Cameron Turner claims maiden Snowboard Cross junior world title
Published Sat 14 Mar 2026
Courtesy FIS
Cameron Turner (AUS) and Lisa Francesia Boirai (ITA) emerged as the new junior world champions in St Moritz on Friday, after racing was moved forward to avoid bad weather.
The first day of racing at the 2026 FIS Junior World Championships Snowboard Cross in Switzerland was originally scheduled for Saturday 14 March with qualification, but with a snowstorm forecast the finals instead took place on Friday, starting with pre-heats.
Both new champions have previously won medals at the FIS Junior World Championships: Francesia Boirai won bronze in Gudauri in 2024 at the age of just 15, while Turner picked up Mixed Team silver in Isola 2000 last year.
The host nation celebrated two silver medals, with Kenny Schlaeppi taking second place in the men’s event and Noemie Wiedmer finishing in the same position in the women’s. Tommaso Costa (ITA) and Fiona Caiolo Serra (FRA) were the bronze medallists.
Turner shines for Australia
Cameron Turner becomes the first junior world champion in Snowboard Cross for Australia, after consistency paid off throughout the day.
In the absence of 2025 champion Jonas Chollet (FRA), who is focusing on the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup despite still being only 17 years old, Turner was the highest-ranked athlete from the 2025 competition, and came off a second place at the European Cup in St Moritz earlier in the week.
The 19-year-old won his round of 64 race and his quarterfinal, but was beaten into second place in the 1/8 final by Federico Casi (ITA). Casi crashed out in the semifinal, with Turner taking the win and Benjamin Niel (FRA) joining him in the big final.
On the other side of the draw, Schlaeppi and Costa had similar paths to the big final. Schlaeppi was second in both his 1/8 and quarterfinals to Leon Engilberge (FRA), while Costa was second to Kenta Kirchwehm (GER) in his quarterfinal.
In the semifinal, Costa and Schlaeppi took the initiative and the key places in the medal race, relegating Engilberge and Kirchwehm to the small final.
When it came to the big final Turner was the clear winner, with Schlaeppi emerging second from a close race for the minor medals. Costa claimed his bronze in a photofinish with Niel, both riders crossing the line on the snow as they launched themselves at the line.
It was Schlaeppi’s first medal on his Junior World Championships debut, while Costa ends his junior career on a high after finishing 18th and 21st in the last two editions of the championships.
Engilberge took fifth overall, ahead of Mason Hamel (USA), Kirchwehm, and Casi.
