The 17-year-old Canadian scored 93.00 in her second run, executing a switch 1260.

"I'm pretty stoked," she said after an overall score of 170.40.

"My training was bad so I was nervous coming in.

"My first jump, I kept it pretty simple just doing a 720.

"Then my second jump I did one of my harder tricks, the switch 12 and landed so I was pretty stoked.

"It's a good way to start the season off."

Gaskell was joined on the podium by American Caroline Claire in second and Canadian team-mate and two-time Winter Olympian, Yuki Tsubota, in third.

They scored 147.80 and 146.00 respectively. 

In the men's event Canada's top qualifier Evan McEachran was edged out of the top spot after the final run by Switzerland's Andri Ragettli.

Ragettli, the reigning slopestyle World Cup champion, crashed on his first run but two impressive following runs of 91.00 each put him to the top of the podium.

The Swiss skier, who celebrated his 20th birthday last month, reflected on the event.

"It feels amazing, what a start to the new season," said Ragettli, who tallied 182.00.

"My day started not that well, I missed my first jump, didn't land it, but then put the second and third run down perfectly and won the event, I'm super stoked."

McEachran is a slopestyle specialist so was pleased with his second position on 180.40.

"I'm not much of a big air skier so I kind of surprised myself today," he said.

Third place went to home favourite, Finn Bilous of New Zealand on 180.20.

"I'm ecstatic," he said.

"I'm super stoked just to land the jumps, and to end up on the podium in front of the home crowd is very rewarding."

The first World Cup event of the season, taking advantage of southern hemisphere snow, was part of the NZ Winter Games.