Snowboarders celebrate most epic season ever

Australia’s snowboard cross program delivered its most successful season to date in 2025/26, highlighted by Josie Baff’s historic Olympic gold medal and remarkable depth across both the World Cup circuit and development pathways.

Baff’s victory at Milano Cortina secured Australia’s first Olympic gold medal in snowboard cross, and just the nation’s second Olympic medal in the discipline following Jarryd Hughes’ silver in PyeongChang.

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder also came close to adding a second medal, teaming with Adam Lambert (NSWIS) in the mixed team event. A late crash in the opening leg of the Big Final saw the pair finish fourth, still Australia’s best-ever Olympic result in the format.

Baff’s Olympic triumph capped another season of outstanding consistency on the World Cup circuit. She finished fourth overall, extending her run to four consecutive seasons inside the top four. Her campaign included podium finishes in Montafon, Dongbeiya and Cervinia, while she maintained a perfect record of top 10 finishes throughout the season.

Lambert delivered a career-best World Cup campaign, finishing second overall. His season featured his first career victory in China prior to the Olympics, a second win in Canada at the final event, two additional podiums, and just one result outside the top eight.

While his World Cup form did not fully carry into the Olympic results, Lambert played a key role in the mixed team event alongside Baff, with the pair narrowly missing the podium.

Australia’s Olympic team was rounded out by Mia Clift, Abbey Wilson, Jarryd Hughes and James Johnstone (all NSWIS), all of whom contributed across both individual and mixed team events.

Clift produced one of the standout performances on Olympic debut, finishing 12th before combining with Hughes to reach the small final in the mixed team event. She followed this with two fourth-place World Cup finishes and matched her career-best result of eighth overall in the standings.

Wilson also impressed in Italy, qualifying for the top 16 knockout rounds at three World Cup events and achieving a career-best result of eighth place after reaching the small final at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Johnstone, called into the Olympic team following the late withdrawal of Cameron Bolton (NSWIS) due to injury, finished 24th and delivered a strong European campaign. He returned to the European Cup podium for the first time in nearly two years with a second-place finish in Puy St Vincent, while also recording six of his seven best career World Cup results during the season.

Hughes, competing at his fourth Olympic Games, was the highest-finishing Australian in the men’s event in 21st. He managed an injury-affected preparation, balancing a limited World Cup schedule leading into the Games.

Bolton’s absence in Italy was a notable setback, with the experienced athlete showing promising form earlier in the season before a serious neck injury ruled him out just days before competition.

Declan Dent (NSWIS) made three World Cup appearances during the season, while Amber Essex’s (NSWIS) campaign was unfortunately curtailed by a knee injury after limited early starts.

At the next level, the program continued to strengthen its depth through the European Cup season and an outstanding showing at the Junior World Championships in St Moritz.

Cameron Turner (NSWIS) delivered a breakthrough season, winning the Junior World Championship gold medal – Australia’s first individual title at the event after securing silver in the team event the previous year. The 19-year-old also finished second overall in the European Cup standings, recording six top 10 finishes and three podiums, including two victories.

William Martin placed sixth overall in the European Cup standings, highlighted by his first career victory at Puy St Vincent in an Australian one-two alongside Johnstone in January. This result was one of four top 10 finishes across the season. William McCarthy also achieved a career-best season, finishing seventh overall with five semi-final appearances.

Maya Billingham (NSWIS) equalled her career-best 11th overall in the European Cup standings, highlighted by three Big Final appearances and two podium finishes. Marci Davis-Cook and Lara Walsh also secured top 20 finishes, placing 19th and 20th respectively.

Davis-Cook carried this consistency into the Junior World Championships, reaching the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year to finish 13th overall. Walsh progressed to the round of 16, finishing 25th at her third Junior World Championships and continuing to build valuable international experience.

Angus Young (10th at Junior Worlds) and Robert Jones (14th) further underscored the emerging depth within the program.

With an Olympic gold medallist, a World Cup runner-up, a Junior World Champion, and a development pipeline delivering at the highest level, the 2025/26 season represents a defining milestone for Australian snowboard cross and a strong foundation as the program builds toward the French Alps 2030.

Snow Australia