Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone have both qualified directly into the final of a halfpipe World Cup event in Bardonecchia, Italy.

The AIS duo each finished third in the qualifying round of their respective women’s and men’s events, earning impressive 40-plus point scores from the judges.

Crawford’s performance was particularly noteworthy, coming in a field that included X Games winner and fellow Australian Torah Bright, 2002 Olympic champion Kelly Clark, 2006 Olympic gold medallist Hannah Teter and two other Olympic medallists.

The Sydney rider – who turns 25 in three days – collected 41.9 points for her best run down the Torino 2006 Olympic pipe, finishing 3.5 points behind Clark, while Teter posted 43.1 points.

Bright was in fourth place on 38.6 points, one of six women to qualify for the semi-final and the opportunity to fill one of the remaining three spots in tomorrow’s final.

Crawford’s AIS team-mate Hannah Trigger did not have a good day, earning just 11.4 points from the judges.

In the second of two heats in the men’s event, Johnstone produced a 42.0 ride in his best effort down the pipe, just one point behind Gregory Bretz of the USA and 0.5 behind New Zealander James Hamilton.

Ski and Snowboard Australia rider Ben Mates finished fifth in the first of the men’s heats, receiving 36.3 points and a second shot at a place in the final through the semi-final round.

Both semi-finals and finals will be held early Sunday morning Australian time.