World champion Sandra Näslund headed into the event as the skier to beat after winning the opening three World Cup events at Secret Garden and Val Thorens.

Näslund led qualification in Arosa in 30.41sec, with Canada’s Hannah Schmidt and Thompson rounding off the top three in the Swiss venue.

Näslund won her opening two heats in the knock-out stage, before qualifying from the semi-finals as the runner-up to home favourite Fanny Smith.

Sochi 2014 Olympic champion Thompson won three consecutive races to reach the final in style, with team-mate Zoe Chore clinching the last spot.

Näslund’s perfect record this season came to an end when she crashed in the final, as the skiers vied for position on the course.

Thompson came through to secure her first World Cup victory since January 2020, with Smith finishing as the runner-up for the third time in fourth races this season.

The top three was completed by Chore, who earned her first World Cup podium finish.

Näslund remains top of the World Cup standings on 350 points, with Smith closing the gap by moving onto 266.

There was Swedish success in the men’s event with David Mobärg claiming the second World Cup win of his career.

Mobärg’s previous triumph had also come at the same venue last year.

He impressively advanced to the final in a heat which included top qualifier Ryan Regez of Switzerland and France’s Bastien Midol, who has already earned two podium finishes this season.

Mobärg produced an impressive performance in the final to beat France’s Terence Tchiknavorian, who won the first World Cup event in Val Thorens.

Tchiknavorian was forced to settle for second place, recording his third podium of the season.

Canada’s Jared Schmidt completed the podium places, with Austria’s Johannes Rohrweck placing fourth in the final.

Tchiknavorian leads the World Cup standings after earning 268 points from the opening four events, with Midol second on 177.