SNOWBOARDER Jamie Nicholls has given the clearest indication yet that he is on target for the 2018 Winter Olympics by winning the last FIS slopestyle World Cup of the season in Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic.

The 22-year-old from Queensbury was competing against 46 of the world's best in the Audi Snow Jam competition at Spindleruv Myln, which was televised live in Eurosport, and Nicholls finished on top of the podium to become the first Briton to win a World Cup slopestyle event.

The course featured four huge rails and an even bigger jump, and his winning run included a cab 180 spin with a back 360 spin off the first rail, a frontside 180 spin to cab 360 spin off the second rail, a switch boardslide 450 spin off the third rail and a back 270 spin to boardside, finishing with a backside 1260 spin on the jump off the fourth rail.

The down-to-earth Nicholls, who is now based in Guildford, said: “I am excited to have won a World Cup!

"I feel like I’m just getting started and I’m really looking forward to the next year, where my competition points will contribute towards ensuring me a place in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.”