Victory for a Pole and top-level sporting excitement at the Garmin Winter Sports Festival 2026

1 godzinę, 26 minut temuThe Garmin Winter Sports Festival 2026, along with the FIS European Cup competitions in Big Air skiing and snowboarding held as part of it, has come to an end at Kotelnica Białczańska Ski Resort. Athletes from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom competed in Poland. In the exceptionally high-level competition, Polish representatives achieved very strong results.

Snowboard: gold for Krzysztof Owczarek, bronze for Susie Maksym

The biggest reason for celebration for fans came from Krzysztof Owczarek, who after last year’s fourth place in the FIS European Cup event in Białka, proved unbeatable this time. Stylish and cleanly landed bs 1080 and fs 1440 runs secured him another victory within a single week – just days earlier he claimed Polish national titles in slopestyle and big air.

Second place in Białka Tatrzańska went to Serbia’s Matija Milenković, while third was last year’s winner – Switzerland’s Elias Lionel Lehner.

Just outside the podium were more Polish riders: Valeriy Sytykh, Franciszek Baran, and Igor Truszkowski, who finished 4th, 5th, and 6th respectively. Such a strong Polish presence in the final is encouraging – they showed that in the near future they can contend for the top places in FIS European Cup events.

In the women’s snowboard competition, Switzerland’s Bianca Gisler won with fs 720 and bs 720. Germany’s Yugala Perach finished second, while Susie Maksym took third, once again reaching the podium in Białka Tatrzańska and confirming her excellent form this season. Like Owczarek, she also won Polish national titles last week in slopestyle and big air.

Freeski: battle until the final jump

The men’s ski final was a spectacular showcase of tricks at the highest European level. The results came down to details, and the fight for the podium lasted literally until the final jump.

Among men, Austria’s Noah Schallert came out on top with a double cork 1620 and sw double cork 1800. Sweden’s Victor Knutsen finished second, and Ukraine’s Orest Kovalenko took third. The best-placed Pole, Stanisław Solik, finished 7th.

In the women’s competition, Kateryna Kotsar triumphed, repeating her success from last year. The Ukrainian delivered impressive sw bio 9 and cork 720. Second place went to her compatriot Mariia Aniichyn, while Norway’s Kristi Stoelen secured third.

Kotelnica Białczańska Ski Resort hosted the FIS European Cup Big Air competition for the eighth consecutive time. Each year, the event attracts an increasingly strong international lineup to Poland along with a growing number of fans, becoming a highly anticipated fixture in the winter sports calendar.

Replay of the broadcast

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@wintersportsfestival8407

More information

Instagram www.instagram.com/WINTERSPORTSFESTIVAL