Bardonecchia, Italy – Reigning Word Champions Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone, both of Australia, won the fifth halfpipe contests of the 2011 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season Saturday in the Olympic halfpipe in Bardonecchia.nIn the women’s final, Crawford, who had earned 24.7 points for her winning run, relegated France’s Mirabelle Thovex (23.1) and Polish rider Paulina Ligocka-Andrzejewska (21.6) to the second and third ranks, respectively. On the men’s side, Johnstone led the pack with a total of 28.7 points while French team riders Johann Baisamy (26.1) and Arthur Longo (25.2) rounded out the podium.

Johnstone, 21, of Perisher Valley in New South Wales, claimed victory with a frontside 900 to backside 540, frontside 1080, cab 720 and frontside crail. He also assumed the Halfpipe World Cup lead with Friday’s victory, as well as the Freestyle Snowboard Overall World Cup ranking. After his career’s second World Cup win (his first was in Yabuli, China, this February) Johnstone now sits on top of the table with 3,060 points.

“I’m pretty happy. I really wanted to get a win here to get me back in a good position in the points ranking,” said Johnstone. “Now, I guess we could have a good show in Arosa (Italy), so I hope Ryo (Aono, of Japan, currently ranked second) will be there.”

Aono is currently the only rider able to defeat Johnstone for the Crystal Globe, but it’s not yet confirmed that he will ride in Arosa.

On the women’s side, Crawford’s victory narrowed the gap maintained by World Cup leader Xuetong Cai of China to 700 points.

“It would be nice to beat her (Xuetong Cai) in Arosa. This would make my day,” said the 27-year-old Crawford, who also admitted that her winning run consisting of frontside lien, japan air, frontside 720, cab 360 and frontside 540, still has potential for improvement. “I struggled with my 7’s but in the end it was all good.”