( CNN ) -- Switzerland 's Lara Gut won the giant slalom as the World Cup season kicked off in Soelden , Austria on Saturday . The 22-year-old 's first-ever victory in the discipline was clinched in a combined time of two minutes 25.16 seconds from two runs . Austria 's Kathrin Zettel finished second , 0.84 seconds behind Gut with Germany 's Viktoria Rebensburg a further 0.44 seconds slower in third . Read more : Seven to watch in Sochi . `` It 's the first race of the season and already a win , it 's amazing . I 'm happy to bring a giant slalom win to Switzerland again , '' Gut said afterwards . `` In the first run I was trying to ski clean and push it to the limits although the snow was pretty aggressive . In the second run I just thought about skiing fast and did n't think about what could happen ... '' she added . Read more : Latest skiing news/features . Gut 's previous best finish in a giant slalom race had been third -- in Lenzerheide , Switzerland earlier this year and at Semmering in Austria back in 2008 . Zettel 's second place earned her a record fifth podium finish in Soelden and the 20th of her career in giant slalom . `` It 's a big podium here and quite a good beginning to the season . I felt confident before the race and I hoped to get a podium after a good summer of training in New Zealand , '' Zettel said . Mikaela Shiffrin was the best-placed U.S. skier finishing sixth , but compatriot Julia Mancuso had a disappointing opening day finishing down in 27th . Last season 's overall World Cup champion Tina Maze was crowned `` Skier of the Year '' earlier in the week but could only finish in 18th place in a race she won 12 months ago .
Swiss skier takes first giant slalom title of career in opening race of World Cup season . Austria 's Kathrin Zettel finishes second ; Germany 's Viktoria Rebensburg is third . Last year 's winner and overall World Cup champion finishes in 18th place .