Home favourite Kelly Clark came out on top in the women's halfpipe event at the FIS Snowboard Freestyle World Cup in California ©Getty Images

Kelly Clark led an American podium sweep in the women’s halfpipe event at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard Freestyle World Cup in California to move to the top of the overall standings.

With challenging weather conditions leading to several postponements of the qualifiers, it all came down to straight finals in a two-run best one counts final.

Clark scored a solid 82.40 points as the first to drop in and when the wind died for the second run, the three-time Olympic medallist dominated to earn an unrivalled 93.80.  

Second place in Mammoth Mountain went to 15-year-old Chloe Kim on her World Cup debut with 87.40, while fellow newcomer Maddie Mastro was third on 83.20. 

"It's been amazing to see what Mammoth has been able to do this week, putting the pipe together, and making the right call for the riders, because not every comp does that," said Clark. 

"I'm glad we were able to get the contest off today.

"It's been a tough week of weather.

"I was able to really go for it on my second run.

"I was really happy with my riding today and it was a big confidence booster for me."

Victory takes Clark onto 1,400 points in the World Cup standings with China’s Xuetong Cai second on 1,000 and Japan's Hikaru Oe third on 800.

Japan's Ryō Aono held off a strong American challenge to win the men's event
Japan's Ryō Aono held off a strong American challenge to win the men's event ©Getty Images

Meanwhile in the men's event, Japan’s Ryō Aono held off a strong American challenge to triumph with a high score of 91.20 on his first run.

Chase Josey came closest to matching the 2009 world champion on 90.20, while fellow US rider Gabe Ferguson finished third on 85.80.

It marked a first World Cup podium for both Ferguson and Josey who said afterwards: "Because the weather was a little windy there was definitely strategy going into the first runs, just wanting to land a run and then kind of see where you can go from there. 

"And then the weather got better and the wind died down and second run I just stepped it up and went for two more double corks.

"And that's what got me my score."

The result leaves Aono on 1,450 points at the summit of the World Cup standings after two of four competitions this season, with Josey second on 1,090 and Japan’s Raibu Katayama third on 1,000.

The third halfpipe competition of the season is due to be staged at the Grand Prix event in Park City, United States from February 4 to 6.