VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup returns with a deeper field than ever before

Nov 27, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

The snow is trickling down, blanketing the mighty summits across the northern hemisphere. Summits, snowboarders are keen to carve. The high-flying action on those snowy caps begin in December as the 2025-26 VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup season commences.

It may be the best season yet as the calendar circles around the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. An Olympic year adds intrigue and pressure to every World Cup stop as the best in the world race for points to qualify for the chance at an Olympic medal.

The snowboard alpine athletes who qualify will compete for two medals in parallel giant slalom, one for the men and one for the women. The competitions will occur in Livigno, a crucial market with rich history for Snowboard Alpine.

This VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup season will traverse ten countries stopping at 13 venues. The tour starts in Mylin, China where the Asian nation will kick off the season once again after their historic opening event last season. The World Cup will hit the classic stops like the thrilling night events in Cortina and Bad Gastein before breaking for the Olympics.

Bad Gastein has hosted a World Cup event every season since 2001. Another legendary Austrian venue in Simonhohe makes its return to the circuit after a year away.

The riders will return from Olympic glory or disappointment for four more events ending with Winterberg in Germany come March. The PGS crystal globes will be awarded across the pond in Canada at Val St. Come. Its second appearance on the tour.

Tsubaki Miki and Maurizio Bormolini look to repeat as overall champions.

Spindleruv Mlyn will make its debut on the snowboard Alpine circuit. The Czechia venue sits within Krkonoše National Park and is known for its difficult terrain. The venue is experienced with previous history hosting Alpine Ski world cup events.

In total there will be 13 Parallel Giant Slaloms, five Parallel Slaloms, and three team events planned for the season. There will be a team crystal globe this season after not awarding one last season due to a limited number of events.

Last season was hotly contested as the field of contenders was deeper than ever. Riders from more than 20 nations regularly competed for top spots with 12 different nations reaching the podium last season. That number figures to rise this season as newcomers and youngsters will be chasing the established leaders.

Tsubaki Miki is gunning to defend her crown

On the women’s side Tsubaki Miki (JPN) is the favorite to take the overall crystal globe once again after her first title last season. The young Japanese star graced the podium in the first five events last season and ended with four victories on her way to the globe. She also claimed the world championships in parallel slalom last season to go along with a silver in the PGS race.

Miki races down the slope.

She has been prepping for another globe run since lifting the trophy last season, celebrating with more training instead of champagne.

“Preparations for the next season and a lot of work after returning to Japan for the first time in a while meant we haven't had a big celebration yet! Once this season ends, I want to give myself lots of praise,” – Miki said.

The reigning champion is not satisfied with reaching the pinnacle of the sport. The offseason focus was all about getting even better.

“Every year, I consciously strive to surpass my previous self. To achieve that, it's crucial to reach my peak condition from last year as early as possible. This year, I've been training and conditioning my body to reach that state even earlier,”– Miki said.

Miki put in hours upon hours improving her aerobic and core stability while also throwing around some weights in the gym. She will need all that power to stay ahead of a competitive field.

German living snowboard legend Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) has four overall crystal globes to her name and led the tour with six victories last season. She will be Miki’s main rival. However, she will likely be out for the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury suffered in September during training.

“Yes, it’s a setback, but I’ve accepted the circumstances. Priority number one is getting healthy again – the focus is on recovery and listening to my body,”– Hofmeister said.

The two favorites will have to be wary of defending Olympic champion Ester Ledecka (CZE). Ledecka also won the 2025 world championship in PGS. The dual-sport athlete also competes in Alpine Skiing but will be the automatic favorite anytime she joins the snowboard start list.

The field goes beyond the big names at the top with youngsters like Malena Zamfirova (BUL) looking to take the next step and veterans like Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL) and Sabine Payer (AUT) gunning for more trophies.

Tomoka Takeuchi celebrates on the podium.

It will also be the last dance for Japanese legend Tomoka Takeuchi (JPN). The six-time Olympian announced this will be her final snowboard season. Ladina Caviezel (SUI) will also hang up her boots after this season.

Italian men look for more success with home Olympics on the horizon

Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) lifted his first overall crystal globe title last season to lead the mighty Italian team. The Italian men topped the podium in eight of 17 events last season.

Bormolini captured three victories on the way to his overall and PGS globes culminating in celebration with his family and friends this offseason. He will have to fend off his teammates Edwin Coratti (ITA), Daniele Bagozza (ITA), Aaron March (ITA) and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) who all won at least once last season.

The champ has been focusing on raising the trophy once again all offseason.

“The physical preparation, it's almost the same as last year as is the preparation on the board, but I am trying to be more focused from the beginning of the season. There has been a lot of gym training, hiking,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini is also already eyeing his chance at Olympic glory. The Snowboard Alpine events for the Winter Games will be in Bormolini’s hometown of Livigno.

“As I have said many times, I feel like it’s fantastic to have this opportunity. I am already imagining all the fans and people of my town there to watch our race,”– Bormolini said.

Bormolini hopes to wear the yellow bib once again this season.

The Italian men will have to hold off the Austrian team gunning for redemption after a somewhat disappointing campaign a year ago. Andreas Prommegger (AUT) was the highest achiever on the team last season. Wily veteran Benjamin Karl (AUT) will be fighting for more titles in his final campaign as he announced he will retire following the season.

Thirteen different men won last season. The men’s field gets deeper every year and this year figures to be even stronger.

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