Wānaka’s Luca Harrington (20) has won the FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup in Flagenhurt, Austria this morning (January 5).

The win is a career milestone for Luca, marking his maiden World Cup win and his first Big Air World Cup podium. It is also the first time any New Zealand freeskier has won a FIS Big Air World Cup.

“I don’t have words right now, I have been working really hard for the past few years, making finals has been huge,” Luca said.

“To put down these two tricks tonight and walk away with the win is just the most insane thing ever, the biggest dream come true, and I am just so grateful.”

Watch Luca's run here

After finishing fourth in the last Big Air World Cup in Beijing, Luca was hungry for higher honours. He put down a flawless switch right triple corked 1620 with an esco grab for his first trick, impressing the judges with a score of 94.80 and the highest score overall.

Dropping into run two, Luca stomped a right double corked 900 bring back Japan grab to solidify his lead with a total combined score of 186.60.

For the third and final run the athletes dropped in reverse order, meaning Luca was the final athlete to drop in. He watched the nine competitors before him, all trying to top his score, but his high scoring tricks were untouchable. 

Podium celebrations in Klagenfurt today.

Luca dropped into his first ever victory lap as he took the win, throwing down a crowd-pleasing double back flip for his final run.

Timothe Sivignon of France finished in second position and local athlete Matej Svancer of Austria rounded out the podium in third to the delight of the home crowd.

The competition was held in a stadium in front of a roaring crowd on a purpose built scaffold jump.

The Big Air format consists of three runs, with the best two run scores counting for a total combined score. The two scoring tricks must be performed in different directions, with the third and lowest scoring run a throwaway.

Luca will look to carry this momentum into the Kreischberg Big Air World Cup on Saturday January 11.

PHOTOS: Credit Buchholz / FIS Park & Pipe