After making history at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, claiming Australia’s first ever gold medallist, snowboarder Josie Baff has today been named as Snow Australia’s 2020 Junior Athlete of the Year.
The 16-year old claimed gold in a dramatic Big Final, where she finished a narrow 0.05 seconds in front of French snowboarder Margaux Herpin. The win put Josie on the radar as one to watch for future Olympic Games and a star on the rise for Australia.
The Jindabyne local said that her experience at Lausanne 2020 is one she will never forget.
“The whole experience was just so enjoyable and so fun, I’m so glad I got to go with so many of my friends and the people I’d been competing with and against for so many years,” Baff said.
“The race itself was very surreal, I don’t think it’s ever going to properly sink in,” she said.
Josie has been part of the NSWIS and cherishes every opportunity she gets to learn from other Snowboard Cross athletes like Belle Brockhoff.
“I think it really sets the bar of where we can go and what we can achieve,” Baff said.
“Seeing Belle being so successful just gives you another special edge that just gives you that drive.
“It’s so good to have that and I’m so glad that I do. I just hope that one day I can be that person, like Belle, to younger snowboard athletes too,” she said.
Snow Australia Chief Executive Officer Michael Kennedy said it seemed only fitting to kick off the online awards with a celebration of the next generation.
“We have moved the Snow Australia Awards to online for 2020, and what better way to kick off our two week celebration than with Junior Athlete of the Year.
“Josie achieved something outstanding in Lausanne, something that no Australian before her has been able to achieve. She has a bright future ahead of her and I’m excited to see what she does next,” Kennedy said.
Courtesy Snow Australia
The 16-year old claimed gold in a dramatic Big Final, where she finished a narrow 0.05 seconds in front of French snowboarder Margaux Herpin. The win put Josie on the radar as one to watch for future Olympic Games and a star on the rise for Australia.
The Jindabyne local said that her experience at Lausanne 2020 is one she will never forget.
“The whole experience was just so enjoyable and so fun, I’m so glad I got to go with so many of my friends and the people I’d been competing with and against for so many years,” Baff said.
“The race itself was very surreal, I don’t think it’s ever going to properly sink in,” she said.
Josie has been part of the NSWIS and cherishes every opportunity she gets to learn from other Snowboard Cross athletes like Belle Brockhoff.
“I think it really sets the bar of where we can go and what we can achieve,” Baff said.
“Seeing Belle being so successful just gives you another special edge that just gives you that drive.
“It’s so good to have that and I’m so glad that I do. I just hope that one day I can be that person, like Belle, to younger snowboard athletes too,” she said.
Snow Australia Chief Executive Officer Michael Kennedy said it seemed only fitting to kick off the online awards with a celebration of the next generation.
“We have moved the Snow Australia Awards to online for 2020, and what better way to kick off our two week celebration than with Junior Athlete of the Year.
“Josie achieved something outstanding in Lausanne, something that no Australian before her has been able to achieve. She has a bright future ahead of her and I’m excited to see what she does next,” Kennedy said.
Courtesy Snow Australia
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