Smith followed up her win in last week’s event in Montafon, Austria, by recording an excellent time of 1min 21.75secs, the fastest of the day.

She finished 0.38 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund, who currently tops the ski cross rankings on 260 points.

Canada’s India Sherret came third in a time of 1:22.30, over half a second behind leader Smith.

Heidi Zacher of Germany, who won both events in Innichen last year and has taken the silver medal in all three ski cross World Cup events so far this season, could only finish eighth in a time of 1:23.61.

As expected, the men’s event sprung a few surprises with France’s Francois Place finishing top of the qualifying table in a time of 1:17.44.

The 28-year-old was on a World Cup podium for the first time in his career at Sierra Nevada earlier this year in taking bronze.

Thomas Zangerl of Austria, who was disqualified on his World Cup debut appearance at Les Contamines, France, in 2003, finished second in a time of 1:17.59.

Switzerland’s Alex Fiva, who has won four World Cup events in his nine-year ski cross career, completed the top three in 1:17.72

It was a poor day for current ranking leader Terence Tchiknavorian, of France, as he finished down in 12th.

Tchiknavorian’s compatriot Jean-Frédéric Chapuis, the Olympic ski cross champion,who ended the event a few places below him in 15th.

Last year’s winner in Innichen, Filip Filsar of Slovakia, finished 20th, 1.05 seconds behind leader Place.

One of the most surprising results came when Sweden’s Viktor Andersson, currently third on the leaderboard, finished down in 38th place.