Dale Begg-Smith has moved a step closer to claiming three consecutive mogul skiing World Cup titles after winning his second event of the season.

Begg-Smith conquered the toughest course on the circuit, and the one that will host next year’s World Championships, to take the 14th World Cup victory of his career.

Competing in Inawashiro, Japan, the 23-year-old reigning Olympic champion once again proved his credentials when the pressure was on, qualifying in fourth place, then stepping up to take the gold on a hill his coach described as “ferociously tricky”.

Begg-Smith earned 23.03 points from the judges, more than three points below the highest scores recorded this season.

Japanese skier Osamu Ueno took the silver medal with 22.68 points and Guilbaut Colas of France tied with David Babic of the USA in third position on 22.28 points.

Begg-Smith now has an 86 point lead over his nearest rival in the race for the World Cup title.

With four events to go, he sits on 410 points, while Colas has 324 points, and the third contender, Canadian skier Vincent Marquis, has 274 points.

If the Australian skier takes the crystal globe this season, he will become only the second man in the history of the sport to win three World Cup titles in a row.

OWI team-mate Ramone Cooper and fellow Australian Rob Lovick both had bad days in Japan, Cooper finishing in 44th place, while Lovick, who lost a ski near the top of the course, was one place further back.

“It was a really difficult course,” said OWI Head Moguls coach Steve Desovich.

“The degree of difficulty was amazing, especially the top jump, and because of that, the scores were very low, but under those conditions Dale is quite competent.”

“So many people blew it, but Dale was able to keep his composure, as is his strength, and by the time he got around to the final he put down a nice solid run, and his jumping was very strong today, so it was a really positive day, obviously.”

“The other positive today was that he continued to extend his lead – it was 46 before, and it’s 80-plus now, so that’s a really good sign with four events left – just a really positive day generally.”

“He’s the only one with two wins now, and I don’t expect him to win every event, but he’s in a good position.”

The Olympic Winter Institute mogul team will now take a two-week break before resuming competition in Spicak-Marienbad, Czech Republic, on March 1.