Payer and Bormolini top parallel podiums in Mylin

Dec 01, 2024·Snowboard Alpine

The VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup tour continued its first-ever stay in Mylin, China with a parallel slalom race on Sunday.

It was a new name atop the podium on the women’s side, well sort of. Sabine Payer (AUT) took home the win for the first time since changing her last name after marrying fellow snowboarder Alexander Payer (AUT) earlier this year.

Payer earned the victory against a tough field. She edged out speedster Tsubaki Miki (JPN) by 0.4 seconds in the big final.

“It is amazing, especially with my new name, Sabine Payer had her first victory (laughs). It was fun. Today the visibility was way better, the Chinese staff did a really good job with the (course) colors today which made it a lot easier for me,” – Payer said.

The win helps erase some bad memories on this side of the world for Payer.

Sabine Payer tops podium ahead of Tsubaki Miki and Julie Zogg // © Miha Matavz/FIS

“I did not have a lot of good experiences here in China. In 2019, I lost my orange bib here, and at the Olympics, I was in quarantine during the race, so I didn’t have very good China experiences. Now with the victory, I rethink about this country (laughs),” Payer said. “I like the Chinese snow now.”

That bodes well for Payer as the tour will move within the country to Yanqing for the next stop. The win gives Payer 27 career World Cup podiums and eight victories.

Second-place finisher Tsubaki Miki (JPN) had another strong showing with her second podium of the weekend and 16^th of her World Cup career.

Earlier in the day, Miki took down the favourite Ester Ledecka (CZE) in the semifinals. Ledecka caught an edge going around a gate and could not make up the lost time after the stumble as Tsubaki advanced to the big final.

Julie Zogg (SUI) then edged out Ledecka in the small final to round out the podium, her 34^th time amongst the top triumvirate. Ledecka meanwhile will head back to the Alpine Ski tour and skip next week’s Snowboard Alpine event in Yanqing after topping the podium in the PGS on day one.

The slalom course proved tricky for many with three crashes just in the quarterfinal round. Zogg (SUI) could not finish a smooth run in the semifinals, missing a gate. Zogg looked strong all day with the fastest qualifying time before claiming third.

Defending overall champion Ramona Theresia Hofmeister’s (GER) early season struggles continued. She qualified seventh and was knocked out in the first round for the second consecutive day. Jasmin Coratti (ITA) took down the champion to advance to the quarterfinals.

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) was the big shock in qualifying as she suffered a disqualification and missed out on the knockout rounds.

Women’s Results

Sabine Payer (AUT) – 100 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 80 points
Julie Zogg (SUI) – 60 points
Ester Ledecka (CZE) – 50 points
Claudia Riegler (AUT) – 45 points

Women’s Standings after Race 2 of 18

Ester Ledecka (CZE) – 150 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) – 145 points
Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 140 points
Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) – 112 points
Julie Zogg (SUI) – 78 points

Bormolini back on top

The big names were back on top in day two of the men’s races in Mylin. It was a heavyweight bout in the big final as Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) bested Benjamin Karl (AUT) to claim victory.

Maurizio Bormolini celebrates with his team. // © Miha Matavz/FIS

“Last year I opened the season with a victory in Carezza so I decided to do it again. It is really nice to win. Benjamin (Karl) is really strong and for me it’s an honour to beat him. I hope to have more battles with him,” – Bormolini said while standing alongside Karl.

The win is Bormolini’s fifth in his World Cup career and first since Bad Gastein in January 2024. It was a bounce back for Bormolini after crashing out in the first round on Saturday.

Karl also rebounded from a first-round exit on Saturday with a strong performance as he mounts his overall title defence. The evergreen reaches his 50^th individual World Cup career podium.

Not to be outdone in bouncing back, Gabriel Messner (ITA) missed all last season with a back injury. The rest and rehab has done him well as he rounded out the podium on Sunday.

Messner is roommates with Bormolini while on tour. His Italian counterpart had a front-row seat to the effort Messner put in to make it back on the slopes.

“It is really nice. He had an injury last year and he came back. It was not easy for him, so I am really happy for him. He did a lot of work to be here this season,” – Bormolini said.

Maurizio Bormolini glides down the hill // © Miha Matavz/FIS

Messner reaches a World Cup podium for the first time in his career.

Behind the top three, Lee Sangho (KOR) posted the fastest qualifying time following his third place in the PGS on Saturday but was ousted in the first round in a photo finish. Bi Ye (CHN) could not take advantage of home snow as he was also eliminated in round one.

It was a stark contrast for Edwin Coratti (ITA) on day two in Mylin. After winning the first race of the season, the Italian suffered a DNF in qualifying and did not advance to the final rounds. Kim Sangkyum (KOR) also suffered a fall after his podium finish on day one. The Korean rider missed out on the final rounds after qualifying 20^th.

Men’s Results