Sterling Baff takes world cup silver

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Josie Baff (pictured above in green) capped off a double snowboard cross World Cup weekend at Beidahu, China, by securing a silver medal.

Her impressive performance marked the second silver of the season, and 11th podium of her career.

After finishing fifth in the first World Cup in Beidahu on the previous day, which included a victory in the small final to determine places five to eight, Baff made a great start on day two wining her opening quarterfinal heat.

In a thrilling semifinal, Baff was in a close three-way battle with Italian Michaela Moioli and Manon Petit Lenoir of France.

The Aussie led for the first half of the race before Moioli made a pass, leaving Baff and Petit Lenoir to battle it out for second across the line in order to advance to the big-final medal round. Momentum appeared to be going the French rider’s way, but Baff found a late burst of speed to cross the line in second by 0.03 seconds.

In the big-final, Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes led from start to finish to claim victory, with Baff in second, edging out Swiss rider Sina Siegenthaler by 0.07 seconds and Moioli in fourth.

“It’s definitely nice after yesterday, I had some fire in my belly, it was a good result, but I wanted more” said the 22-year-old Baff from Jindabyne.

“Two seconds in a row now, I really want to win, I hope I can get that soon, but I was really happy to share the podium with the girls.”

Riding to a personal best finish of seventh was 22-year-old Amber Essex in just her fifth World Cup start and Mia Clift finished in 10^th.

In the men’s event, NSWIS athlete Adam Lambert was the highest finishing Australian in 10^th, with Jarryd Hughes 13^th, Cameron Bolton 25^th and James Johnstone 52^nd.

After three World Cup events, Baff is ranked third on the women’s standings, with Clift in ninth and Essex in 11^th. Bolton is the highest ranked Australian on the men’s standings in eighth.

The next World Cup event will take place in the future 2026 Olympic region of Cortina d’Amprezzo, Italy, on February 15.

Story: Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA)

Photos: : Miha Matavz