Groundbreaking silver for Bankes in Utah

The 23-year-old, who switched back to Great Britain after representing France, had to battle adversity, with silverware in the United States a line in the sand after long-term recovery from a pelvis injury in 2011.

Bankes had already claimed three World Cup titles but a place on the World Championship podium topped the lot as she helped her country to make history on the slopes.

“This one is above them all,” she said.

“I've always struggled in the one-day events, I've never ridden that well but this was fun, everything seemed to go to plan. It's nice after all the hard work which everyone has put in.

“It's great to actually be enjoying snowboarding again, to be pain free. It was fun racing, a fun final.

“It was always going to be tough; Eva (Samkova)and Michela (Moioli), they're both Olympic gold medallists but it was just really good hard, fun racing.”

Gold went to Samokova as the Czech snowboarder raced into the lead while Moioli was forced to settle for bronze ahead of compatriot Francesca Gallina.

In the men's competition, Mick Dierdorff sealed a wild victory on home soil, much to the delight of the partisan crowd, as well as his teammates.

The 27-year-old rode aggressively to hold off the Austrian Hanno Douschan, with Italy's Emanuel Perathoner claiming bronze and Lucas Eguibar in fourth. Sportsbeat 2019