Dale Begg-Smith has made the perfect start to his World Cup mogul skiing title defence, winning gold in the opening event of the season in Mont Gabriel, Canada.

The Torino Olympic champion scored 25.74 points for a narrow victory over French skier Guilbaut Colas on 25.59 points and home-town hero Alexandre Bilodeau of Canada on 25.55 points.

The result gave the 21-year-old Australian the seventh World Cup victory of his career, and his ninth podium placing from the past 11 events.

Begg-Smith's mentor, Olympic Winter Institute head moguls coach Steve Desovich, was very pleased with the early season gold.

"We weren’t expecting such a good start to the season," Desovich said. "Dale didn't really get going till mid-January last season, so to do so well in his first event is a real bonus."

"And it was tough here, because it's Bilodeau's home event and he has traditionally done very well here."

"Dale's runs today were very good, very consistent - not great by any means, but we're pleased overall and we know he'll be able to improve on that during the season."

"Deer Valley is on next weekend and he's done well there in the past."

Begg-Smith collected bronze on the 2002 Olympic course in Deer Valley last season, and silver and a fourth placing the year before.

The youngest member of the OWI team, Ramone Cooper, was the best of the other Australians, the 18-year-old scoring 22.63 points to finish in 21st place in what was his third World Cup appearance.

Michael Robertson finished five places further back on 21.87 points, while Nick Fisher was in 34th place on 20.49 points.

Australia's aerial skiers Jacqui Cooper and Liz Gardner compete Monday morning in Mont Gabriel.

With poor snow conditions persisting in Europe, it appears likely the World Freestyle Skiing Championships, scheduled for January 21-28 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, will be postponed until later in the season.

Olympic Winter Institute