Three Aussies in the top-5 in first World Cup post-Olympics

The first Snowboard Cross World Cup events following the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games were held over the weekend in Erzurum, Türkiye, where New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) riders Mia Clift, Josie Baff and Adam Lambert each delivered strong performances, recording top‑five results across the two events.
 
The opening World Cup, originally scheduled for Saturday, was brought forward to Friday due to forecast heavy snowfall.
 
Clift showed impressive speed throughout the opening competition, qualifying fourth fastest before winning both her quarter‑final and semi‑final heats to secure a place in the big final. Lining up against three French riders, she was unable to break through for a podium finish, crossing the line fourth behind winner Léa Casta, with Chloé Trespeuch second and Julia Pereira de Sousa third.
 
Olympic champion Josie Baff finished ninth, while Abbey Wilson recorded a personal best World Cup result in 16th‑place.
 
In the men’s opening event, Adam Lambert advanced through to the small final, finishing eighth overall, while James Johnstone placed 27th. Germany’s Leon Ulbricht claimed victory, with French riders Aidan Chollet and Loan Bozzolo finishing second and third respectively.
 
The second World Cup event again delivered strong Australian performances. Clift and Baff were drawn together in the quarter‑final, with Clift making a fast start to open an early lead. Baff was then involved in a three‑rider crash but recovered quickest of the group. Unfortunately, while leading, Clift suffered a high‑speed crash in the second half of the course and was unable to finish the run. Baff went on to lead the remaining riders across the line to advance.
 
Baff placed third in her semi‑final, sending her into the small final, where she took victory to finish fifth overall. Wilson once again placed 16th, matching her personal best from the previous day.
 
Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes claimed the win, with France’s Casta second and Switzerland’s Noémie Wiedmer third.
 
In the men’s event, Lambert progressed through to the semi‑finals, finishing third and advancing to the small final. He went on to win the small final to secure fifth place overall, matching Baff’s result. Johnstone finished 22nd, marking a personal best World Cup result for the 2026 Olympian.
 
Aidan Chollet took victory in the men’s race, with his brother Jonas also on the podium in third, and Ulbricht second.
 
With three events remaining this season, Lambert leads the men’s World Cup standings on 297 points, holding a narrow three‑point advantage over Chollet on 294, with Ulbricht third on 275. In the women’s standings, Casta leads on 324 points, Baff is fifth on 259 and Clift sixth on 185.
 
The Snowboard Cross World Cup tour now returns to Europe, with the next event scheduled for March 15 in Montafon, Austria.