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Posted: 2024-03-04 00:12:21

Australian snowboarder Josie Baff has had her own Steven Bradbury moment at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup event in Spain's Sierra Nevada resort on Sunday.

The 21-year-old was tailing in fourth spot during the big final heading into the final straight behind France's Chloe Trespeuch and Great Britain's defending world champion Charlotte Bankes.

However, the two leaders sensationally collided, wiping out and landing heavily before the finish.

Italy's Michala Moioli and Baff cruised through to take gold and silver respectively as both Bankes and Trespeuch remained on the ground.

As defending World Cup champion Bankes limped down to the staging area, Baff ran back up to help Trespeuch onto her feet and guide her rival down the slope.

"It was pretty hectic in the final," Baff said after the race.

"I was actually coming down in fourth and it was pretty sad to see first and second both fall but still very happy with a second [place finish].

"I was really happy to go into the big final today, I was in a small final funk so I'm glad I broke that streak today and hopefully that continues."

Josie Baff helps Chloe Trespeuch down the slope

Josie Baff (right) ran up to help Chloe Trespeuch (centre) down the slope.(Supplied: FIS Snowboarding/Miha Matavz)

The race jury confirmed the result after reviewing the contact.

"It was tight racing and unfortunately we clashed," Bankes said.

"Hopefully we're both OK for Cortina next week."

Baff sits third in the overall World Cup standings behind Moioli and current leader Trespeuch with three events to come in the season, starting at the 2026 Olympics venue, Cortina in Italy.

Kiara Reddingius and Bree Walker embrace

Kiara Reddingius and Bree Walker have improved their overall standings in the two-woman bobsled field.(Supplied: Chris Hocking/OWIA)

At the bobsled World Championships in Winterberg, Germany, Australian Bree Walker backed up her fourth place-finish in the monobob with a fifth place in the two-woman bobsled alongside Kiara Reddingius.

The result is Australia's best ever performance in the event at a World Championships, bettering the 14th place from last time out.

The pair also finished in 16th place at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, reflecting their remarkable progression.

"I had a lot of confidence coming off the monobob," Walker told the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

"Obviously it wasn't the result that I wanted, but I knew I could get a really good result here and drive the two-man bob very well.

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