Mix of youth and experience in Australia’s SBX World Cup tilt in France

The 2023/24 FIS Snowboard Cross season starts on Friday in the French resort of Les Deux Alpes with a big Australian contingent set to make their mark.

It is just the second time the venue has staged a World Cup race, however there has already been Aussie success there with Josie Baff taking out her first World Cup race at the start of a season which saw her finish third in the overall standings.

Baff’s 2022/23 campaign was also highlighted by another World Cup win in Canada, a silver medal at the World Championships and a gold medal at the Junior World Championships alongside James Johnstone who is one of two Australians making their World Cup debut in France.

Johnstone, 19, and Amber Essex, 21, will race at the highest level for the first time and are looking forward to the step up from Europa Cup level.

For Essex - who edged out Baff in an Australia New Zealand Cup race in August - the move up to World Cup level marks another significant milestone in her career.

“It’s very exciting to be making the step up to World Cups. After spending the last couple years competing on the European Cup circuit it’s a very rewarding feeling knowing that the work I have put in on and off snow has helped me get here,” she said

“We have spent the last three weeks training on the cross course in Pitztal which has been a great way to get back into riding on course and in heats. I have also spent time watching footage from the race in Les Deux Alpes last year to better understand the mountain and the flow of the course.”

Heading into her World Cup debut, Essex said she’s focusing on enjoying the journey and not putting pressure on the result.

“I am really hoping to find my feet in this new level of competition and use this as a way to better understand how the events are run at this level to set me up for the season,” she said.

“World Cup courses in general have bigger features and higher speeds and Les Deux Alpes is no exception.

“The most important tips I have been given are to enjoy the experience, take my time and not put too much pressure on myself.

Baff and Essex will be joined in the women’s event by three-time Olympian Belle Brockhoff and 19-year-old Mia Clift, back for her first World Cup event in over two years.

In the men’s race, Johnstone will be racing alongside Olympians Adam Lambert and Cameron Bolton, while PyeongChang silver medallist Jarryd Hughes is back for his first race since the Beijing Games.

Training alongside the more experienced trio has put Johnstone on an incredible learning curve he is set to benefit from.

"I’ve had a lot of help from Adam Lambert, Cam Bolton and especially Jarryd Hughes," said Johnstone. "The first tip I’ve had is to relax and not be too nervous; make sure I remember the work I’ve done to get me here and that I’m fully prepared for this opportunity.

"Another one is to not try too hard. I’ve been given this opportunity for a reason and I don’t need to go out there and prove to anyone that I deserve it. Just ride how I normally do and go fast!

"My main goal is to ride to the absolute best of my ability and get the most out of this experience that I can. I believe that if I ride the way I know I’m able to then my World Cup debut will be successful.

"World Cup has been the goal for some time now, it’s a significant step on my pathway and now I’m here. It really is an incredible feeling to when you get to a point like this and achieve something that you’ve worked hard towards.

"I’m so grateful to everyone that has helped me get to this point especially my coach, Jackson Holtham."

Qualifying is scheduled for Friday night, with Saturday’s classification rounds LIVE on FIS TV from 10:30pm AEDT.

The Snowboard Cross Team event will be held on Sunday from 8:40pm AEDT, with Australian teams dependent on individual results.