British star Charlotte Bankes took a stunning win in the World Cup Snowboard Cross race in Montafon.
The 26-year-old edged out Australian boarder Belle Brockhoff, to take the gold in the second race of the season.
The 2021 world champion was beaten by Czech Republic’s Eva Samkova in the first race on Beijing’s Olympic track in Secret Garden last month, but returned to the top of the podium in Austria.
Former Olympic bronze medallist, France’s Chloe Trespeuch finished in third to complete the podium.
It is the first time the Hemel Hempstead-born snowboarder has scored a World Cup win following her World Championship victory the previous winter.
🇬🇧 🥇 OH, CHARLOTTE BANKES, YOU ARE AMAZING 🥇🇬🇧
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) December 10, 2021
It's GOLD in Montafon @fissnowboard Snowboard Cross World Cup, for our very own World Champ! pic.twitter.com/PcV0nl8doY
Bankes looked in good form on Thursday, recording the fastest time in qualification of 1 minute 1.82 seconds, and picked up where she left off for the race.
It is the perfect start to the Olympic Winter season for the snowboard star, who will compete for Great Britain in a Games for the first time in Beijing having changed licenses from France in 2018.
On the other hand, Samkova, the 2014 Olympic champion, could only manage fifth.
Italian Michela Moioli, the reigning Olympic champion, finished 10th.