NSWIS snowboarder Josie Baff has finished second at the World Cup event in Montafon, Austria, her first podium since winning gold at the Milano‑Cortina Olympic Winter Games and the 17th of her career.
Baff raced strongly in the overcast conditions, taking an early lead that she held comfortably to win both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats and secure a place in the big final medal round.
The big-final featured Baff alongside Switzerland’s Sina Siegenthaler, Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes, and France’s Chloe Trespeuch. Baff and Siegenthaler traded the lead down the Montafon course, but Siegenthaler pulled ahead in the second half of the course to take the win, Baff a close second and Bankes third.
“The course today was super tight and technical, but it was really fun,” said the 23-year-old from Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains.
“It was definitely interesting going back to the World Cup tour last week in Türkiye. I obviously didn't have the results that I would expect, but I'm trying to be super kind to myself because I've never won an Olympic gold medal before and I think it changes things. It's also emotionally exhausting and super depleting.”
“I went into Türkiye without the same energy that I would have normally, I have also been pretty sick since the Olympics, so there's a fair few factors contributing to that but it was nice to just be back today and feel like myself again, and feel like I was snowboarding like I normally do, and it was really fun, I enjoyed it a lot, which is always the main goal.”
“I really do love the track here in Montafon, today was my fourth podium here, I really do like the track, I think it’s going to be a little bit different next year with a slightly different line (for the 2027 World Championships). Always fund to race here, the crowd is also super cool here and encouraging.
“My goal at the World Cup final is to have the same sensations in Canada as I did today and as I have had throughout the the rest of the season. I would love to come away with an overall ranking of first, second or third. Obviously first is the goal, and it's really tight between the girls, and I just want to do everything in my power to have good race.”
Also competing for Australia were NSWIS riders Mia Clift who finished in 11th and Abbey Wilson 18th, while Adam Lambert was 17th and James Johnstone 29th in the men’s event.
The World Cup tour now heads to Mont‑Sainte‑Anne in Canada for the final event of the season on March 28, with both Baff and Lambert still in contention for the Crystal Globe.
The podium result moves Baff into third place on the World Cup standings with 339 points, trailing France’s Léa Casta in second on 360, while Bankes leads the standings on 373 points.
Lambert also sits third in the men’s World Cup standings on 313 points, behind France’s Aidan Chollet in second on 354, with Germany’s Leon Ulbricht leading on 355.
IMAGES
TOP - The Australian Team celebrate Josie Baff's silver medal in Montafon
BOTTOM - Charlotte Bankes (Yellow Bib), Josie Baff (Green Bib), and Sina Siegenthaler (Red Bib) at ther finish line in the big final
© Heiko Mandl/FIS
Baff raced strongly in the overcast conditions, taking an early lead that she held comfortably to win both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats and secure a place in the big final medal round.
The big-final featured Baff alongside Switzerland’s Sina Siegenthaler, Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes, and France’s Chloe Trespeuch. Baff and Siegenthaler traded the lead down the Montafon course, but Siegenthaler pulled ahead in the second half of the course to take the win, Baff a close second and Bankes third.
“The course today was super tight and technical, but it was really fun,” said the 23-year-old from Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains.
“It was definitely interesting going back to the World Cup tour last week in Türkiye. I obviously didn't have the results that I would expect, but I'm trying to be super kind to myself because I've never won an Olympic gold medal before and I think it changes things. It's also emotionally exhausting and super depleting.”
“I went into Türkiye without the same energy that I would have normally, I have also been pretty sick since the Olympics, so there's a fair few factors contributing to that but it was nice to just be back today and feel like myself again, and feel like I was snowboarding like I normally do, and it was really fun, I enjoyed it a lot, which is always the main goal.”
“I really do love the track here in Montafon, today was my fourth podium here, I really do like the track, I think it’s going to be a little bit different next year with a slightly different line (for the 2027 World Championships). Always fund to race here, the crowd is also super cool here and encouraging.
“My goal at the World Cup final is to have the same sensations in Canada as I did today and as I have had throughout the the rest of the season. I would love to come away with an overall ranking of first, second or third. Obviously first is the goal, and it's really tight between the girls, and I just want to do everything in my power to have good race.”
Also competing for Australia were NSWIS riders Mia Clift who finished in 11th and Abbey Wilson 18th, while Adam Lambert was 17th and James Johnstone 29th in the men’s event.
The World Cup tour now heads to Mont‑Sainte‑Anne in Canada for the final event of the season on March 28, with both Baff and Lambert still in contention for the Crystal Globe.
The podium result moves Baff into third place on the World Cup standings with 339 points, trailing France’s Léa Casta in second on 360, while Bankes leads the standings on 373 points.
Lambert also sits third in the men’s World Cup standings on 313 points, behind France’s Aidan Chollet in second on 354, with Germany’s Leon Ulbricht leading on 355.
IMAGES
TOP - The Australian Team celebrate Josie Baff's silver medal in Montafon
BOTTOM - Charlotte Bankes (Yellow Bib), Josie Baff (Green Bib), and Sina Siegenthaler (Red Bib) at ther finish line in the big final
© Heiko Mandl/FIS
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