Baff leads strong junior squad in Italy

Fourteen Australian athletes will hit the course in Passo San Pellegrino, Italy later this month when the Junior World Championships for ski cross and snowboard cross take place.

A team of 12 snowboarders - led by World Championship silver medallist Josie Baff - and two skiers will head to the Italian Dolomites to take on the best juniors from around the globe.

It is an event where Australia have performed well in the past, bringing home one medal in ski cross and seven in snowboard cross since 2007.

Headlining the dozen snowboarders is Josie Baff, who after a breakout season which included a World Cup win and World Championships silver medal, will have a positive influence over the entire Aussie squad.

“A rider of Josie’s level will provide the opportunity for the team to be highly competitive at the event,” said coach Jackson Holtham. “Josie is a great leader and has a very fun, infectious personality. 

“As coaches we are lucky to have Josie around, she will naturally help the other athletes enjoy the experience and have fun. This is very important to us.”

Coach Harald Benselin said the experience gained from many of the squad competing in Europe throughout the northern winter has prepared them well coming into the event.

“Time on snow and track is important to developing athletes, it gives them time to understand snowboard cross and what the sport is,” he said. “They develop all the skills necessary with this time on snow and it will set them up to ride confidently on the track.

“Having strong male and female riders will allow us to compete on the highest level in the team event.

“We want to thank the OWIA, Snow Australia and NSWIS for supporting the event and as a national coaching group we are excited to see young SBX athletes passionate about the sport and pushing their riding.”

Preceding the snowboard cross events will be ski cross, with Jesse Quinn and Duncan Cowan representing Australia.

Quinn, 20, has spent the season in both Canada and in Europe as she comes back from an injury at the end of last year.

“She has been slowly building confidence and was able to race and train on the course recently with another upcoming Europa Cup on the track at the end of this week just before World Juniors,” said Shawn Fleming, Snow Australia Alpine Director and Ski Cross Head Coach.

“This should give Jesse the confidence to really feel like she can race the way she wants at the Junior World Championships.”

Sixteen-year-old Cowan also had the opportunity to race at Passo San Pellegrino earlier this year, with the Championships set to give him a unique learning opportunity on which to push his career on further. 

“Duncan is definitely young and for athletes at his age it is a great chance to test himself against other athletes in his age cohort and get the experience of a larger international event,” said Fleming.

“He has many more years to attend World Juniors and I think this opportunity will be a great stepping stone for him in the years to come.”

2023 FIS Ski Cross Junior World Championships
27-28 March 2023
Passo San Pellegrino ITA

Australian Team
Men - Duncan Cowan
Women - Jesse Quinn

2023 FIS Snowboard Cross Junior World Championships
30-31 March 2023
Passo San Pellegrino ITA

Australian Team
Men - James Johnstone, Angus Jones, William Martin, William McCarthy, Cameron Turner, Max Vardy
Women - Josie Baff, Maya Billingham, Mia Clift, Taya-Lilli Dent, Lara Walsh, Abbey Wilson
 

Previous Australian medallists at SX and SBX Junior World Championships
2007 - Alex Pullin - 3rd Men’s Snowboard Cross
2012 - Jarryd Hughes - 2nd Men’s Snowboard Cross
2013 - Jarryd Hughes/Matthew Thomas - 1st Men’s Snowboard Cross Team
2014 - Adam Lambert/Matthew Thomas - 1st Men’s Snowboard Cross Team
2015 - Douglas Crawford - 3rd Men’s Ski Cross
2017 - Adam Lambert/Angus Pennington - 3rd Men’s Snowboard Cross Team
2017 - Emily Boyce/Georgia Baff - 3rd Women’s Snowboard Cross Team
2019 - Emily Boyce - 3rd Women’s Snowboard Cross