Groundbreaking teenager Baff has Beijing glory in her sights following historic YOG gold OIS
Snowboard cross is undoubtedly one of the most spectator-friendly events at any Olympic Winter Games. With four racers bombing down a twisting, turning course and attempting risky overtaking manoeuvres – often resulting in spectacular crashes – it is the piste’s equivalent of short track speed skating or BMX. Unlike skiing, in which athletes simply factor in the next couple of turns, snowboard cross presents numerous variables to deal with in the heat of the moment.
“Where you’re in the middle of a race, it’s pretty crazy,” said Josie Baff, who caused a sensation at Lausanne 2020 by winning Australia’s first-ever Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) gold medal. “No race is ever the same and anything can happen, the whole way down. During that Lausanne final, I learned a lot from the heats. I’d tried to overtake the same girl on the outside, but it hadn�