Tsubaki Miki’s hot streak continues with Yanqing victory

Dec 08, 2024·Snowboard Alpine

It was nothing but sunny skies on Sunday in Yanqing as the 2024-25 VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup competed in a parallel slalom event. The sun shined even brighter on Tsubaki Miki (JPN) and Daniele Bagozza (ITA) as both topped the podium on Sunday.

Tsubaki Miki finally breaks through the door

No rider, regardless of gender, was as consistent as Miki to begin the season. The rising star made the podium in all three races thus far, showing off her technical skill and speed. On Sunday that consistency paid off as she took the next step up on the podium.

Miki took down the evergreen Claudia Riegler (AUT) in the big final to win her fourth career World Cup race and first of the current season. The 21-year-old used her signature speed to get past the seasoned Riegler in a generational battle in the final. The taste of victory was extra sweet for the Japanese snowboarder.

“After second and third in the first races this season, I really, really wanted to get first today so I am really happy,” Miki said. “Today was so fun.”

The win moves Miki into first place in the overall standings and establishes her as the new favourite moving forward for the crystal globe.

Riegler’s second place gives the timeless wonder 38 career World Cup podiums across all disciplines. She is third in the overall Snowboard Alpine standings after four races. The performance was extra special for Riegler as she said she is riding for her mother this season, who battled illness this summer and continues to motivate Riegler with her survival and fight.

Claudia RIegler (AUT) races down the slopes. @Miha Matavz/FIS

Julie Zogg (SUI) qualified second and used that speed to advance to the semifinals and then win the small final. That gives the former overall champion her second podium of the season. Her Swiss teammate Flurina Neva Baetschi (SUI) finished fourth on the day.

Sabine Payer (AUT) continued her strong season, finishing fifth. She now sits in second in the overall standings.

Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) posted the fastest qualifying time but was stunned in the first knockout round. American youngster Iris Pflum (USA) pulled off the shocking upset against the defending overall champion.

Elsewhere, Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) could not keep up the positive momentum after winning the PGS on Saturday. The Italian missed out on the knockout rounds by three spots.

Women’s Parallel Slalom Standings

Tsubaki Miki (JPN) – 180 points
Sabine Payer (AUT) – 145 points
Claudia Riegler (AUT) – 125 points
Julie Zogg (SUI) – 120 points
Jasmin Coratti (ITA) – 72 points

An All-Italian Affair

It was brighter days for the Italian team on the men’s side. Daniele Bagozza (ITA) beat out his compatriot Gabriel Messner (ITA) in a nail-biter of a final to top the podium. The Chinese snow has been special to Bagozza.

“It’s an incredible feeling. I won here for my first World Cup title five years ago. I was very young back then. I have had some tough first races so to go home with a victory is the best moment of the season so far,” Bagozza said with a big smile.

Bagozza crossed the line by 0.03 seconds ahead of his teammate to win the day. It was his sixth career individual World Cup win.

“The final runs were perfect. The snow was perfect. I had a lot of fun. All of the final runs were super close, and I think that is exactly how snowboard racing should be,” Bagozza said.

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) celebrates atop the podium. @Miha Matavz/FIS

Behind the winner, Messner picks up his second podium in four races this season after his third-place finish in the PSL race in Mylin last week. Messner is adding his name to the long list of contenders from Italy.

Andreas Prommegger (AUT) picked up his first podium of the season. It is the 68^th career World Cup podium for the Austrian and 56^th individual top-three World Cup finish.

Tim Mastnak (SLO) capped off his amazing weekend in Yanqing with a fourth-place finish following his win on Saturday in the PGS. Defending overall champion Benjamin Karl (AUT) had a solid outing, ending in fifth.

Despite the success up top, the Italian men also suffered some uncharacteristic struggles in qualifying. Two of the three men in Saturday’s PGS podium did not qualify for the finals. Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) was disqualified, and Mirko Felicetti (ITA) did not finish in qualifying on Sunday morning. Edwin Coratti already picked up a win in week one of the season in Mylin. However, he also did not qualify for the finals on Sunday.

Men’s Parallel Slalom Standings

Daniele Bagozza (ITA) – 145 points
Gabriel Messner (ITA) – 140 points
Benjamin Karl (AUT) – 125 points
Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) – 100 points
Tim Mastnak (SLO) – 100 points

The VISA Snowboard Alpine World Cup will head to Europe next. The men and women will take the slopes of the Italian Dolomites in Carezza on December 12 for a PGS event.

QUICK LINKS:

Full Men’s Overall Standings

Full Women’s Overall Standings