled for next season too so it is not only one time that it is coming to our country.”

Kwiatkowski is not alone in his desire for Polish glory. His compatriot Maria Bukowska-Chyc (POL) also wants to raise her game for her loved ones.

“I have more motivation for this start because my husband, parents and friends will be at the finish line,” the 25-year-old said.

The entire home team knows this weekend means more, and are beaming with pride to bring the World Cup to Krynica, which, as the biggest spa town in the country, is known as the ‘Pearl of Polish Spas’.

"We are in good spirits, the mood before the first competition on Polish soil is combative,” Poland coach Oskar Bom said. “The athletes will surely give their all to present themselves in the best possible way.”

The motivation to perform extends to local organisers too, having worked tirelessly for their moment in the World Cup spotlight.

“The fact that Jaworzyna Krynicka has been included in this group is the result of many years of work at many levels," said Daniel Pitrus, who is president of the PKL Group which owns the Krynica venue.

Adam Malysz, the president of PZN, the Polish Ski Federation, and a four-time ski jumping world champion, radiates similar enthusiasm for this weekend’s event.

“We hope that all Polish competitors participating in the World Cup at Jaworzyna Krynicka will bring us a lot of fantastic sports emotions,” he said.  “This is a special time for us because we are debuting and want to perform as well as possible.”

Polish success on home snow would represent some achievement however as no rider from the country has reached the podium so far this season. A little home cooking may lead to a reversal of fortunes.

Women’s PGS crystal globe up for grabs

On the slopes, competition will be fierce. Four women have a shot at the PGS crystal globe with victories in the two races this weekend.

Miki Tsubaki (JPN) holds a 31-point lead over Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) going into Krynica. Hofmeister won the first two PGS races of the season but has lost in head-to-head battles with Tsubaki three times this campaign.

The two will have stiff competition from Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) and Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT), who are just seven and nine points behind Hofmeister respectively.

Schoeffmann is coming off her first win of the season in Simonhöhe in her homeland, but her hopes of claiming the PGS globe are off to a rough start in Poland – the Austrian rider fractured her left hand at the beginning of the week and required surgery. She will be a game-time decision on race day whether she makes the start list.

Do not count her out if she goes on Saturday: Schoeffmann broke the same bone during the junior world championships in 2009. She suffered the injury in the first knockout round but soldiered on through the pain to win gold.

Zuzana Maderova (CZE) will lead the loaded field attempting to play spoiler. She is coming off a second-place finish in Simonhöhe. It was her best result of the year and one she hopes to match – or better – even if she is unsure how.

“I don’t know, in Simonhöhe everything was perfect from the morning – the snow, the course, my mental and physical conditions. But I hope it will happen again soon,” Maderova said.

The women’s race will be one to watch with plenty of strategy on display as the globe will be up for grabs on the final day.

Benjamin Karl (AUT) not satisfied with one crystal globe

Tie a bow on the men’s side as Benjamin Karl (AUT) already has the PGS crystal globe all wrapped up. The Austrian veteran clinched the discipline title weeks ago after making the podium in every PGS race this season.

Karl, 38, is not satisfied with the small globe and three victories this season, replying with an all-caps “NO” when asked if winning the PGS title is enough this campaign. He wants to top the podium on both days, for reasons both competitive and spiritual.

“PGS is nice but this was never the goal this year. The goal is the big globe. The small globe is a result of the big dream,” Karl said. “The goal is to win both races. Get over 200 points’ advantage and feel freedom after that for my soul.”

Karl holds a 127-point lead over Daniele Bagozza (ITA) in the overall standings with four races to go. Bagozza won the previous PGS race in Simonhöhe, taking down Karl in the big final. The two could meet once again in a critical matchup for the race for the overall crystal globe.

Karl will attempt to keep his podium streak in PGS alive. He is already eyeing advantages on the course and is confident heading into the weekend.

“I will put all my energy into the two races in Poland to further extend my lead in the overall standings. Like in Rogla and Simonhöhe, the terrain is rather flat, as the Polish team’s social media postings from training on the racing slope have already suggested. So I’m happy that I’m now very fast on the flats too,” Karl said.

Bagozza will be gunning for his own title hopes. He and the rest of the Italian men’s team have dominated the season with five wins in nine races this season. His teammates Edwin Coratti (ITA) and Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) sit in third and fourth in the overall standings and have solid podium chances.

RACE SCHEDULE

The action begins with qualifying for the men and women on Saturday morning local time. Knockout rounds kick off at 13:00 CET on February 24. The riders will then do it all again on Sunday February 25. The men and women will go through qualifying in the morning followed by the knockout rounds beginning at 13:00 CET on Sunday.

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

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