Baff finishes with high five in Cortina

NSW Institute of Sport riders Josie Baff, Cam Bolton and Mia Clift have all finished in the top-eight at the Snowboard Cross World Cup event in Cortina D’Amprezzo, Italy, with Baff the highest placed, winning the small final to finish fifth.

Competing under lights in a night of spectacular racing, Baff and Clift both placed second in their respective quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round. Baff and Clift unfortunately fell in their respective semifinals, leaving them in the small-final to decide places five to eight.

In the small-final, Baff raced well crossing the line in first place and a final ranking of fifth, Clift eighth and Amer Essex was 12th after making it through to the quarterfinals.

Bolton, a three-time Olympian, won his opening round of 32 heat, was second in the quarterfinal and just missed advancing to the big final after crossing the line third in the semifinal. In the small final Bolton was second across the line, giving him a final rank of sixth.

Also in finals for Australia was Jarryd Hughes and Adam Lambert who both made it through to the quarter final stage in 10th and 14th. In qualifications, James Johnstone was 40th, Decland Dent 44th and Matthew Thomas 58th.

Victory went to Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain in the women’s event and Frenchman Aidan Chollet claimed his first career win in the men’s event.

After four events Baff is third on the World Cup standings, Clift is eighth and Essex 10th. In the men’s standings Bolton is in fifth, Lambert 18th and Hughes 20th.

The next stop on the World Cup tour is in Erzerum, Türkiye, from February 28 to March 2, including the first mixed team event of the season.

Story courtesy of Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, feature image by Giovanni Zenoni.