PARK CITY, Utah ” Ophelie David of France retook the World Cup points lead Saturday, winning the first World Cup skiercross competition in North America. Canadian Dave Barr won his first skiercross event in the men’s race.

Skiercross will make it debut in 2010 as the newest Olympic snow sport. Sometimes referred to as “motocross on skis,” the event features four skiers tackling a snowy course that features banked turns, rollers and flat sections. The top two skiers in each heat advance until the final four.

David, who won the event at last month’s Winter X Games 12 in Aspen, moved past teammate Meryl Boulangeat into the points lead when Boulangeat fell in the final heat and finished fourth. Sasa Faric of Slovenia was second and Emilie Serain of Switzerland fourth.

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The winner said she was pleased to be victorious but she was happier because skiercross finally was being held in North America, which traditionally has hosted only aerials, moguls and dual moguls.

“I am super happy that we have the first ski cross in North America … I think this is the first bridge between these two worlds,” David said.

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Barr said he was surprised by his victory with Aspen-area resident Casey Puckett, a four-time Olympic alpine skier and two-time Winter X Games skiercross champion, second. Michael Schmid of Switzerland finished third and Daron Rahlves, the most successful downhiller in U.S. alpine history, fourth. Rahlves took gold at last month’s X Games; Puckett finished third.

“I was just looking to get into finals,” Barr said. Puckett and Schmid got slightly tangled midway through the final heat, the Canadian skied past and never was caught.