Tess Ledeux won the women's competition in Stubai ©Getty Images

France’s Tess Ledeux triumphed in the first International Ski Federation (FIS) Freeski Slopestyle World Cup event of the season in Stubai, as top qualifier Kelly Sildaru withdrew prior to the event.

Sildaru had impressed in qualification, with the Estonian scoring more than 90 points on each of her runs at the Austrian venue.

However, the 18-year-old, a four-time slopestyle gold medallist at the Winter X Games, opted to withdraw prior to the start of the final after falling onto her knees during a training run.

Ledeux made the most of Sildaru’s absence as the 2017 world champion topped the leaderboard after the first run of the final, where she achieved a score of 89.00 points.

The score ultimately proved enough to secure victory, as her rivals faltered on their second runs.

Norway’s Johanne Killi finished in second place after scoring 81.00 on her opening run, while China’s multiple Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic medallist Eileen Gu placed third on 77.00.

Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli, the winner of last season’s crystal globe, began the defence of his men’s title in impressive fashion.

Ragettli achieved a score of 89.00 points in his first run to lie second in the standings, with Norway’s Christian Nummedal leading on 91.75.

A final-run score of 94.00 saw Ragettli trade places with his rival, leaving Nummedal to settle for second.

Andri Ragettli began his title defence with a victory ©Getty Images
Andri Ragettli began his title defence with a victory ©Getty Images

Norway’s Ferdinand Dahl rounded off the podium places with a score of 87.25.

The first World Cup of the season was held under COVID-19 protocols.

These included each team member being obliged to present a negative coronavirus test no more than 72 hours between taking the sample and collecting their accreditation.

People who presented a positive result between three months and two weeks prior to arrival were not required to take a new test, while those who had tested positive within two weeks of arrival were unable to participate in the event.

A mobile laboratory truck was also available at the Stubai event, where tests could be conducted.

The pandemic has created challenges for the World Cup calendar.

World Cup events in China’s capital Beijing and Copper Mountain in the United States were cancelled, with the competitions initially having been scheduled for November and December.

It means a big air competition at Kreischberg in Austria is currently listed as the next event, which is due to take place from January 7 to 8.

Five further slopestyle events are expected to take place this season.