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Pedigree and Passion Take Baff to Podium

NSW Institute of Sport

Newsroom

At just 21 years of age, Josie Baff says while the 10^th world cup medal of her career which she won in last weekend’s season opening women’s snowboard cross race in Cervina, Italy means a lot, she’s getting much more out of her sport than an impressive collection of trophies.

The NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder boasts an impressive trophy cabinet at her place in Jindabyne, including her bronze medal from the 2023 World Championships in Bakuriani, her 2020 Youth Olympic Games gold medal and securing a start at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

However, Baff insists it’s the pursuit of fun and her passion for winter sports – both the skiing and snowboarding disciplines – that will see her strive to compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and beyond.

“I am aiming for longevity as the sport is my passion,” said Baff. “I want to keep enjoying it and loving every aspect of it. I want to inspire others to have a go.”

Boasting a long family lineage of proficient snowboarders and skiers – her father, mother and siblings have spent their life in the Australian snow fields and are considered part of the furniture in the winter hamlet – Baff began skiing when she was two years old while she learnt how to snowboard at five.

“My whole family is very snow oriented,” she said. “Dad was a ski instructor and then became a snowboard coach. He ran snowboard camps in Mammoth and the whole family would go along.”

Baff began competing on skis, before trying snowboarding after participating in one of the Mammoth camps.

“It’s hard to say which one I prefer more, skiing or snowboarding – snowboarding has given me my career. But skiing . . . it’s so good. The ‘carving’ feeling on a really good run is just so good.”

Baff’s journey has been different to others as she was still ski racing right up until the Youth Olympics and did not have much experience as a snowboarder before she was crowned Youth Olympic Champion in snowboard cross – Australia’s first ever victory in this event.

“The best part about the Youth Olympics was you were able to have a lot of fun, there was no external pressure,” said Baff. “You were there with all your mates, hanging out, getting all the uniform.”

Baff went on to represent Australia at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, finishing in 18th place in the snowboard cross. She also partnered with Adam Lambert, her next door neighbour in Jindabyne, in the mixed snowboard cross team event, finishing in 13th.

“I grew up next door to Adam Lambert – he is five years older than me, so we did not cross paths until I entered the performance pathway,” she said. “But once I did it was nice to have a familiar face.”

The 2023-2024 World Cup season was another successful one for Baff, finishing the season ranked fourth on the standings, with five podium performances also achieved, which showed her consistency making it through to the semi-final round at every event.

Being away from her family and friends is one of the challenges the high performance athlete faces on a daily basis.

Having travelled the world since she was little, Baff has experienced many airport lounges and hotel rooms, but there is always one constant.

“When I was a kid, my mum gave me a stuffed toy – Dumbo from Disneyland – that is the one thing I always travel with,” she said. “It’s been lost in a few hotels, but I have always managed to track it down.

“And managing both being an athlete and my social life can be challenging – friends are out travelling around and being social and I’m training – but then I love snowboarding.”

When she is able to slow down and find time to pursue her interests outside of skiing, Baff likes a good deck of cards or a bike ride in the mountains.

“It’s always go-go-go when you are overseas,” she said. “When I’m home I go mountain biking, I like to go exploring in my down time and play cards if I need to chill out.”