Hofmeister goes for four in a row in Rogla

Jan 24, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The 2024-25 VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup marches on during a busy part of the schedule as the world’s best turn to the summits of Slovenia. Rogla will host the next parallel giant slalom race on Saturday.

Last season Benjamin Karl (AUT) took the crown on the men’s side in Rogla and Tsubaki Miki (JPN) topped the women’s podium. Karl will be amongst the contenders after scoring a podium finish in Bansko last weekend. Miki will be the co-favorite as she has been the most consistent racer regardless of gender all season. Her win in Rogla was her second career World Cup victory and first in PGS.

The Japanese star has made the podium in ten of eleven races this season. That includes four straight second-places after her win in Davos. There will be one major roadblock in her way: Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER).

The return of a champion

The defending champion is back with a vengeance. She is on a three-race winning streak after missing out on any podium for the first eight races of the year. Hofmeister beat Miki in the big final in all three wins. The two will be on another collision course in Rogla.

Names like Sabine Payer (AUT) and Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) will try to knock them off. Youngsters like Michelle Dekker (NED) will also attempt to spoil the party.

The Dutch snowboarder has two podiums this season with a third place in the previous race. She is pushing for more.

“To top a podium in the World Cup with all these incredible ladies you need to bring your best riding every single run and keep working hard. You can’t give up no matter what run it is. But you also have to never give up when you are off the snow. You have to work as hard as possible everyday,” – Dekker said.

The young Dutch rider has plenty of reasons to believe and reasons behind her recent success. First the technical aspects of her riding and equipment provided a major boost.

“⁠I switched boards the beginning of January from a 185 back to my 180 and I think that and the improvement in my GS technique really helped me to get these amazing results in the last couple races. My setup, my training and my testing have been the biggest part to my success recently,”– Dekker said.

The Dutch are not well-known for their skiers and snowboarders. Dekker found inspiration to reach the pinnacle from the ones who came before her.

“For me the older generation has inspired me a lot when I was younger and started snowboarding. For me it was Nicolien Sauerbreij that inspired me the most because she showed me that even though you are from a country without any mountains you can be a World Cup winner and Olympic champion,”– Dekker said.

Dekker’s breakthrough may come this weekend. It may also come for Gabriel Messner (ITA) on the men’s side. He will have to stave off his Italian teammates including Daniele Bagozza (ITA), Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) and Aaron March (ITA).

Will an Italian man take the win?

Messner has four podiums this season including two last weekend in Bansko. He is searching for that elusive win.

“I’m hungrier than ever. Standing on the podium is great, but once you get a taste of it, you just want to take that final step to the top,”– Messner said.

What will it take to make it over the hump?

“Hard work, believing, and for sure great support from my team, coaches, and everyone who is close to me. It all comes together and makes the difference,”– Messner said.

He will have plenty of motivation and a bit extra training alongside the powerful men’s Italian team. The Italian men have won six of the 11 races thus far. The team trains and competes with a tight bond and competitive atmosphere to make them special.

“There are a lot of things, good food is definitely part of it! Respect, but also, an amazing team spirit, nice jokes, a strong and hard work, and we just know how to send it when it counts,”– Messner said.

It will be a thrilling day of action as the young generation tries once more to knock the veterans off for the top podium spots. Qualifications will be Saturday morning at 9:00 CET. The knockout finals will be at 13:00 CET.