Performing triple flips in competition for the first time since she injured her knee almost two years ago, Xu put down a near flawless performance to outclass the competition, finishing with 114.21 points, 25.74 ahead of Kristina Spiridonova, of Russia, who claimed her second podium finish of the season.

Xu’s compatriot Kong Fanyu claimed bronze with 82.36 points.

After receiving her medal, Xu said: "Today is a meaningful day for me.

“This is my first win of the season and it’s the first time since my knee surgery two years ago that I’ve won a World Cup event doing triple flips, so I’m very happy and very excited.

“And to do it here where the fans are very passionate is exciting.”

The Sochi 2014 silver medallist has now leapfrogged Hanna Huskova of Belarus into first position in the aerials World Cup rankings.

Huskova could only finish fifth in today’s competition.

The men’s event saw Russia’s Maxim Burov take the first gold medal of his career after performing an almost-perfect back double full, full, full to earn a score of 131.67 at the United States venue.

Unsurprisingly, Burov was delighted with his performance.

“This was the best jump of my life tonight,” he said.

“And I could not be happier.”

However, he was pushed very close by China’s Qi Guangpu, the reigning men’s crystal globe champion, who scored 130.77 to claim silver.

Sochi 2014 gold medal winner Anton Kushnir of Belarus completed the podium line-up with a points total of 124.78.

Burov’s win in Deer Valley means he now tops the aerials rankings going into the next event, which takes place in Lake Placid, United States, on January 19.