Bagozza wins big in front of home fans as Payer dominates Cortina race

Dec 14, 2024·Snowboard Alpine

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) celebrates victory in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Photo @Miha Matavz/FIS

It was a big night under the lights in Cortina d'Ampezzo as Daniele Bagozza and Aaron March gave Italy a one-two finish in the Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom at the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup.

Austria’s Sabine Payer was the first to secure victory on the course at Cortina d'Ampezzo on Saturday night after winning the women’s final against Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) while Jasmin Coratti (ITA) took third place.

Runner-up Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL), winner Sabine Payer (AUT) and third-placed Jasmin Coratti (ITA). Photo @Miha Matavz/FIS

The 23-year-old Italian claimed the last spot on the women’s podium after beating Tsubaki Miki (JPN) to the finish line in the small final and ending Miki's podium streak.

“It was amazing,” Payer said. “I think it was a very tough fight but it was nice company and I was really happy that I was a little bit faster.”

Payer’s husband Alexander also finished on the podium after winning the men’s small final against fellow Austrian Fabian Obmann.

Bagozza said he owed some of his success in the all-Italian final to his new helmet featuring a classic Italian car.

“As I told you, it’s Italian classic power (laughs),” he said. “A big final in Italy with only Italian guys, I think it’s the best way the race could have ended. I had a lot of fun.”

Parallel Giant Slalom leaders Tim Mastnak (SLO) and Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL). Photo @Miha Matavz/FIS

Bagozza’s PGS victory on Saturday is his second World Cup win of the 2024/25 season after he won the Men’s Parallel Slalom in Yanqing, China on 8 December.

The 29-year-old finished eighth on Thursday in Carezza during the third snowboard alpine event of the 2024/25 FIS World Cup season.

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) in the big final at Cortina d'Ampezzo. Photo @Miha Matavz/FIS

“I love the (Cortina) slope,” Bagozza said. “In the past years I could never perform on this slope. This year finally, wow, a victory. It’s just beautiful.”

With a men’s field that boasted six Austrian and six Italian riders, it should come as no surprise that the top three featured at least one rider from Italy or Austria.

Coratti’s third place in the women’s event follows her first PGS World Cup victory on Thursday in Carezza, Italy.

Runner-up Krol-Walas also finished second in Carezza, with Saturday’s result marking the Polish snowboarder’s third second-place finish of the season.

Last year’s overall champion Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) finished eighth on Saturday with the 28-year-old yet to break into the top three this season.

Until Saturday, Japan’s Tsubaki Miki had made the podium at every World Cup this season, with five podium finishes out of six events since November.

Saturday’s fourth-place finish still keeps Tsubaki on top of the women’s overall World Cup standings.

Despite finishing ninth and not progressing to the men’s quarterfinals on Saturday, Slovenian rider Tim Mastnak continues to lead the overall World Cup standings after six events.

The next event on the Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup calendar will take place in Davos, Switzerland on 21 December.