Snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin became Australia’s newest World Champion tonight with a win in La Molina, Spain.

The 23-year-old from Mansfield, Victoria, snatched the biggest win of his career in the snowboard cross World Championship final defeating dual Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott and Nate Holland, both from the United States.

Pullin, who qualified for the finals with the fourth fastest time, was close to flawless as he progressed through the round of 32, quarter finals and semi-finals before capturing the title in a gripping final.

The 23-year-old had confirmed himself as a rising star of the sport when he qualified first during last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

But his hopes of Games' glory were quickly dashed when he took a spill in the first head-to-head heat of the sport.

Snowboard cross involves 'boarders racing against each other on a steep course with banked turns and jumps and is often referred to as motocross on snow.

Pullin joins freestyle skiers Dale Begg-Smith, Alisa Camplin, Jacqui Cooper and Kirstie Marshall and slalom skier Zali Steggall as Australia's winter sports world champions.

Olympic Winter Institute and AAP