Crystal Globes safe for Grondin and Casta – but Dusek wins Bataille Royale

Apr 05, 2025·Snowboard Cross

Canadian Eliot Grondin is certain to collect his second Crystal Globe on home soil at this weekend’s FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne. But Jakob Dusek (AUT) has now won the most races this season, after edging out Grondin in a thrilling big final on Saturday.

Grondin’s hopes of delighting the local crowd with two victories, as he did in 2024, were dashed by just 0.03 seconds as Dusek surged through to take the big final win.

In the women’s event, Lea Casta (FRA) is now guaranteed her first Crystal Globe at the age of just 19. Charlotte Bankes (GBR), the World Cup leader ahead of the weekend, broke her collarbone in a season-ending training crash on Friday. With only 17 points separating the two riders ahead of Mont-Sainte-Anne, that secured overall victory for Casta.

However, the French rider showed why she deserves the trophy, winning the big final for her third win, and eighth podium, of the season.

2024’s Rookies of the Year Mia Clift (AUS) and Nathan Pare (USA) secured career-best finishes with second and third respectively in the women’s and men’s big finals.

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Dusek spoils Grondin’s party

The first heats of the men’s finals saw some tight racing, but the favourites looked comfortable qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Everything changed in the next round. After he had won his 1/8 heat by a big margin, Grondin was under huge pressure in the quarterfinal. With Aidan Chollet (FRA) out in front, the Canadian only secured his place in the semifinals by the narrowest of margins, beating Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) by half a board’s length in the photofinish.

There was another photofinish for the second qualifying spot in the second quarterfinal. Merlin Surget (FRA) edged out Huw Nightingale (GBR) on the line after the Briton could not find a way past his French rival.

The surprise semifinalist was Canada’s James Savard-Ferguson in his fifth World Cup start. The 20-year-old managed to avoid a collision between Julien Tomas (FRA) and Krystof Choura (CZE) which sent both riders spinning around and out of contention, and he came safely through the line behind Quentin Sodogas (FRA).

The men's big final © Miha Matavz/FIS

Grondin found his winning ways again in the semifinal, with world silver medalist Loan Bozzolo (FRA) the best of the three Frenchmen behind him. Dusek took the win in the second semifinal, despite losing speed early on. Nathan Pare finished second, to secure his first individual World Cup big final.

That big final featured Pare alongside the top three in the overall standings – Grondin, Bozzolo and Dusek. In a nailbiting finish, Dusek took the win despite Grondin leading through most of the race; the Canadian slipped as the two riders surged for the line, allowing his rival through.

It was Dusek’s third World Cup win this season, following wins in Cervinia and Gudauri. Although he has now achieved the most victories this season – one more than Grondin – Grondin’s five podium finishes overall are the key to his World Cup lead.

It was a crazy race today. I had a tough start; I crashed in training and didn’t feel super super confident in the course. But with every heat my confidence got bigger, and I could ride like I wanted to and felt awesome. And in the big final, the draft on the finish straight was definitely on my side, so happy for that.– Jakob Dusek (AUT)

Pare snatched his first career podium by beating Bozzolo for third place.

The men's podium © Miha Matavz/FIS

The big final was definitely going to be hard with the big heavy hitters. I just wanted to get a good start and hopefully get in the draft, and I kind of did that.– Nathan Pare (USA)

"I’m super-happy with how it went, and I couldn’t ask for anything better going into the Olympics – this was the US first Olympic qualifier, so I’m super-happy with how it went and just trying to carry the momentum,” Pare said.

In the small final, Chollet took fifth overall, winning ahead of Sodogas and Surget, with Savard-Ferguson securing his best-ever World Cup finish in eighth.

Grondin is now all-but guaranteed to lift his second Crystal Globe on Sunday, after extending his lead in the standings. Dusek has overtaken Bozzolo into second, but the two are split by only 14 points. Chollet is fourth and Tomas fifth.

“For sure it’s always a little bit in the back of your mind. Coming here with an OK lead, but again in Snowboard Cross anything can happen and you never know,” Grondin said.

I didn’t come here confident the job was done, I knew I had to work hard over the week and today and tomorrow to make sure it happens, and today to just close it off, especially before tomorrow’s weather, feels nice. But at the same time it’s been such a great battle with everybody, especially Jakob and Loan that’s been on fire lately. It’s been really cool to battle with those guys.– Eliot Grondin (CAN)

Men's highlights

Casta’s quality shows in perfect day

Just a week after the 2025 World Championships, the furthest any of the women’s individual medalists got in Mont-Sainte-Anne was the quarterfinals. After accidents in training ruled out world champion Michela Moioli (ITA) and silver medalist Bankes, bronze medalist Julia Pereira de Sousa (FRA) finished third in her quarterfinal, missing out on progression when fastest qualifier Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) came through in the final few jumps.

Switzerland made it three women in the semifinals after great races from Noemie Wiedmer and Aline Albrecht. Wiedmer won a photofinish against Tess Critchlow (CAN), pushing Manon Petit Lenoir (FRA) out of the running; Albrecht held on to a qualifying position against pressure from Josie Baff (AUS), behind Pia Zerkhold (AUT).

Casta was well out in front in her quarterfinal, with Audrey McManiman (CAN) taking the second semifinal spot ahead of teammate Meryeta Odine.

The women's big final © Miha Matavz/FIS

Siegenthaler once again produced a spectacular finish in the semifinals, finding huge speed off the last big rollers to overtake Critchlow and Mia Clift (AUS). And it was Clift who spoilt the Canadian party by also catching Critchlow in the closing stages for second place, for her first-ever big final.

Casta looked confident winning her semifinal, while Albrecht continued a good day for the Swiss women with second place.

In the big final, Casta took an early, big lead which was only closed down in the last few metres of the race when the battle for second and third between Clift and Siegenthaler threatened. Indeed Clift nearly caught Casta on the line, but the French rider had done enough for the win.

It was so good. I felt great. I love the course – it’s big, it’s fun – so it was super. I had a lot of fun. I got out first all day, I succeeded in staying first, so I’m very happy and proud of myself.– Lea Casta (FRA)

Clift’s second place is her first World Cup podium in 21 starts. Siegenthaler took third ahead of Albrecht, her second podium of the season after she also finished third in Beidahu in February.

Critchlow secured her best finish of the season with fifth overall, winning the small final. Zerkhold was sixth, McManiman seventh and Wiedmer eighth.

Casta’s lead in the overall standings is now unassailable and she is guaranteed to pick up her first Crystal Globe on Sunday. Bankes’ injury means she has dropped into second place, but no other rider can catch her, as there remains a 198-point gap between Bankes and third-ranked Pereira de Sousa.

Baff is fourth and Moioli fifth; the Italian is likely to be overtaken in the final standings, with Wiedmer and Siegenthaler not far behind her in sixth and seventh respectively.

It wasn’t at all the goal at the start of the season. I hoped to make a few podiums, but absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. I fought hard with Charlotte all year, it was great, and it’s a shame that that battle stops now because she’s injured. However, I’m so happy to receive this Globe.– Lea Casta (FRA)

Women's highlights

The last World Cup race of the season takes place on Sunday 6 April. Racing will begin with 24 pre-finals heats at 9:15 local time (15:15 CEST) before finals at 11:00 local time (17:00 CEST).