Sweden's Sandra Näslund achieved the fastest time in qualification at the FIS Ski Cross World Cup at Zhangjiakou's Secret Garden in a Beijing 2022 test event ©Getty Images

World champion Sandra Näslund topped qualification at Zhangjiakou's Secret Garden resort as the International Ski Federation Ski Cross World Cup began in a competition doubling as a Beijing 2022 test event. 

The Swedish skier recorded a time of 1min 13.90sec at the Chinese venue, the fastest effort in the women’s competition.

Näslund’s effort saw her earn top seeding for the competition, which should offer her a potentially smoother path from the quarter-finals to the final.

A trio of Swiss skiers followed Näslund in qualification.

Sixtine Cousin and Sanne Luedi finished in times of 1:14.29 and 1:14.46 in qualification to complete the top three.

Fanny Smith will also be the highest seeded skier in her quarter-final, after she placed fourth in a time of 1:14.52.

Smith begins the season as the skier to beat, after she won six World Cup events last season to claim the crystal globe.

The top 16 skiers in qualification advanced to the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Switzerland’s Ryan Regez topped men’s qualification to secure top seeding for the knock-out phase.

Regez finished his qualification run in a time of 1:08.79, 0.30 seconds faster than compatriot Alex Fiva.

Switzerland's Ryan Regez produced the fastest time in men's qualification ©Getty Images
Switzerland's Ryan Regez produced the fastest time in men's qualification ©Getty Images

Austria’s Robert Winkler and Francois Place rounded off the top four, achieving times of 1:09.17 and 1:09.36, respectively.

The top 32 men’s skiers advanced from qualification, with reigning Olympic champion Brady Leman of Canada among those to safely progress.

His compatriot Reece Howden placed seventh in qualification as he begins the defence of his World Cup crown.

The Ski Cross World Cup is due to reach its climax on Saturday (November 27), with snowboard competition scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Spain’s reigning world champion Lucas Eguibar will be among the favourites in the men’s event.

Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle will expect to feature in the latter stages of the competition as he seeks to secure a fourth consecutive season title.

Czech Republic’s Eva Samková is the reigning women’s World Cup champion, while she also claimed World Championship bronze last year.

Samková will hope to add to her Olympic medal collection at Beijing 2022, having won Sochi 2014 gold and Pyeongchang 2018 bronze.

Reigning Olympic champion Michela Moioli of Italy and Britain’s world champion Charlotte Bankes will also be contenders at this opening World Cup event.