Intro:

Pierre Vaulter of France and Canada's Dominique Maltais won the World Cup snowboard-cross races in Sierra Nevada, Spain on Thursday (21st March).

Script:

Snow, sun and speed were the words on everyone's lips at the final event of the FIS World Cup snowboard calendar.

The beautiful mountains of the Sierra Nevada were the backdrop to Thursday's event.

It was Canada's Dominique Maltais who emerged victorious in the women's race - dominating the final right from the start.

Maltais came home ahead of France's Nelly Moenne Loccoz to claim her fourth win of the season.

Maltais' team mate Maelle Ricker took third spot on the podium.

In the men's big final, it was Pierre Vaultier who came out on top.

The Frenchman avoided a narrow escape when he crashed into Lucas Eguibar, but survived to cross the line first.

Austria's Markus Schairer came home in second, with Omar Visintin of Italy taking third spot on the podium.

Australian Alex Pullin sat out Friday's race - but the the 2013 Snowboard Cross World Cup trophy already belonged to him.