Bormio: Italian Dominik Paris snatched his first win of the season at home as the men’s World Cup downhill saw some spectacular crashes as it returned to Bormio on Thursday.

The 28-year-old clocked 1min 56.95sec, finishing ahead of Norwegian pair Aksel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud at.04sec and 0.17sec respectively.

Despite the race being pushed back nearly an hour to clear overnight snowfall the technically difficult Stelvio proved treacherous with Germany’s Dominik Schwaiger airlifted off the piste after losing control and tumbling down the slope.

He escaped serious injury, sustaining bruising to the right side of his body.

France’s Matthieu Bailet suffered a dislocated and broken left shoulder with compatriot Guillermo Fayed and American Travis Ganong also crashing out but without serious injury.

Paris however stormed down the piste claiming his second win in the Italian Alpine resort he knows well after 2012 -- and the ninth World Cup victory of his career.

The 34-year-old Svindal -- winner in Beaver Creek and Val Gardena and the last time the race was held in Bormio four years ago -- extended his lead in the World Cup downhill standings.

The competition continues on Friday with the men’s combined -- a downhill run and slalom.

Mikaela Shiffrin notched up her fourth win this month with a storming slalom success on Thursday at Lienz where she secured her first World Cup podium back in 2011.

The in-form American had all of her main rivals trailing by over a second after the first leg.

The 22-year-old from Colorado enjoyed a 0.89sec advantage over Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener with Frida Hansdotter of Sweden at 1.22sec back in third.

Shiffrin’s 36th World Cup success followed wins in the parallel slalom and giant slalom at Courchevel last week.

Agence France-Presse