The Australian Snowboard Cross team have competed in a double World Cup event in Bakuriani, Georgia, with some promising performances at the penultimate event of the season.

On day one, Youth Olympic Games Gold Medallist Josie Baff made her World Cup debut and was the highest place Australian finisher in 15th position. Baff’s NSWIS teammates Adam Dickson made it through to the quarter-final round finishing in 16th place, with Adam Lambert in 25th.

On day two, Dickson was in great form winning his heat in the round of 32 and 16 to make it through to the semi-final stage for the first time this season.

In the semi-final, Dickson was in third position half way down the course, but mistimed a feature which took him out of the heat.

Dickson then competed in the consolation small final, where he placed fourth to give him a final ranking of eighth place, his best result of the season.

Adam Lambert finished third in his round of 32 heat to finish in 17th place. Baff did not start on day two.

Unfortunately, Belle Brockhoff sustained an injury during official training and had to withdraw from both days of competition and will conclude her season.

The final World Cup of the season will take place in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on March 20. The event will be a reduced field with just the top 16 women and top 32 men in action.

Adam Lambert and Adam Dickson have both qualified to compete in the World Cup final, sitting in 21st and 25th place respective on the standings.

2018 Olympic silver medallist Jarryd Hughes is currently the third reserve in 35th place, after only racing in one World Cup event this season.

IMAGE: Adam Dickson (green bib) dropping from the start gate in Bakurian © FIS

NSWIS snowboarder Jarryd Hughes has continued his strong recent form with a tenth place finish in the snowboard cross World Cup event in Reiteralm, Austria.

The 2018 Olympic silver medalist qualified for finals in 11th place, and made a great start to heat racing winning in the round of 32.

In the quarter final round, Hughes just missed out on advancing to the next stage finishing third in his heat, giving him a final placing of tenth.

Also in action were NSWIS teammates Adam Dickson in 31st and Adam Lambert in 36th.

Unfortunately World Championship mixed team gold medalist Belle Brockhoff was unable to compete due to knee soreness, but is expected to return to training in the next weeks.

2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games Champion Josie Baff has recently joined the Snowboard Cross team in Europe for the remainder of the season with an aim to begin the qualification process towards Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.

The snowboard cross team will next head to Bakuriani, Georgia, for a double World Cup event on March 4 and 5.

IMAGE: Jarryd Hughes taking in the sun at Reiteralm © Jarryd Hughes Instagram

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