Flying Finn Heikki Sorsa produced some serious "hang time" on his first run Sunday to claim his first World Cup victory of the year in the men's snowboarding half-pipe competition in Sapporo.
Sorsa scored 43.8 points to top the first round at Sapporo's Makomanai venue, while none of his rivals could match that score in the second run to deny the Finn success, although Tommy Czeschin of the United States scored 41.5 and 41.4 for the runnerup spot.
Japanese schoolboy Takumi Suzuki was the best-placed of the home favorites as he finished eighth with a best score of 31.0 points.
American Kelly Clark also posted her first victory of the season in the women's half-pipe as she dominated a high-quality field with a 42.9 on her second run after scoring 42.7 in the first.
Britain's Lesley McKenna placed second with a best of 38.3, while 13-year-old schoolgirl Mero Narita narrowly failed to qualify for the second round, but still finished seventh with 28.0, the highest Japanese woman.