Bankes, who clinched silver at the 2019 World Championships, will be looking to go one better in Idre Fjäll and got her campaign off to the perfect start in the Swedish resort.

The 25-year-old was among eight athletes that qualified after the first run as she topped the standings with a time of 1min 21.93sec.

Faye Gulini of the United States was a second further back while reigning champion Eva Samková of the Czech Republic came third in 1:23.21.

Olympic gold medallist Michela Moioli of Italy and five-time world champion Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States also secured a place in the top eight.

A further eight athletes qualified after the second run, including Olympic bronze medallist Chloé Trespeuch of France, while nine failed to make the cut.

In the men’s qualification round, Hämmerle, who won the last FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup stage in Chiesa in Italy, continued his fine form to seal top spot in 1:17.68.

Merlin Surget of France came second in 1:17.90 while Lucas Equibar of Spain was third in 1:18.00.

Defending champion Mick Dierdorff of the United States finished in 14th place but was among the top 16 to progress after the first run.

Another 16 snowboarders also made it through after the second run, while 18 missed out on the final.

The men’s and women’s finals are scheduled to take place on Thursday (February 11) before a snowboard cross team competition is held on February 12.

Ski cross qualification rounds are due to take place tomorrow, where France’s François Place and Canada’s Marielle Thompson will start the defence of their respective titles.

Athletes will be familiar with the Idre course, which held the last three FIS Ski Cross World Cup legs.

Reece Howden of Canada won two of those to increase his lead at the top of the standings with France's Bastien Midol winning the other, and Place believes "almost anyone" can clinch the title.

"It's a track where you have to be super fair, you must not miss this last straight line which is very long," Place told French newspaper L’Equipe.

"The slightest mistake is not forgiving.

"Honestly, almost anyone can win.

"It's an atypical race, it rarely happens like that on the rest of the World Cup circuits.

"There is no real favourite, 15 to 20 people can claim to win on Saturday."

Overall World Cup leader Fanny Smith is the strong favourite to win the women’s race as she aims to secure her second world title.

The Swiss skier holds the record for the most FIS Ski Cross World Cup victories with 27 after triumphing in two of the three races in Idre last month.

Thompson, French duo Alizée Baron and Marielle Berger Sabbatel and Austria’s Katrin Ofner are also expected to be in the mix for gold.