Wanaka freeskier Sam Lee has claimed victory at a Freeride World Qualifier Tour event in Austria.
The win comes after a string of top results and has solidified this season as his most successful of his career.
Lee was using the Open Faces Silvretta Montafon competition as a warm-up before next week's important tour stop in Fieberbrunn, Austria.
That event is the last chance for athletes to qualify for the final tour stops in Haines, Alaska and Verbier, as well as the upcoming 2018 season.
After the Fieberbrunn event, a cut is made based on the competitors' best two results of the 2017 season, reducing the field of 51 riders to just to 12 ski men, six ski women, six snowboard men, and four snowboard women.
Lee is ranked seventh and in a strong position to qualify for the next stage.
''Montafon was fun. It was cool to do a comp with a little less pressure than the Freeride World Tour,'' he said.
''I'm really happy with the run as the main focus was the cliffs.''
Lee's well-controlled, well-paced run incorporated a big cliff drop to earn top points.
New Zealander Craig Murray also posted a strong result, finishing in seventh place.
Murray was the 2016 Junior Freeride Tour Champion and this season has achieved two podium finishes with a win at the qualifier event in Hochfugen, Austria in January. He also claimed second place at the French qualifiers.
