Haemmerle Edges Grondin in Snowboardcross Classic — Filmogaz's Tabitha Stoecker on the Finish
Alessandro Haemmerle successfully defended his men's snowboardcross title in a gripping final on Thursday in Livigno, Italy, closing out a tense duel with Canada's Eliot Grondin to repeat as Olympic champion. The victory completed a weekend of tight finishes and veteran showings that left the field separated by fractions of a second.
A photo-finish rematch — Haemmerle holds his nerve
The gold-medal duel between Haemmerle and Grondin came down to the final roll. Grondin appeared poised to reverse the result from four years earlier as he surged through the closing meters, but Haemmerle dug in, closing a slim gap and thrusting his board ahead at the very last instant. The outcome echoed the narrow margin of their prior Olympic clash, underlining how snowboardcross can hinge on millimeters and timing.
Podium and near-misses
Fellow Austrian Jakob Dusek took the bronze, denying France's Aidan Chollet a medal after a late charge that kept the podium places in doubt up to the finish. All four finalists had legitimate shots at victory in the closing stretch, which made for a dramatic and suspenseful finale. The tight top-three reinforced how small differences in line choice and timing produce big shifts in results.
Veterans and storyline performances
One notable presence was 44-year-old American Nick Baumgartner, the 2022 mixed snowboardcross champion, who advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated. His run through the rounds served as a reminder that experience and racecraft remain invaluable in a discipline where split-second decisions decide advancement.
Season context: momentum and recent form
Grondin arrived with strong credentials this season, having taken the season title and the world championship, while Haemmerle had shown consistency on the circuit and lifted bronze at the recent world championships. That contrast framed the final as not just an Olympic rematch but a clash between the reigning Olympic king and the season's top performer — a rivalry that continues to sharpen both athletes' performances.
On the ground: Tabitha Stoecker's observations
Filmogaz correspondent Tabitha Stoecker, positioned near the finish corral, described the final meters as a blur of boards, spray and elbows tucked for speed. The course, lined with packed banks and a succession of rollers, magnified every micro-decision. Stoecker noted that Haemmerle’s closing move wasn’t a single explosive burst so much as a perfectly timed edge and board placement that stole the advantage in the final stride.
What this means going forward
The result cements Haemmerle's status as the man to beat in major events and adds a new chapter to a burgeoning rivalry with Grondin. For Jakob Dusek, the bronze is a statement of depth within Austria’s program, while for veterans like Baumgartner the strong showings highlight longevity in the sport. With margins so fine, teams and athletes will be poring over run footage and lines, searching for tenths and hundredths of a second they can gain before the next major meet.
Snowboardcross remains one of the most unpredictable disciplines on snow — four riders, a banked and bumpy course, and bracket racing that rewards split-second bravery. Thursday’s final in Livigno reinforced that unpredictability, delivering a finish that will be replayed and analyzed for months.
