Austria's Manfred Pranger won the men's slalom gold medal in difficult icy conditions at the Alpine World Skiing Championships in Val D'Isere.
Only two of the top eight skiers after the first run were able to complete the second run on the Bellevarde piste.
Pranger's combined time was 1 minute 44.17 seconds with France's Julien Lizeroux second, 0.18 seconds behind.
Canadian Michael Janyk climbed from ninth after the first run to claim the bronze medal, 0.35 seconds behind.
Pranger, 31, who became a father two weeks ago, said: "First a son and now this. Life could not be better. I've been dreaming about this for so long. After all I've been through (with injuries) this is fantastic."
606: DEBATE
Graham Bell's report from Val d'Isere
The Austrian set the fastest time in the first run, holding a 0.04 second lead over Sweden's Johan Brolenius, with favourite Jean-Baptiste Grange of France third. But both Brolenius and Grange fell in the final run to hand a first major championship gold to Pranger.
It gave Austria their first gold medal of an otherwise-disappointing championships.
Bode Miller crashed out in three of five events in Val D'Isere
Janyk, who won Canada's second medal after John Kucera's gold in the downhill last weekend, said: "I'm very surprised.
"I knew I was skiing really well. I was waiting for my opportunity and today was the day."
American Bode Miller's hopes of a medal were dashed when he fell halfway down the second run. He had complained during the championships that his aggressive style was not suited to the course.
"I seem to ski well but not see the finish line," he said after his third
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