Bronze for Baff in Erzurum

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Josie Baff raced to her third podium of the season in Erzurum, Türkiye, in a close final that went right to the finish line.

Racing under sunny skies on a long demanding course, Baff started strongly winning her quarter-final and then went through to the big final medal round after crossing the line in second place in the semi-final.

In the big-final, Baff was in third for most of the race but came close in the final stages to be narrowly behind Lea Casta of France in second place by 0.12 seconds, and only 0.19 behind winner Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain.

“This has been the most demanding course so far on tour” said the 22-year-old Baff from Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains.

“The high altitude has really tested a lot of us with the base level around 2500m.”

“The course was fast too, so I’m happy to end the day with another podium.”

“Up next is the teams event tomorrow and I’ll be paired with Cam Bolton, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Three other Australian women also made it through to the quarter-final top-16 stage, Belle Brockhoff was 11^th in her first event of the season returning from injury, Mia Clift 13^th and Amber Essex 14^th.

In the men’s event German Leon Ulbricht was victorious, Bolton was Australia’s best making it through to the quarter-finals in 16^th.

In the round of 32 Jarryd Hughes was 19^th and Adam Lambert 26^th.

Missing finals in the qualification round were Declan Dent 35^th, James Johnstone 41^st and Matthew Thomas 49^th.

After five events, Baff is ranked third on the standings with 310 points, trailing Casta in second on 365 and Bankes out in front on 450.

Bolton is fifth on the men’s standings.

A mixed snowboard cross team event will take place tomorrow in Türkiye, with Australia entering two teams, one featuring Baff and Bolton and the second of Clift and Hughes.

Story courtesy of Olympic Winter Institute of Australia