The event at the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre is the first of 24 due to be held in the build-up to the first-ever Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to be staged in South Korea.

Olympic women’s slopestyle champion Jamie Anderson of the United States and Canada’s Mark McMorris, a bronze medallist in the same discipline at Sochi 2014, are two of the headline names due to compete in Pyeongchang.

A total of 56 male and 39 female riders from 23 nations have entered the World Cup competition in the South Korean resort.

Canada and the United States each have 20 representatives for the event.

"The FIS World Cup Snowboard big air competition is the ideal way to start the season in Pyeongchang," FIS President Gian-Franco Kasper said.

"There has been great anticipation for the debut of big air on the Olympic programme and we are convinced it will create even more excitement for Pyeongchang 2018."

The opening test event of the season comes in a discipline which is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at Pyeongchang 2018.

The format has been part of the FIS World Championships programme since 2003 but has never featured at the Games.

"We are delighted to welcome the athletes here to Pyeongchang for the FIS Snowboard World Cup," Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom said.

"Big air is an exciting new event that will debut at the Games in 2018, so it is very tremendous for spectators and viewers around the world to get a sneak preview.

"Most importantly this is a wonderful opportunity for the athletes and officials to experience the competition venue.

"We aim to use this week as an important learning experience for staff across all our functional areas to ensure that we deliver the best competition for everyone involved next season."

After the snowboard big air competition, the next test event for Pyeongchang 2018 is an International Skating Union Short Track Speed Skating World Cup from December 16 to 18 in Gangneung, the venue for ice sports at the Games.