The Belgian recorded a total score of 183 points from his three runs down the 44-metre ramp at the Technical University Stadium.
Smits set the tone with a magnificent first attempt that saw him rack up 92.50 points from the judges.
No one was able to better that tally and the 23-year-old made sure of his victory with two further solid runs, gaining a score of 90.50 on his third and final attempt to secure top spot on the podium.
Switzerland's Jonas Boesiger (180.25) was second and Brandon Davis (179.50) of the United States rounded off the top three.
Davis' compatriot Ryan Stassel was fourth ahead of the Finnish pairing of Petja Piiroinen (162.75) and Janne Korpi (154.00), both of whom produced disappointing performances.
Piiroinen won the only big air meet of the 2013-14 World Cup, but he made a poor start with a fall on his first attempt and was unable to post a score good enough to contend with Smits on his last two runs.
The second and final big air event of the season takes place at Stoneham in Canada on February 20.