X-Games star Bright claims maiden half-pipe World Cup win

TORAH Bright claimed her maiden World Cup victory in the snowboarding half-pipe event in Saas-Fee.

FLYING HIGH: Australia's Torah Bright produced a dominant half-pipe performance in Switzerland

The 22-year old Australian, who won the X-Games in Aspen earlier this year, posted scores of 43.2 and 43.5 to easily beat nearest challengers, China's Xuetong Cai and France's Sophie Rodriguez.

Great Britain's Kate Foster was 25th while Lesley McKenna, the second oldest competitor in the field, was a disappointing 32nd in Switzerland.

Olympic champion Shaun White, who won the opening event of the season in New Zealand in August, sat out of the men's event.

However, American team-mate Kevin Pearce, regarded by some as his most likely rival at next year's Winter Olympics, could only place 12th.

France's Mathieu Crepel and Finland's Peetu Piiroinen completed the podium while Great Britain's Ben Kilner was 14th - the same position who occupied at last weekend's Big Air event in London.

"I'm pleased with my result but obviously a little disappointed not to have made the finals," said Kilner. "The conditions were really challenging but we got through it.  The result keeps me on track for Vancouver so I'm really pleased with that."