Snowboard cross action began proceedings in Big White ©IPC

The United States and The Netherlands both claimed two titles apiece as the World Para Snowboard Championships began at Big White in Canada.

Snowboard cross competitions took place on the first day of medal action with Brenna Huckaby defending her women's SB-LL1 title to clinch the first US gold.

Twenty-one-year-old Huckaby got the better of reigning silver medallist Cecile Hernandez-Cervellon in the head-to-head big final after it initially looked like the Frenchwoman would prevail.

"She had me at the start, she had probably a full board-length lead," Huckaby said. 

"On the way down I was just on her tail. 

"But my coach told me to ride my own line, so I rode my own line. 

"And I kept accelerating, and turn seven came around, she went outside, I went inside, passed her and held my own until then.

"I decided today right before I went that I was going to do this for my daughter, and to do it for my daughter and with my daughter [in mind], it’s amazing. 

"I can’t even explain it in words."

The US won six medals in all today, with Nicole Raundy defeating Canada's Michelle Salt in the small final for bronze.

A second American gold arrived as Mike Minor grabbed the men's SB-UL title on his World Championship debut.

Chris Vos was one of two Dutch gold medallists in Big White ©IPC
Chris Vos was one of two Dutch gold medallists in Big White ©IPC

He beat France's surprise package Maxime Montaggioni in the big final as Italy’s Jacopo Luchini ousted Britain's James Barnes-Miller for third place.

Dutch success was guaranteed in the women's SB-LL2 final as Bibian Mentel-Spee, who has been battling cancer, successfully defended her title against compatriot Lisa Bunschoten, who upgraded her bronze last time into silver.

A clean sweep for the European country was denied when Australia’s Joany Badenhorst edged Renske van Beek for bronze.

"I had a really tough summer with radiation therapy and the cancer coming back so I’m really, really stoked that I was here in the finals and winning it in the end," Mentel-Spee said.

The second gold for The Netherlands came courtesy of 18-year-old Chris Vos who won the men's SB-LL1 event by beating Austria's Reinhold Schett in the final.

Mark Mann of the US beat team-mate Mike Schultz to bronze in the small final.

In the men's SB-LL2, Finland's Matti Suur-Hamari made it back-to-back world titles by beating American Paralympic champion Evan Strong.

Bronze went to Strong's colleague Mike Shea, who bested Canada's Alex Massie.

Action will resume on February 7 when banked slalom medals will be fought for.