The women’s slopestyle qualifiers were called off yesterday due to strong winds and the conditions failed to improve, resulting in organisers cancelling today’s races in the French resort.

While no women’s podium spots could be awarded, the FIS agreed to hand out men’s medals based on the results of the qualification round on Thursday (March 10).

Ruud claimed top spot after scoring 88.50 points in the first run, while Canada’s Max Moffat came second with 87.25 and Jesper Tjader of Sweden took third with 86.00.

"It always feels good to get the win," Ruud, the Olympic big air gold medallist, said.

"I would have loved to ski finals but I skied my best in qualies and won the qualies so I’m super happy to take the victory, and I’m really happy to be here."

The victory was Ruud’s second of the season following his triumph in Stubai in Austria in November and sees him move to the top of the overall World Cup standings with 286 points, 26 ahead of Canada’s Brendan Mackay.

Switzerland’s Andri Ragetti leads the slopestyle rankings with 250, but Ruud is just 50 behind with one competition left in the race for the Crystal Globe.

Following today’s cancellation, Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru remains the women’s slopestyle World Cup leader with 200 points, followed by Sarah Höfflin  of Switzerland on 160 and Canada’s Megan Oldham and American Marin Hamill who are level in third position on 136.

The decision means that Sildaru is unable to catch China’s Eileen Gu who has been confirmed as the overall World Cup winner.

Gu, winner of big air and half pipe gold medals at last month’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, has an untouchable lead of 580 points as Sildaru sits second on 369 and France’s Tess Ledeux occupies third spot on 284.

Silvaplana in Switzerland is due to stage the final slopestyle event of the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup campaign from March 24 to 26.