SPORT RECAP: Aussies in Action
Published Mon 15 Dec 2025
As the northern winter season continued to build momentum, Australian athletes delivered a weekend of landmark performances across Europe, Asia and North America, highlighted by historic World Cup breakthroughs and multiple podium finishes in Olympic disciplines.
Cross Country - World Cup, Davos (SUI)
Australian cross-country skiing reached a major milestone overnight, with Rosie Fordham producing the best individual World Cup result in the nation’s history. Fordham placed an outstanding 13th in the women’s 10km Freestyle interval start, becoming the first Australian to finish inside the top 20 in an individual World Cup race.
In the same event, Phoebe Cridland finished 50th, Ellen Soehol Lie 54th and Maddie Hooker 65th. In the men’s 10km Freestyle, Seve de Campo led the Australians in 66th, followed by Hugo Hinckfuss 78th, Lars Young Vik 85th and Bentley Walker-Broose 98th.
Snowboard Cross - World Cup, Cervinia (ITA)
Australia opened the Snowboard Cross World Cup season in style, claiming a double bronze medal performance under blue skies at Cervinia, with the iconic Matterhorn providing a dramatic backdrop.
Josie Baff secured her 15th career World Cup podium, while Adam Lambert earned his seventh, marking a strong Olympic season opener for the Australian team.
Baff qualified second and carried her form into finals, winning her quarter-final before advancing through a tightly contested semi-final. In the big final, she crossed the line third, just 0.14 seconds behind the winner in a four-rider photo finish.
Lambert was equally impressive, winning all of his early heats and producing a decisive late move in the semi-final to take victory. He finished third in the men’s final behind France’s Jonas and Aidan Chollet.
Further strong performances saw Mia Clift and Cam Bolton reach the quarter-finals to place ninth and 14th respectively, while the Cervinia weekend will conclude with a mixed team event featuring two Australian pairings.
Freeski Halfpipe - World Cup, Secret Garden (CHN)
Australian winter sports history was rewritten in China, with teenage sensation Indra Brown delivering a remarkable debut World Cup podium.
At just 15 years of age, Brown claimed bronze in the freeski halfpipe, becoming the youngest Australian ever to stand on a World Cup podium. Competing at the 2022 Olympic venue, Brown qualified fourth with a score of 85 before delivering under pressure in her first World Cup final.
Also in Secret Garden, Scotty James continued his early-season campaign with a 10th place finish in the men’s snowboard halfpipe final, advancing through qualification before narrowly missing the super final at the Olympic venue.
Snowboard Big Air - World Cup, Steamboat Springs (USA)
Another breakthrough podium followed in snowboard Big Air, with 16-year-old Ally Hickman claiming her first career World Cup medal with bronze in Steamboat Springs.
Hickman produced the highest single-run score of the competition, landing a frontside 1080 with mute and tail grabs to score 88.00 points. The result moves her to fourth overall in the Big Air World Cup standings.
Mela Stalker finished a strong seventh in her second finals appearance of the season. In the men’s event Jesse Parkinson finished in 27th followed by Joshua Robertson-Hahn (33rd) and Valentino Guseli (46th).
Alpine & Ski Cross
Australian alpine and ski cross athletes also recorded a series of strong results across international circuits.
Tom Hoffman finished ninth in the NorAm Giant Slalom at Beaver Creek, while Hugh McAdam placed 10th in the Far East Cup Slalom in Wanlong. Sophie Mahon delivered an excellent double result in Val di Casies, finishing second and third in FIS Slalom races.
On the junior circuit, Madison Gilson recorded a personal best FIS points result with second place in the NJR Giant Slalom in Courmayeur, whileArchie Gould also achieved a personal best FIS points outcome in the same event.
Moguls - US Selections, Winter Park (USA)
Australian moguls skier Kareema Wakim produced solid performances at the US Selections in Winter Park, finishing 12th in Moguls and 18th in Dual Moguls. Wakim’s results were particularly encouraging in large fields of over 50 competitors, providing valuable racing experience early in the season.
Para Snowsports
Para Alpine
Australian Para Alpine athletes continued their European campaign with strong performances across FIS and World Cup racing.
At the Ischgl FIS Giant Slalom, Georgia Gunew, guided by Ethan Jackson, recorded sixth and seventh in the women’s visually impaired category. Liana France placed eighth and sixth in the women’s standing races, while Michael Milton added podium-level results with third and fourth in the men’s standing field.
Para Nordic - Biathlon
Australia wrapped up a challenging Para Biathlon World Cup in Canmore, Canada, with athletes racing in extreme conditions as temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees.
In the Sprint event, Lauren Parker finished 10th in the women’s sitting race, while Taryn Dickens, guided by Lynne Maree Cullen, delivered a strong fifth in the women’s visually impaired category. In the men’s sitting sprint, Dave Miln placed 15th and Matt Brumby 18th.
Miln improved his result in the Pursuit, finishing 11th, before the squad closed the weekend with the Individual event. Parker placed seventh, Dickens again finished fifth, Miln recorded 13th and Brumby 17th, with the team gaining valuable experience in a deep international field as they continue their push toward Games selection.
Coming Up This Week
With historic milestones achieved and young athletes continuing to shine on the world stage, Australian winter sports head into the coming week with confidence, as competition continues across multiple disciplines.
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December 15-17: Para Alpine World Cup, DH – Santa Caterina (ITA)
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December 16-17: Alpine European Cup, GS - Valloire (FRA)
- December 16-17: Ski Cross World Cup - Arosa (SUI)
- December 17: Alpine World Cup, SL - Courchevel (FRA)
- December 17-20: Snowboard World Cup, HP - Copper Mtn (USA)
- December 18: Snowboard Alpine World Cup, PGS - Carezza (ITA)
- December 18-21: Freeski World Cup, HP - Copper Mtn (USA)
- December 19-21: Para Alpine World Cup, GS, SL - St Moritz (SUI)
- December 19-21: Ski Cross World Cup - Innichen (ITA)
- December 20: Snowboard Alpine World Cup, PGS - Davos, SUI
Stay tuned to Snow Live for updates, results, and highlights as our athletes continue their push on the world stage.
NOTE: Please reach out to Snow Australia if there are any events or results missing.
