Australian skier Jenny Owens has slipped one rung down the world rankings to fifth position after finishing in eighth place in a ski cross World Cup in Sierra Nevada, Spain, overnight.

Owens qualified in sixth position, then won her quarter final head-to-head round, helping to eliminate fellow Australian Katya Crema in the process.

In the semifinal round, the former Salt Lake 2002 Olympian was herself eliminated, failing to finish the course.

She was then disqualified in the small final to determine fifth to eighth placings.

The event was won by the dominant woman on the circuit, French skier Ophelie David, with Hedda Berntsen of Norway in second place and Katrin Ofner of Austria in third.

David leads the World Cup standings on 401 points after winning four of the five events contested this season, and is on track to win the fifth title of her career.

Her compatriot Meryl Boulangeat is in second place on 305 points, while Owens has dropped from fourth to fifth on 214 points.

Crema, who finished in 11th position, is in 18th place on the World Cup standings on 55 points, after contesting just three of the five events.

A third Australian competitor, Samantha Kennedy, did not start the event.

Courtesy OWI/Sportcom