Dalmasso and Bormolini take the PSL crystal globes

Mar 21, 2026·Snowboard Alpine

Maurizio Bormolini sweeps the crystal globes. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Winterberg, Germany set the stage for the final races of the 2025-26 Visa FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup. It was a drama-filled day as the snowboarders took the slope for the final individual race of the season, and the final career race for some. Both men and women’s parallel slalom crystal globes were up for grabs.

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All Italian Affair for the PSL Globes

Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) came into the day in fourth, 15 points behind leader Tsubaki Miki (JPN). Dalmasso has said she does not prefer PSL racing, but that did not show as Dalmasso dominated the day.

She went on to win the big final and claimed her first ever crystal globe.

“All season I said I don't love slalom, and I won the slalom. It is so crazy. I don’t know. The race was really good, both courses. I said it is not possible that I did the best in slalom this season, but I won the crystal globe. I think it is crazy (laughs),”– Dalmasso said.

Team Italy celebrates a huge day and season of medals. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Dalmasso won two of four PSL races this season. Her first globe goes alongside her Olympic bronze medal from last month. She also finished second in the overall standings.

"I am happy with the second, and the globe, and the second in the PGS. I am so happy," – Dalmasso said.

Her teammate Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) claimed the men’s PSL globe early on by qualifying in second, putting him ahead by enough points to clinch the title. Bormolini claims all three crystal globes for the first time in his career. It is also his first ever PSL globe.

On the day, Bormolini (ITA) missed a gate and could not recover as he was eliminated by Alexander Krashniak in the quarterfinals. Bormolini finished the race day in fifth but ended the World Cup season as the biggest winner.

“After the Olympics, I just tried to keep the globes. For me it was really amazing, to win five races in one season is incredible.” “At the beginning of the season, my goals were the Olympic medal and the slalom globe. So one I didn’t get, but I took the slalom. I worked a lot in slalom last season. I was in really good shape this season. It is really important to me because my first podium was in slalom,” – Bormolini said.

Bormolini credited his partner and her constant support throughout the year. The new father also credited his inner strength for a lot of his success.

“The mentality. I am older and more experienced. I stayed with a positive mentality, that helped a lot,”– Bormolini said.

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Lee leads wire-to-wire

Ahead of Bormolini on the day was a tense battle for the podium. In the big final, it was Sangho Lee (KOR) against Christoph Karner (AUT), who made a surprising run to the final.

The two battled down to the finish line as Karner’s late charge was almost successful until he fell after clipping the penultimate gate. Lee felt the pressure from the young Austrian.

“I was surprised because Chris was always chasing me, and I felt that. Before the roll, he was almost catching me, so I was really nervous. I was just trying to finish the season without injury, and I made a good result and didn’t get injured. So I am really happy about that,”– Lee said.

Sangho Lee erupts after win. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

The win was his second of the season, and third podium of the year. The veteran got a big hug from Benjamin Karl (AUT) after winning the big final.

Karner was also all smiles despite the loss. It was his first career World Cup podium. His previous best finish was fifth in Davos earlier this season.

“It was an incredible day. I always try to keep everything technical, and try to not go over the limit. From run to run, I pushed more and more, closer to my 100 percent that I am capable of. Unfortunately, I fell in the big final but I am overwhelmed with emotions,”– Karner said.

Christoph Karner makes first World Cup podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

His Austrian teammate Alexander Payer (AUT) also had a stunning run to the podium after winning the small final. It was the first podium of the season for Payer, who has 12 career World Cup podiums.

“It was a tough season, so I am happy to finish in the top-three to end the year. Especially in Winterberg, this is one of my favorite races. I think it is my third podium here. It is especially very nice to go after your wife, when your wife is going for gold, and you are the run right behind her, it is double pressure,”– Payer said.

The podium was even sweeter after a tough season. He can share the podium day with his wife Sabine Payer, who was second in the women’s race.

"I always try to win in our relationship contest just once a season, but she even won this time. I think it is very special to race together. We already won a globe together in team, we won a race at the same time, and took a long time to get on the podium on the same day, but we did it. It is different, you can be more than just happy,”– Payer said.

Alexander Krashniak (BUL) finished in fourth after losing the small final by 0.14 seconds. He also finished fourth in the PSL standings.

Benjamin Karl (AUT) already wrote a storybook ending to his final snowboard season with multiple wins and the Olympic gold. His final individual race in Winterberg did not go quite as planned as he failed to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Dario Caviezel (SUI) had a strong PSL season but suffered a DNF in the first round on Saturday.

Gabriel Messner (ITA) came into the day in third in the PSL standings, but was eliminated in round one. Messner finished the PSL standings in second and took the silver.

Aaron March (ITA) lost any shot at the PSL globe after failing to advance to the knockout rounds. March finished third and took the bronze in the PSL standings.

Fabian Obmann (AUT) made a dramatic comeback to beat his teammate and PSL specialist Arvid Auner (AUT) in round one. In a first round battle of veterans, Alexander Payer (AUT) took down his teammate Andreas Prommegger (AUT).

Last year’s winner Mattheus Pink (AUT) did not advance to the knockout rounds.

Many other big names failed to make the knockout rounds as well, including Mirko Felicetti (ITA), Elias Huber (GER), Daniele Bagozza (ITA), and Arnaud Gaudet (CAN).

Dalmasso in shock after win

Dalmasso may have been in disbelief after picking up the win and crystal globe, but she earned the win, taking out two legends along the way.

Dalmasso started out by knocking out her roommate Jasmin Coratti (ITA) in the first round. Then she took out another Italian in Elisa Fava (ITA) in the quarterfinals.

It was an epic matchup in the semifinals as Dalmasso battled all the way until the line with Julie Zogg (SUI).

Team Switzerland celebrates Julie Zogg, Jessica Keiser and Ladina Caviezel. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

Zogg went on to finish fourth after falling just short of the podium after losing the small final by 0.04 seconds. It was the final individual ride for Zogg, as she is set to retire after this season. Zogg lay on her back overcome with emotion after the small final. Her Swiss teammates ran out to her and lifted her on their shoulders to celebrate the eight-time crystal globe winner.

In the other semifinal it was the fastest-qualifier Michelle Dekker (NED) against Sabine Payer (AUT) who was on a tear through the bracket. Payer got the best of Dekker and went on to take second.

It was Payer’s fifth podium of the season despite missing some time due to an ankle injury in January. She finished fourth in the final overall standings.

“There are never ups without downs, it is always a roller coaster with me. Otherwise, it would be boring, maybe I need these. I would not have this experience. It is super nice to be on the podium with Alex today on the last day of the season, it is such a relief,”– Payer said.

Dekker took third in Winterberg after beating Zogg in the small final. It was her fourth podium of the season and she ends the PSL standings in fourth as well.

“Winning the small final was awesome, to get another podium. It was a little bit of a bummer that I went against Julie Zogg, since it was her last race. I wanted her to get a podium to end her career, but am super happy to win this one. I am super happy to race against her in her last race,”– Dekker said.

Sabine Payer, Lucia Dalmasso, Michelle Dekker on the Winterberg podium. Photo: @FIS/Miha Matavz

In another early headline matchup Zogg knocked out the home favorite Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) in a nailbiter. Hofmeister ended the year sixth in the overall standings despite missing the first month of the season.

The drama and storylines started early on as the first knockout round brought plenty of shocks.

Zuzana Maderova (CZE) came into the day in second in the PSL standings, but was eliminated in round one by Polina Kamirova (AIN) in a stunner. Maderova ended the season third in PSL and fifth in the overall. Kamirova placed eighth on the day in her first World Cup race.

The upsets kept coming as Payer knocked out the previous PSL leader Tsubaki Miki (JPN). Miki was denied the PSL globe, and her chance to sweep all three crystal globes for the second straight season. She finished the PSL race in second, 59 points behind Dalmasso. She still takes two of three with the overall and PGS globes. Her consistency was key and came from a good source.

“I always just do my best for every race, but this season I focused a bit more on the PGS because of the Olympics. There was a lot more pressure this year, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. Then my family and my sponsors told me to just enjoy it, so this season I just tried to enjoy every race,”– Miki said.

Elisa Caffont (ITA) was third in the PSL globe chase before the race, but struggled in qualifying, taking the final spot. She was then knocked out by Michelle Dekker (NED) in round one. Caffont took third in the final overall standings.

Ladina Caviezel (SUI) did not advance to the knockout final rounds in her final World Cup race, as she is retiring after this season.

The racing continues with one more event on Sunday. The snowboarders will pair up for the final mixed team event. The qualifications will be at 13:45 local time with the finals at 15:00 local time. There will be a team crystal globe awarded after the race. March and Dalmasso won the first team race this season, while Payer and Prommegger won the second. There will also be a Nations Cup awarded.

Also, do please head to Reuters Connect and Actionpress.de to view and purchase a wide selection of photographs from this race and from all FIS events.