The 2019 Snowboard and Free Ski World Cup continued at the newly built Shougang Big Air slope in Beijing on Friday. Giulia Tanno of Switzerland clinched top of the women's free ski big air qualification, while Norway's Birk Ruud became group leader in the men's competition.

On the women's side, 16 skiers were competing for six places in the final. Tanno topped the standings with a leading 178.5 points, followed by Canadian Dara Howelland and Italy's Silvia Bertagna. Yang Shuo-rui was the highest-ranked of four Chinese skiers, sitting 12th.

In the men's category, 44 skiers are divided into two groups; with the top five skiers of each heat would secure final spots. Ruud won heat one with 186.75 points, as Finland's Elias Syrja led the second heat with 181.75 points. 

Founded in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1993, the Air and Style global series first arrived in China's capital city in 2010, before the tournament upgraded to a World Cup level in 2017, as the event was previously staged on detachable ramps at Beijing's Bird's Nest and Workers' Stadium.

Marking its 10th straight year in Beijing, this year's Air & Style competition included the free ski event for the first time, and is ongoing at the regenerated Shougang Industrial Park, the venue set to host competition during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which will be the only snow sports venue located in Beijing's downtown area.

Meanwhile, Shougang ski jumping platform also hold three light shows between Thursday and Saturday to create a visual effects at night and tourists who sign up in advance can come to the park to watch.

The light and shadow show is divided into three acts: ice and snow in the sky, steel fire for a hundred years and the Olympic spirit, totaling eight minutes.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)