Bormolini amped for Canadian stop as season hits final stretch

Feb 14, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returns after a short hiatus for more thrilling head-to-head action as the chase for the crystal globes heats up. The world’s best snowboarders will cross the Atlantic to take on the historic venue of Val Saint Come in the Canadian mountains in a picturesque locale outside Montreal. A recent snowstorm dumped 35cm of fresh snow on the town on Thursday. It made things challenging for the organizing committee but created a winter wonderland for this weekend.

Val Saint Come is a staple on the Freestyle World Cup circuit as a legendary moguls slope. It will host a World Cup Snowboard Alpine event for the first time. The terrain is also ideal for parallel giant slalom racing. The setup will provide great viewing access for the fans with a finish line at the base of the Auberge.

Canadian youngster Aurelie Moison knows what the venue means to snow sports in the Western Hemisphere.

“Val Saint-Côme is special because it really values high-level winter sports, hosting events like the Moguls Ski World Cup and, of course, our World Cup too. Even though it’s not my home mountain, it still feels like home since family and friends can come watch. It’s awesome to compete on Canadian snow with that kind of support,”– Moison said.

Moison competed here before in a NorAm Cup competition. Her experience gave her some insight on the keys to the course.

“The key parts of the course, in my opinion, are the three rollers and carrying speed into the flat sections. The slope is pretty unique compared to what we’ve had this season, which will definitely make things exciting,”– Moison said.

Moison will hope her home snow advantage will lead to a strong run this weekend.

The tour’s return will also be a perfect opportunity for Tsubaki Miki (JPN) to tighten her grip on the overall crystal globe title. The Japanese star leads all three globe races and holds a commanding 276-point lead over Sabine Payer (AUT) in the overall standings. She already clinched the PSL globe with an insurmountable lead with one PSL race remaining. Two good results this weekend and the world champion will be on the doorstep of her first career overall World Cup crystal globe.

Miki has podiumed in 11 of 12 races this season and is the favourite in both races this weekend. Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) will hope for some late season magic and has the talent to pull off the sweep as she did in Bansko earlier this season. Hofmeister won the last Snowboard Alpine World Cup race in Canada in 2023, which was contested in Blue Mountain.

Ladina Cavieziel (SUI) also won in Blue Mountain that season and could contend this weekend. Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) also returns to action after missing the previous three races.

On the men’s side Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) comes in holding two bibs as the overall leader and the PGS standings. The Italian is clicking on all cylinders this season.

“I lost the globe by four points two years ago, and after that, I realized I could compete for the globe every year, and I set that as a goal. I have a lot of motivation and I think that's the secret to my success this season,”– Bormolini said.

The men's podium from Blue Mountain, Canada in 2023. @jayperreault-5

Bormolini said he found “something interesting” while training during the short break and is eager to unleash it for the end of the season run.

He will have tough competition from his countrymen. The Italian men are strong as usual with three men in the top five of the current overall standings. Bormolini trained with the team for five days during the break. They push each other during training sessions and on race days.

“We are for sure a strong team this year and everyone of us can ride for a victory and everyone will try to win in Canada. I think it's good for me, because we also have a lot of competition in training and the level rises. I try to do my best and I'll give everything to win the races,”– Boromolini said.

Edwin Coratti (ITA) and Marko Felicetti (ITA) are the Italians with the best PGS results this season behind Bormolini.

Andreas Prommegger (AUT) will also be a strong contender for the top of the podium. He sits in third 117 points behind Bormolin in the PGS standings. Radoslav Yankov (BUL) is in second, 36 points ahead of Prommegger. Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) will not race this weekend. He won the last PGS race in Canada in 2023.

Sangho Lee (KOR) will also start. He returns to the circuit after a wrist injury kept him out of the previous five races. He recorded one podium this season.

WHERE TO WATCH

RACE SCHEDULE

The ceremonies begin with a welcome dinner at 18:00 local time on Friday involving all participants and staff. There will not be a public bib draw for Saturday's race. However there will be one at 18:30 local time on Saturday night before Sunday’s race at the stage at the Ski Centre Val St. Come.

The action begins with qualifying on Saturday followed by PGS finals at 14:00 local time. The riders will return to the slope for the same format on Sunday with finals starting at 14:00 local time. Here is the full breakdown:

Saturday 15.2