Baff, Johnstone ride to gold at Junior World Championships

Josie Baff and James Johnstone have continued a strong Australian history at the Junior World Championships, winning gold in the snowboard cross mixed team event.

Australia has previously won four medals in snowboard cross team events at Junior World Championships - including two gold - but hasn’t been on the podium since it became a mixed gender event in 2019.

That all changed on Friday when Baff, 20, and Johnston, 18, rode to victory in Passo San Pellegrino, Italy.

After winning their quarter and semi finals by more than a second, the Aussie pairing earned their place in the big final against host, Italy, and two French teams.

Following the men’s run, Australia was almost half a second behind the two French teams. Baff, silver medallist from the women’s event, was up against gold medallist Lea Casta.

Despite giving up the head start, Baff showed her true class to speed to a 2.24 second win over the two French pairings with Italy in fourth place.

“When Josie crossed the line and I realised we had won it felt incredible,” said Johnstone. “It was a surreal feeling knowing that we’d just become the junior world champions.

“To be able to do it with Josie who is one of the best in the world was a real privilege and the fact that I was able to set her up each heat for a great chance of success makes me extremely proud.”

Baff said that finishing second in the individual event gave her all the motivation she needed to go one better in her next race.

“I went into Junior World Championships wanting to win, so placing second in the individual event gave me some much needed fire and energy for the teams event the following day,” said Baff. “Teamed up with James I knew we could do well, but I also knew the French teams were going to be hard to beat.

“For the teams event the track was holding up really well and running quite fast which was more my style, and being in a team just elevated the energy.

“When I crossed the line in first, it was super cool to see James at the bottom and share that moment together and knowing how much it meant to him brought the biggest smile to my face.”

The result signs off on a remarkable season for Baff which has included a pair of World Cup wins, a World Championships medal and a gold and silver at Junior World Championships. She finished this campaign as the number three ranked female snowboard cross athlete in the world and said the highs and lows of 2022/23 have taught her a lot about what it takes to be the best.

“For me this season taught me a lot. I had a blast doing what I love and it confirmed that the hard work and sacrifices that go into it are very much worth it,” said Baff. “The whole year was a lot of fun; winning the first World Cup of the season back in December was unexpected but definitely set the tone for the rest of the season.

“From then on I knew that I had what it takes. I thought ‘if I did it before, what’s stopping me from doing it again?’

“Throughout the season I would go from being on the podium to not making it through the quarter final rounds to be back on the podium again at the next race, which was an emotional rollercoaster for sure.

“But with that, I am starting to learn a lot more about myself and trust myself and my processes more than I have ever before.

“I’m gaining confidence in my riding abilities and the decisions I make both in and out of competition, and that is always fun.

“I couldn’t ask for a much better way to close out the season than with my second World Cup win followed by Junior World Championships silver and team event gold.

“I was really happy to create all these memories with my team as my achievements are as much theirs as they are mine. Every race is a group effort and I couldn’t be more grateful to have the best team around me.”