Finishing on a high

Still, returning to the country where she claimed her first international title (2007 junior worlds), and finishing on podium at her first worlds since she returned from a long break, was encouraging enough for the 34-year-old Xu, who's going to compete at her fifth Winter Olympics next year.

"It was a pretty good practice ahead of the Olympics and I feel quite content with my overall performances," said Xu, who's racked up a record 38 World Cup wins, including team events, in aerials during a storied career.

Led by Xu, two other Chinese women also made it into the six-skier super final on Sunday, serving as a testament to the depth of China's aerialists.

Another of Beijing 2022's heroes announcing a strong return in Switzerland was men's reigning big air Olympic champion snowboarder Su Yiming, who has overcome a series of injuries, as well as struggles with his newfound fame as a 17-year-old gold medalist at his home Games, to come back strongly on the world stage.

Following an inconsistent World Cup season due to fitness problems, on March 21 the 21-year-old proved his doubters wrong by stomping a first run of mesmerizing tricks to earn 85.07 points and a silver medal in the slopestyle final, repeating his runner-up finish in the discipline at Beijing 2022.

Although knocked off the top spot by Canadian rider Liam Brearley's second run of 90.15 points, Su made sure he sent a clear message: his love of the sport is back where it is supposed to be.

"I think it all comes down to love," Su said of his drive to keep pushing forward after having won the ultimate prize so early in his career in an interview with Olympics.com.

"After actually winning the gold medal, I felt a sort of emptiness. I didn't have a clear goal anymore ... To do something to the highest level, it has to come from a place of true passion.

"That's why I took time to reset, and eventually, that love, and that dream, returned to me."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn