A superb second run gave British number one Chemmy Alcott her best ever giant slalom result in a World Cup race when she finished 10th in Soelden, Austria.
Alcott, 26, improved from 28th over the first run with a joint fastest second leg of one minute 13.01 secs, matching the time of race winner Kathrin Zettel.
Zettel's combined time of 2:22.99 gave the Austrian a 0.98 seconds victory over Tanja Poutiainen of Finland.
Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland won the men's race in a time of 2:15.78.
Alcott was frustrated with her first run, in which her hand caught a gate to lose valuable time, and was not expecting to finish in the top 30, thus qualifying for a second run.
But she sneaked in and then produced a brilliant second run for her first-ever top 10 result in a World Cup giant slalom.
Alcott said: "The result shows what good shape I am in; that I can still qualify after having made such a huge mistake and still get a great result proves I can do it.
"I did not come here to pick up two or three points, I want the big points. It's now make or break!"
In the men's race Albrecht finished 0.14 secs inside the time of compatriot Didier Cuche, with Ted Ligety of the USA in third place.
"I hope I will be able to continue at this level," said Albrecht.
"Before starting my second run I heard that Cuche had set the fastest two-run time. I was a bit nervous but it boosted me to think it could be two Swiss fighting for the victory.
"I'm confident for the rest of the season and I'm hoping to challenge for the overall World Cup crown.
"I'm skiing more relaxed now and think I've made progress in all the disciplines."
Bode Miller, who won the overall World Cup crown last season, trained hard on the technical races ahead of this season but a mistake midway down the run cost him a chance of a place on the podium and he eventually finished 10th.
Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal was 13th in his first outing after missing most of last season because of injuries sustained in a training crash.
The World Cup resumes in north America at the end of November.
Women's giant slalom result (run 1, run 2, overall):
1. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 1 min 09.98 sec, 1:13.01, 2:22.99
2. Tanja Poutiainen (Fin) 1:09.83, 1:14.14, 2:23.97
3. Andrea Fischbacher (Aut) 1:10.71, 1:13.76, 2:24.47
4. Denise Karbon (Ita) 1:10.47, 1:14.03, 2:24.50
5. Lara Gut (Swi) 1:10.65, 1:13.88, 2:24.53
6. Maria Pietilae-Holmner (Swe) 1:10.93, 1:13.63, 2:24.56
7. Anja Paerson (Swe) 1:10.78, 1:13.79, 2:24.57
8. Kathrin Hoelzl (Ger) 1:11.14, 1:13.70, 2:24.84
9. Lindsey Vonn (US) 1:11.13, 1:14.03, 1:25.16
10. Chemmy Alcott (GB) 1:12.40, 1:13.01, 2:25.41
Men's giant slalom result (run 1, run 2, overall):
1. Daniel Albrecht (Swi) 1:07.30 1:08.48, 2 mins 15.78 secs
2. Didier Cuche (Swi) 1:07.56 1:08.36, 2:15.92
3.Ted Ligety (US) 1:07.57 1:09.46, 2:17.03
4 Benjamin Raich (Aut) 1:07.42 1:09.66, 2:17.08
5 Thomas Fanara (Fra) 1:08.30 1:08.92, 2:17.22
6 Christoph Gruber (Aut) 1:08.10 1:09.15, 2:17.25
7 Romed Baumann (Aut) 1:08.51 1:08.83, 2:17.34
8 Philipp Schoerghofer (Aut) 1:08.63 1:08.72, 2:17.35
9 Carlo Janka (Swi) 1:09.08 1:08.28, 2:17.36
10 Bode Miller (US 1:07.62 1:09.75, 2:17.37
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