Austrian Raphael Haaser went from fifth place to win the World Alpine Skiing Championships giant slalom, the first top-level victory of his career. Haaser, 27, prevailed by 23 hundredths of a second over Swiss Thomas Tumler combining times from two runs in Saalbach,

SAALBACH, Austria - Austria's Raphael Haaser kick-started a home party as he stormed to gold in the men's giant slalom at the Alpine Skiing World Championships after a superb second run on Friday. Switzerland's domination of the championships was expected to continue with reigning world and Olympic champion Marco Odermatt the pre-race favourite.

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Austrian skier Raphael Haaser ended the Swiss dominance in the men’s events at the Alpine world championships by winning the giant slalom on Friday. Haaser improved from fifth place in the opening run as the leading racers faltered in the second, and he finished ahead of three Swiss rivals.