GENEVA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Some of the world's best slopestyle riders boosted their confidence in Olympic preparation with steady performances at the Laax Open this weekend. American two-time Olympic champion Jamie Anderson and Sweden's Niklas Mattsson walked away with victories from the women's and men's snowboarding World Cup competitions.
Top qualifier Anderson ended run one in second place on Friday in Switzerland, but rose to the occasion in her second run, according to the report from International Ski Federation.
The 30-year-old led the field with 84.35 points to clinch her fifth Laax Open title. Her victory was "a huge step towards Olympic qualification" before Beijing 2022, according to the Olympic Channel website.
"This is super important," Anderson said on the host broadcast.
"I am only doing a couple of events (this year) - maybe this and X games. I am so proud of myself riding with all these youngsters."
Zoi Sadowski Synnott of New Zealand came in second place with a score of 82.96. Australia's Tess Coady was third with 74.18.
In the men's competition, Mattsson, the lowest-scoring rider to qualify for the finals, claimed the first slopestyle World Cup win of his career with a score of 84.28, hailing the victory as "a dream come true."
"To put down my first run was amazing, but then there was a lot of waiting to watch the other riders come down," said the 28 year-old.
"It's been tough love at the Laax Open for me for the past six or seven years, but then this year to come here and put down run after run and end up on top of the podium, it's kind of a revenge."
Leon Vockensperger from Germany finished second with 78.90 points and Norway's Marcus Kleveland was third with 78.30 points. Enditem
