“I really like Val d’Isere very much. This is the second greatest day of my life after last year — same place, same time — when I won my first race,” the 21-year-old skier said after winning in a combined time of one minute 44.70 seconds.

“And it’s also my first victory in a slalom, so it’s great,” added Hirscher, whose win a year ago was in giant slalom.

In March 2009, the triple junior world champion signalled he would be a major threat in the senior ranks too by finishing fourth in the giant slalom at the world championships in the French resort.

While many favorites were caught off guard by the steep slope and the changing light and snow conditions on Sunday, Hirscher made the best of the circumstances to upstage his experienced compatriot Benjamin Raich by 0.31 seconds.

“Today, I just tried to ski neatly. We trained a lot in slalom in America and that was the best training for here,” Hirscher said.

France’s Steve Missilier salvaged local pride by finishing third, 0.56 seconds adrift, on his 26th birthday.

Hirscher has the same cool head and excellent technical skills as the 32-year-old Raich, a double Olympic and world champion, and is regarded as the natural successor to his compatriot.

His coming of age is not a surprise as he was hailed as the future of Austrian skiing almost as soon as his father Ferdinand decided to devote all his time and money to turning his son into a champion.

The first leg claimed the scalps of world champion Manfred Pranger of Austria, who won on the same piste two seasons ago, Olympic champion Giovanni Razzoli and the last two winners of the discipline’s World Cup, local favorite Jean-Baptiste Grange and Austria’s Reinfried Herbst.

Former world champion Mario Matt of Austria and off-form American Bode Miller also failed to finish the morning run.

“On this course, you never know whether to hold it or let it go. The snow is aggressive and the slope is steep,” said Grange, winner of the first slalom of the season in Levi last month. “I was at a loss what to do.”
 
France’s Worley wins giant slalom

In St. Moritz, Switzerland, France’s Tessa Worley confirmed herself as the main threat to the all-conquering German racers with her second giant slalom in succession in the Alpine ski World Cup on Sunday.

The winner in Aspen two weeks ago, Worley, who has an Australian father, fought back from fifth place in the first run to win in a combined time of two minutes 10.70 seconds.

Germans Vitkoria Rebensburg and Kathrin Hoelzl, the Olympic and world champions, had been fastest in the first run but were hampered by the strong winds which forced the start of the afternoon run to be delayed by an hour.

Rebensburg, winner of the first giant slalom of the season in Soelden, finished 10th while Hoelzl missed a gate on the second leg.

“I did about the same as in Aspen — a correct first leg not far from the top, which forced me to go for it in the second,” Worley said.

“The snow was much more rugged in the second leg but I found the right line. I skied it just right.”

Finn Tanja Poutiainen finished second by the slimmest margin of 0.01 seconds while Slovenia’s Tina Maze was third, 0.31 adrift.

German Maria Riesch retained the World Cup overall lead on 514 points despite crossing the line in 19th.

Her big rival Lindsey Vonn had her best giant slalom result in two years with seventh place.

“It’s a very important result for me in terms of my confidence,” the American said. “Every time I finish in the top 10 in a GS it makes things different for the next weekend.

“Next week, we’re in Val d’Isere with three races which should suit me just right. It will be ideal to put myself on solid ground before the Christmas break.”

Saturday’s super-G due to take place in St Moritz was called off because of snow and wind and will now be held in Val d’Isere, France, on Friday.