Coratti conquers Carezza, Yankov pulls off stunner
Dec 12, 2024·Snowboard Alpine
The 2024-25 VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returned to Europe with their traditional stop in Carezza, Italy and the action did not disappoint. Many of the strong Italian team were geared up to win in front of their home fans. Many did well but none better than Jasmin Coratti (ITA) who topped the podium on the women’s side for her first career World Cup win.
In the men’s race Radoslav Yankov stunned a men’s field full of strong contenders to take the victory for his first World Cup win since 2017.
Coratti wins first race on home snow
The 23-year-old Coratti was not one of the many Italians thought to be a contender for the crown on Thursday. However, the youngster qualified third and put together four incredible runs to pick up her first career World Cup victory. It is only her third career podium, and it means more that she pulled it off in front of her friends, family, and home crowd in Carezza.
In the big final Coratti fended off Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL). It was a rematch of an earlier matchup this season when Krol-Walas beat Coratti in Mylin.
Coratti also took out defending overall champion Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) in the quarterfinals and former overall champion Julie Zogg (SUI) in the semifinals.
Coratti moves into fifth in the overall standings and third in the PGS. Krol-Walas slid into first in the PGS table with her second-place in Carezza. It was the second podium of the season for Krol-Walas. She now has seven career World Cup podiums including twice at Carezza.
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) continued her podium streak by winning the small final. She is the only snowboarder, regardless of gender, to reach the podium in every race this season. She remains the orange bib holder as the overall leader.
Elsewhere, Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) did not qualify for the final rounds and overall crystal globe contender Sabine Payer (AUT) was knocked out in the first round by Krol-Walas.
Women’s PGS Standings
Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) – 186 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 180 points
Jasmin Coratti (ITA) – 148 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) – 145 points
Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) – 136 points
Yankov comes from nowhere for the win
It was another stunning result on the men’s side as Radoslav Yankov (BUL) pulled off upset after upset all the way to the top of the podium. It was a special moment for the 34-year-old who had not won a World Cup race since Bansko 2017.
It is the fourth career World Cup victory for Yankov. His first came on these same grounds in Carezza back in 2015.
It was the tenth career World Cup podium for Yankov and only his second since 2018, the other coming in his home country of Bulgaria last season. Yankov did not have it easy as he barely beat Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) in the quarterfinals.
He then took out the defending champion Benjamin Karl (AUT) in the semifinals. It was then a tough battle in the final against the red-hot Tim Mastnak (SLO) but Yankov prevailed.
Mastnak ended with second, his second time on the podium this season after his win in Yanqing last week. He moves into the top spot in the overall standings.
Rounding out the podium was Benjamin Karl (AUT). The 39-year-old continues to rack up career achievements. It is his second podium of the season and 51st career individual World Cup podium.
A strong field of Italian men all gunned for glory on their home ground, coming up just short. Edwin Coratti (ITA) ended the day in fourth just off the podium but, has plenty to celebrate with his sister winning the day. Bormolini, Daniele Bagozza (ITA) and Mirko Felicetti (ITA) all ended the day in the top ten.
Men’s PGS Standings
Tim Mastnak (SLO) – 190 points
Edwin Coratti (ITA) – 165 points
Sangho Lee (KOR) – 150 points
Sangkyum Kim (KOR) – 149 points
Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) – 142 points
The World Cup tour will make a short trip across Northern Italy to Cortina d’Ampezzo for another thrilling PGS race on Saturday December 14. It will be the season’s lone night race and promises another action-packed evening.
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