Chris Corning won the first heat of the men's event to progress to the final ©FIS

Men’s slopestyle World Cup leader Chris Corning won his heat to qualify for the final at the Bokwang leg of the series, which is serving as an official Olympic test event for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

The course at the Bokwang Phoenix Park, which received praise from International Ski Federation (FIS) race director Roberto Morsei for its creativity, was tackled by a field of 35 men's snowboarders across two heats.

Corning delivered a strong display in the first of two runs in the opening heat, with the American ending his effort with a backside 1080, to receive a score of 88.75 points from the judges.

He proved unable to better the score in his second attempt, but his initial score was enough to win the heat ahead of Belgium’s Seppe Smits, as the 2011 world champion could only score 88.25.

The United States’ Brock Crouch, Switzerland’s Mortiz Thoenen and Canada’s Tyler Nicholson completed the top five from the heat to advance to the final.

America’s Brandon Davis, who lies second in the World Cup standings, was able to deliver the performance of the day as he scored 91.75 with his second run to comfortably win the second heat.

Finland’s Ville Paumola and Davis’ compatriot Ryan Stassel were some way adrift having scored 84.00 and 83.25 respectively.

Their efforts would take them into the finall on Sunday (February 21), where they will be joined by Norway’s Fridtjof Tischendorf and Sweden’s Mans Hedberg.

The World Cup is serving as a test event for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics
The World Cup is serving as a test event for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics ©FIS

The women’s qualification saw New Zealand’s Christy Prior top the standings, with her first round total of 90.00 points keeping her ahead of America's Jamie Anderson.

Having fallen during her opening effort, the Olympic champion was relieved to have qualified for the final in second position, by scoring 86.75.

Her fellow American Karly Shorr also sealed one of six qualification spots on offer, but her score of 79.75 saw her finish fourth behind Britain’s Katie Ormerod, who achieved a total of 84.75.

Norway’s Silje Norendal and Switzerland’s Carla Somaini complete the line-up for the final after receiving 77.25 and 75.00 respectively from the judges.

The skiing slopestyle World Cup is due to be held tomorrow at the venue.

Snowboard-cross and ski-cross test events are  also due to be held at the venue on February 27 and 28 respectively.