SBX Team nail season opener with double silver

Courtesy OWIA

Josie Baff and Cam Bolton both took home silver medals in their opening World Cup of the season in Italy on a finals day full of intense competition.

The podium performances delivered the riders their tenth and ninth World Cup medals respectively.

Baff qualified in sixth place, and in the finals made it through the quarter-final round in second, then led from start to finish in the semi-final to secure her spot in the Big Final.

The 21-year-old was just behind French rider Lea Casta for most of the race, before Baff closed in at the finish to only narrowly fall short by 0.05 seconds on the finish line. Rounding out the podium in third place was Maja-Li Iafrate Danielsson of France.

“My game plan for today was just to get out in front, and hope that nobody could catch me, as I knew on a course like this it could get interesting with the girls” said Baff. “I definitely had some nerves in the first heat, and then I came into my real snowboarding in the semi-final and Big Final.

"I really thought I could get the win in the end but Lea was just too fast and on point today, and I am happy for her to get her first career World Cup win.”

In the men’s event, Bolton qualified in 21st place, and then raced well all day, winning his opening round heat and quarter-final, and was second in the semi-final to advance to the Big Final.

The three-time Olympian did well to stay clear of a mid-race near collision between reigning World Cup champion Eliot Grondin (CAN) and Jacob Dusek (AUS) which took Grondin out of the race. Dusek led Bolton for the remainder of the race to take the win, with Bolton’s silver medal his first career podium in Cervinia. Italian Lorenzo Sommariva was third.

“Another event in Cervinia and another couple of podiums, happy for Josie and nice to share the podium with her,” said the 34-year-old Bolton from the Mornington Peninsula.

“Tricky day of racing, it was tight and all the boys were riding well, I struggled in training but then it was good in finals.

"I actually had some trouble in the semi-final and had a back spasm and wasn’t sure I was even going to be able to ride the finals, so super happy to come away with a second place.

“Great start to the season and great event for Australia.”

Also in action for Australia was Amber Essex in 11th in a personal best finish, Mia Clift 14th, Jarryd Hughes in 31st and Adam Lambert 46th.