Ski and Snowboard Australia rider Ben Mates has won the silver medal in a halfpipe World Cup in Gujo Gifu, Japan.

Mates made the first podium of his career, finishing second to one of the host nation’s leading young riders, Ryoh Aono.

The Perisher Blue 25-year-old scored 40.6 points for his best ride, 3.2 points behind Aono, with Wangchen Shi of China taking the bronze on 38.6 points.

With many of the world’s top riders opting to miss the event in the lead-up to the world championships next weekend, the event dominated by Japanese boarders.

Mates’ previous best World Cup result was a ninth placing in Bardonecchia, Italy, in March 2004.