Miyabi Onitsuka topped women's qualifying for the big air contest in Kreischberg ©Getty Images

Miyabi Onitsuka topped women's qualifying at the first big air event of this season's International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup.

Onitsuka, the 2015 big air world champion, scored 179.80 points to lead qualifying in the Austrian resort of Kreischberg. 

She was followed by Kokomo Murase and Reira Iwabuchi - two of her Japanese teammates.

Young talent Murase was second with 170.20, while Iwabuchi, the two-time big air crystal globe winner, was third on 169.40. 

Reigning Olympic big air champion Anna Gasser finished fifth after the Austrian scored 152.60.

Chris Corning of the United States headlines the men's big air event at the FIS Snowboard World Cup event in Kreischberg ©Getty Images
Chris Corning of the United States headlines the men's big air event at the FIS Snowboard World Cup event in Kreischberg ©Getty Images

Men's qualifying is scheduled to take place on Saturday (January 9) and will be followed by competition proper for both genders. 

American two-time big air crystal globe winner Chris Corning headlines the men's event. 

He will be challenged by Canada's Sebastian Toutant, the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic big air gold medallist.

The FIS Snowboard World Cup began in December with two parallel contests. 

Kreischberg is now hosting the third World Cup event of the season.