The German was tied with compatriot Sylke Otto at the top of the all-time list for women’s World Cup wins, but produced two strong runs at the Calgary Olympic Park to move to have the record outright.

Hüfner, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic champion, achieved a first run time of 46.731 seconds to sit behind World Cup leader Natalie Geisenberger in the standings.

A faster second run of 46.711 saw Hüfner move to into first place, as she ended with a combined time of 1min 33.442sec.

It proved enough to edge home favourite Alex Gough, who finished as the runner up in 1:33.557.

Geisenberger was forced to settle for third place in a time of 1:33.603, having only managed the fifth fastest second run of the competition.

“Things went my way in the end, after Natalie took victory last time out in Altenberg,” said Hüfner, a five-time world champion.

“I really gave it everything, it was a case of all or nothing.

“And luckily it all came good.

“Getting two solid runs was the key to winning here.”

The victory moves Hüfner just 40 points off the Geisenberger in the overall World Cup standings, but the reigning Olympic champion still leads on 440.

Hüfner enjoyed her second success of the day, when she triumphed in the team relay alongside doubles duo Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken, as well as yesterday’s men’s individual champion Felix Loch.

The quartet ended the competition with a time of 2:21.146.

Canada ended as the runners-up, with Gough, Samuel Edney, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith ending in 2:21.187.

Austria’s Miriam Kastlunger, Wolfgang Kindl and the doubles pairing of Peter Penz and Georg Fischler rounded off the podium.

They finished in a time of 2:21.589.

Germany lead the overall World Cup standings on 300 points, with Canada now second on 230.