Miki and Bormolini take top spots in Rogla and crystal globe races
Jan 25, 2025·Snowboard Alpine
The VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup has been on full tilt in January culminating in a PGS race in Rogla, Slovenia. The sun was shining and conditions were great as the world’s best took to the slope. It was a day full of surprises but in the end the best of the best remained on top.
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) and Maruizio Bormolini (ITA) came into the day with the yellow bibs as PGS leaders and navigated a loaded field to show why they are the ones to beat.
Miki proves her dominance
For Miki it was a triumphant relief to top the podium once again. The Japanese rider has been the epitome of consistency this season making eleven of twelve podiums this season. This one is extra sweet after finishing second for the previous four races.
It is her sixth World Cup win of her career and third this season. Miki also won on this exact date in Rogla last season. She must know something about this place.
It was a dramatic big final as Miki barely edged out Sabine Payer (AUT) by 0.15 seconds. It was a bounce back day for Payer as she had a solid run to the final including a win over Michelle Dekker (NED). It was the first podium for Payer since Cortina in December earlier this season and she moves back into second place in the overall standings.
Elisa Caffont (ITA) also had a great day, ending the podium in third. It was her second podium of the season and third individual World Cup career top-three finish. She pulled off the upset of the day skating by Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) by 0.04 seconds in the quarterfinals. Hofmeister’s hot streak ends after winning three straight races. Hofmeister's outside chances of defending her crystal globe title took a severe hit.
Zuzana Maderova (CZE) upset previous PGS leader Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) in the first round then took down Claudia Riegler (AUT) in the quarters before ending the day in fourth after falling at the finish line in the small final.
Dekker rounded out the top five. Elsewhere, Gloria Kotnik (SLO) could not advance to the finals in her home country.
Women’s PGS Standings
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) - 570 Points
Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) - 479 Points
Sabine Payer (AUT) - 428 Points
Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) - 413 Points
Jasmin Coratti (ITA) - 330 Points
Bormolini back on top
Maurizio Bormolini came into the day as the PGS leader and ended it as the overall leader as well. He led a strong showing from the Italian men on Saturday.
Bormolini raised his arms in triumph after crossing the line in the big final. It is his first win since Scuol earlier this month. This is his first win at Rogla. It was a difficult big final as Bormolini took out the young upstart Elias Huber (GER).
He has four podiums this season and seven career World Cup wins overall. It has been a season of major parity on the men’s side but Bormolini must have some secret sauce to success.
It was a tough day as Bormolini ran a gauntlet on the way to the win. He had a matchup worthy of a final in the first round as he edged out previous overall leader Andreas Prommegger (AUT). The win gives Bormolini both the yellow and orange bibs as the PGS and overall leader.
Huber makes an individual podium for the first time in his career. He is the first German man to podium in Snowboard Alpine since Stefan Baumeister (GER) in Bansko 2023.
The Italian men's team came to play in Rogla taking over the entire bottom half of the quarter final brackets with four men advancing past the first round. Aaron March (ITA) came out in third with a win in the small final, making his third podium of the season.
Going down the ladder, Benjamin Karl (AUT) had a solid run taking out Radoslav Yankov (BUL) in the quarterfinals and ended in fourth after losing the small final. Tim Mastnak posted the fastest qualifying time in front of the home fans but was later eliminated in the quarterfinals and ended in fifth.
Behind the top five, Daniele Bagozza (ITA) failed to qualify for the finals. Alexander Payer (AUT) posted the second-fastest qualifying time but was eliminated in the first round by veteran Roland Fischnaller (ITA). Gabriel Messner (ITA) will have to keep waiting for his first win after two straight podiums as he lost in the first round.
Men’s PGS Standings
Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) - 447 Points
Radoslav Yankov (BUL) - 366 Points
Andreas Prommegger (AUT) - 330 Points
Tim Mastnak (SLO) - 305 Points
Mirko Felicetti (ITA) - 271 Points
The VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup finally takes a breath with a small break. The snowboarders will take a trip across the pond to Canada with two PGS races. The World Cup will drop in on Val St. Come outside of Montreal for a race on February 15. They will then do it all again on February 16.
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