Bormolini & Miki raise globes, Austrians dominate the day in Winterberg

Mar 15, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The final individual race of the 2024-25 VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup was a thrilling end to a captivating season. The conditions were warm and the snow was a bit slushy but that did not stop Sabine Payer (AUT) and her compatriot Mattheus Pink (AUT) from taking the victories.

It was a surprise result for Pink who battled past the eight men battling for the PSL crystal globe to top the podium. It was the first World Cup podium and victory for the 23-year-old Pink and he beat his teammate Arvid Auner to do it.

“I had some nerves but then (Auner) fell and I was a bit relieved. I was just riding down and hoping he would not come after me. I ride with him in training, so I just wanted to put that same mindset as I have in training and focus on the riding. Fortunately for me I pulled it off and am just happy. We will party tonight for sure,”– Pink said.

Mattheus Pink wins first career World Cup race. ©Miha Matavz/FIS

It was his 45th start. Pink became the third Austrian to man win a race this season.

Rounding out the podium was Auner (AUT) in second after a DNF in the big final. Auner did not go home empty handed as he clinched the PSL crystal globe with his second place finish. Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) ended his career-best World Cup campaign with his eighth podium of the season.

Austrian Sabine Payer (AUT) also had a great day picking up her third win of the season, bouncing back after struggling with illness earlier this year. It was a great performance for Payer amidst her recent return to form.

“The flat part is tough here, and you really have to work the flat part and I did. It was amazing,”– Payer said.

Pink leads the podium followed by Auner (left) and Bormolini (right). ©Miha Matavz/FIS

It was the tenth individual World Cup victory for Payer and her second at Winterberg. It was her 40th career World Cup podium. She will team up with fellow winner Pink in the team event on Sunday in Winterberg.

Payer took out the mighty Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) in the big final. Hofmeister finished the season on the podium in eight of the final nine races. Zuzana Maderova (CZE) earned her spot on the triumvirate for the first time this season by winning the small final.

It was a happy moment for Hofmeister to clinch a podium in her home country.

“Winterberg is always awesome. I am happy to be on the podium in the last World Cup race of the season. A home race to end is perfect, I am really happy to be here,”– Hofmeister said.

Miki leads women's overall podium with Hofmeister (left) and Payer In third (right). ©Miha Matavz/FIS

Auner clinches the PSL crystal globe

Going into Saturday, eight men had a chance at the final individual crystal globe up for grabs. Dario Caviezel (SUI) had the longest shot but did not qualify for the finals. Benjamin Karl (AUT) took himself out of the race by skipping Winterberg to prepare for the World Championships.

That left six snowboarders with Auner in the slight lead to start the day with Bormolini as a strong challenger to earn his third globe of the season.

In the end Auner’s second-place finish gave him 80 points and secured the globe for the Austrian. Auner took out Gabriel Messner (ITA) in the quarterfinals, Messner was just three points behind in the standings before Saturday’s race. It is the first career crystal globe for Auner.

“It is the biggest achievement for me. It means a lot for me and shows how I was so high this whole season. It was not a great start for me with qualifications and losing in the first rounds. I knew I had the fastest turns on the tour but I needed to show it more and the pressure was on and I knew I could do it in my head and my body. But after this, I showed I can do it and I prepared so well that now I clinched the globe,”– Auner said.

Elsewhere Daniele Bagozza (ITA), Aaron March (ITA) and Andreas Prommegger (AUT) all lost their chance for the globe with losses in the early knockout rounds on Saturday.

On the women’s side Tsubaki Miki (JPN) missed the podium for only the fourth time this season after losing in the quarterfinals. She will have to settle for her sweep of the three season crystal globes instead.

Miki and Auner take the PSL crystal globes. ©Miha Matavz/FIS

“Before the first race, I did not know I was capable of winning all three globes. So I am so happy. But this season I only had four victories so I can be even stronger and win more. Next season I will train for more wins like Ramona (Hofmeister),”– Miki said with a laugh.

The young rising star is hoping she can begin a trend of athletes in her sport from Japan.

Tsubaki celebrates her globe sweep. ©Miha Matavz/FIS

“I am so happy other Japanese athletes are doing snowboard Alpine and training for it, so I hope winning in the World Cup can inspire more Japanese youth in this sport,”– Miki said.

Bormolini will also settle with some hardware of his own. He raised the overall globe on Saturday after clinching the title earlier this month.

“It is incredible, I worked a lot the last two years to become the best snowboarder I can be. It was difficult because I had to change my setting, board and everything. It is nice and really emotional when you can see your past work help you accomplish this amazing season. I am really happy and satisfied but I still have the world championships,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini tops overall podium with Prommegger (left) and Bagozza (right). ©Miha Matavz/FIS

It was not an easy road for Bormolini.

“I had a big injury four years ago when I tore my ACL. After this injury, my motivation was not high and the recovery was difficult, especially on the snowboard and the pain in my knee. I have to say now, it is a great moment. It was a special three years since then and want to say thank you to my family, team and fans,”– Bormolini said.

Let’s take a look at the final standings of the overall and disciplines as the individual season comes to a close.

Men’s Overall Final Standings

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) - 910 points
Andreas Prommegger (AUT) - 731 points
Daniele Bagozza (ITA) - 594 points

Women’s Overall Final Standings

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) - 1209 points
Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) - 1034 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) - 914 points

Men’s PSL Final Standings

Arvid Auner (AUT) - 299 points
Gabriel Messner (ITA) - 252 points
Daniele Bagozza (ITA) - 237 points

Women’s PSL Final Standings

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) - 405 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) - 326 points
Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) - 261 points

Men’s PGS Final Standings

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) - 692 points
Andreas Prommegger (AUT) - 495 points
Radoslav Yankov (BUL) - 455 points

Women’s PGS FInal Standings

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) - 804 points
Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) - 773 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) - 588 points

The final event of the VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup will occur on Sunday from Winterberg with the mixed team PSL race. Qualifying will begin at 9:30 local time and the finals will commence at 10:30. The snowboard Alpine world championships will be March 20-23 in Engadin/St. Moritz, Switzerland.

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Bormolini & Miki raise globes, Austrians dominate the day in Winterberg

Auner clinches the PSL crystal globe

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