Jindabyne’s Josie Baff scored herself a silver medal at the FIS World Cup at Beidahu in China overnight, the second silver of her season and 11th podium of her career.
After finishing fifth in the first World Cup in Beidahu on the previous day, which included a victory in the small final to determine places five to eight, Baff made a great start on day two winning her opening quarter-final heat.
Baff was in a close three-way battle with Italian Michaela Moioli and Manon Petit Lenoir of France for the top three places. Baff led for the first half of the race before Moioli made a pass, leaving Baff and Petit Lenoir to battle it out for second across the line in order to advance to the big-final medal round. Momentum looked to be going the French rider’s way, but Baff found late speed to cross the line in second by 0.03 seconds.
In the big-final, Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes led from start to finish to claim victory, with Baff in second, edging out Swiss rider Sina Siegenthaler by 0.07 seconds and Moioli in fourth.
“It’s definitely nice after yesterday, I had some fire in my belly, it was a good result, but I wanted more” said Baff.
“Two seconds in a row now, I really want to win, I hope I can get that soon, but I was really happy to share the podium with the girls.”
Riding to a personal best finish of seventh was 22-year-old Amber Essex in just her fifth World Cup start and Mia Clift finished in 10th.
In the men’s event, Adam Lambert was the highest finishing Australian in 10th, with Jarryd Hughes 13th, Cameron Bolton 25th and James Johnstone 52nd.
After three World Cup events, Baff is ranked third on the women’s standings. Bolton is the highest ranked Australian on the men’s standings in eighth.
The next World Cup event will take place in the future 2026 Olympic region of Cortina d’Amprezzo, Italy, on February 15.
