Action begun today at the World Para Snowboard World Cup in Lake Tahoe in the United States ©World Para Snowboard

Home favourite Mike Minor continued his winning ways today with victory at the World Para Snowboard World Cup in Lake Tahoe in the United States.

Around 46 snowboarders competed in snowboard-cross, testing themselves prior to next week's World Para Snowboard Championships in Big White ski resort in Canada.

Minor, 26, overcame Great Britain’s James Barnes-Miller in the men’s SB-UL big final to remain undefeated this season and maintain his hold atop the overall World Cup rankings.

The small final saw Italy’s Jacopo Luchini reach a World Para Snowboard podium for the first time after finishing ahead of Britain’s Ben Moore, a two-time medallist from the 2015 World Championships in Spanish ski resort La Molina.

Following a second-place finish at the NorAm Cup held on Wednesday (January 25), Brenna Huckaby redeemed herself in the women’s SB-LL1, ousting team-mate and world bronze medallist Nicole Roundy for the win. 

With the victory, the 21-year-old Huckaby further distanced herself in the overall World Cup rankings from nearest challenger Roundy. 

Sochi 2014 bronze medallist Amy Purdy followed up her NorAm victory from Wednesday, which was also her season debut, with third place.

The men’s equivalent was a repeat from Wednesday’s NorAm big final, with Mark Mann beating US team-mate Tyler Burdick once again to the finish line. 

The victory moves Mann closer to The Netherlands’ overall World Cup leader Chris Vos.

Italy’s Giuseppe Comunale took his first podium finish of the season with third place.

Nicole Roundy came second in the women’s SB-LL1 ©Getty Images
Nicole Roundy came second in the women’s SB-LL1 ©Getty Images

There was continued surprise in the men’s SB-LL2 after Japan’s 22-year-old newcomer Gurimu Narita beat the US's Evan Strong in the big final for the second straight day, this time at World Cup level.

Strong, the reigning world silver medallist, still holds onto the number two ranking in the overall World Cup standings. 

His team-mate Keith Gabel completed the podium.

Australia’s Joany Badenhorst took the top spot over the US's Brittani Coury in the women’s SB-LL2 to remain at number three in the standings, while the US's Peggy Martin completed the women’s SB-UL course.

Competition concludes with another set of snowboard-cross races tomorrow. 

This will be the last competition before the 2017 World Para Snowboard Championships, where around 80 athletes from 25 countries are due to compete from February 1 to 8.