Stand up, Australia, we have a new snowboard cross Olympic champion. In a high-stakes final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Jindabyne’s Josie Baff delivered the ride of her life to claim gold in women’s SBX, becoming the second only gold medalist snowboarder in Australian Winter Olympic history.
Snowboard cross rarely follows a script, and the women’s final delivered exactly what we wanted from a race – full blown speed, aggressive lines, and razor-thin margins.
Josie entered the big final against a stacked field, navigating the course’s rollers, berms, and high-speed features with composure. A clean start set the tone, but it was her race management through the middle section where positions typically change in an instant that proved decisive.
While rivals battled for position behind her, Josie held the fastest line through the most technical sections, maintaining speed and control under immense pressure. Crossing the finish line first, she secured Olympic gold in commanding fashion, with her Dad, Peter, jumping the crowd barricade in pure elation.
With this medal, Josie becomes only the second ever Australian snowboarder to win gold at the Winter Olympics, joining Torah Bright in the most elite club in existence. Her performance highlights the depth of Australian snowboarding talent and signals a new era for the program on the Olympic stage.
Congratulations Josie!
