Vaultier returns to form at World Cup final in La Molina

WORLD Cup champion Pierre Vaultier rounded off his snowboardcross season with victory at the World Cup final in La Molina, Spain.

MAKING A POINT: World Cup champion Pierre Vaultier returned to the podium at the World Cup final after a couple of lacklustre performances (Getty Images)

The Frenchman had sealed his second snowboardcross crystal globe before the Winter Olympics last month.

But after finishing ninth in Vancouver and slumping to 16th in Valmalenco last week, the 22-year old had something to prove at the final event of the season.

And on the host track for next year's World Championships, Vaultier bounced back in style, qualifying fastest before beating Australia's Alex Pullin and USA's Patrick Holland in the big final for his fifth World Cup win of the season.

Meanwhile, Norway's world champion Helene Olafsen came out on top of the women's race for her second World Cup win of the season.

The 20-year old, who finished fourth in the Olympic big final in Vancouver, could not catch Canada's Maelle Ricker at the top of the World Cup standings but consolidated her career-best finish of second with the win.

Ricker eventually struck bronze in Spain with Switzerland's Simona Meiller finishing second to collect her second silver medal of the season.