Alexander Schmid won the Men’s Parallel event in the World Championships in Courchevel, France.
The German was sublime down the Roc de Fer piste, looking composed throughout the whole course, with a deadly close-out on the final few gates.
The 28-year-old beat Austrian racer Dominik Raschner in the final to claim victory.
Timon Haugan of Norway, usually a slalom specialist, wrapped up the podium positions.
Pre-race favourite Alexis Pinturault was knocked out early in the round of 16 by young Norwegian skier Alexander Steen Olsen.
Steen Olsen gained a 0.45 second advantage in the first leg against the French veteran.
Despite a mistake on the rematch, which scrubbed off a lot of speed, he managed to hold on the lead by 0.21 seconds.
Linus Strasser’s day was cut short, with Italian Luca De Aliprindini catching him at the end of the second leg.
The German tried to cross-block the final few gates but a flag altered the position of his goggles, blocking his vision.
And Adrian Pertl progressed against one of the stars of yesterday’s team event, River Radamus.
In the quarter-finals, Haugan progressed against his team-mate Rasmus Windingstad.
Schmid knocked out Zan Kranjec of Slovenia by 0.23 seconds, meaning he would face Haugan in the semi-finals.
In the first leg between Steen Olsen and Raschner, the 21-year-old Norwegian got a 0.22 second advantage.
But Raschner came back on a charge, managing to make up the time required to defeat Olsen.
Raschner would face his team-mate Adrian Pertl in the semi-finals, after his win against De Aliprindini.
Schmid had an immaculate close out against Timon Haugan in the first leg of the semi-finals, gaining a 0.2 second advantage.
The Norwegian came back charging on the second leg, but Schmid managed to hold on finishing with a 0.06 second lead.
With Alexander Schmid through to the final, we knew either Germany or Austria were set to pick up their first gold-medal of the games.
But it was between Pertl and Raschner to find out who it would be to challenge the German.
Raschner gained 0.15 on the first leg, then in the following race, despite losing his pole out of the gate, Pertl managed to pull level with his team-mate half-way down the piste.
But Raschner pulled off a brilliant close-out to regain his lead.
In the race-off for third between Adrian Pertl and Timon Haugan, the Austrian got a 0.01 second advantage in the first leg.
Small margins between the two, but it was Haugan on the Van Deer skis that got himself in the medal positions, winning by 0.17 seconds.
Schmid took no mercy in the final, beating Raschner by a comfortable 0.9 seconds over the two legs, he was simply too good.
Linus Strasser was the first to come and congratulate his team-mate in the finish area.
Beaming smiling after the race, Schmid said: “It means a lot, I didn’t expect it before, it’s just amazing.
“After yesterdays team event I knew I had to focus on myself, from run to run and never give up.”
Words Jack Feneley
Pictures Zoom Agence