Super silvers for Baff and Bolton in Italy

Australian winter sports athletes combined for three medals in Europe over the weekend, with snowboard cross riders Josie Baff and Cam Bolton both taking home silver medals in their opening event of the season in Italy, and Bree Walker claiming bronze in the monobob in Latvia.

At the opening FIS snowboard cross World Cup event in Cervinia, Italy, it was a double podium celebration for Australia, with Baff and Bolton, both NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship holders. Their podium performances gave the riders their 10th and ninth world cup medals respectively.

Baff qualified in sixth place, and in the finals made it through the quarter-final round in second, then led from start to finish in the semi-final to secure her spot in the big-final medal round.

In the big final, Baff was just behind French rider Lea Casta for most of the race, before Baff closed in at the finish to only narrowly fall short by 0.05 seconds on the finish line. Rounding out the podium in third place was Maja-Li Iafrate Danielsson of France.

“My game plan for today was just to get out in front, and hope that nobody could catch me, as I knew on a course like this it could get interesting with the girls” said the 21-year-old from Jindabyne

“I definitely had some nerves in the first heat, and then I came into my real snowboarding in the semi-final and big-final. I really thought I could get the win in the end but Lea was just too fast and on point today, and I am happy for her to get her first career World Cup win.”

In the men’s event, Bolton qualified for finals in 21^st place, and then raced well all day, winning his opening round heat and quarter-final, and was second in the semi-final to advance him in the big-final.

In the big final Bolton did well to stay clear of a mid-race near collision between reigning World Cup champion Eliot Grondin of Canada and Jacob Dusek of Austria which took Grondin out of the race. Dusek led Bolton for the remainder of the race to take the win, with Bolton’s silver medal his first career podium in Cervinia, Italian Lorenzo Sommariva was third.

“Another event in Cervinia and another couple of podiums, happy for Josie and nice to share the podium with her” said the 34-year-old Bolton from the Mornington Peninsula.

“Tricky day of racing, it was tight and all the boys were riding well, I struggled in training but then it was good in finals. I actually had some trouble in the semi-final and had a back spasm and wasn’t sure I was even going to be able to ride the finals, so super happy to come away with a second place.”

“Great start to the season and great event for Australia.”

Also in action for Australia was Amber Essex in 11^th in a personal best finish, Mia Clift 14^th, Jarryd Hughes in 31^st and Adam Lambert 46^th.

Story courtesy of OWIA

Photos: Chris Hocking/OWIA