ATLE SKAARDAL, one of the Norwegian Alpine skiers with a major title, made up for lost time yesterday by becoming his country's first super-giant slalom world champion, at Sierra Nevada, Spain.

Skaardal (30), downhill silver medallist at the 1993 world championships, clocked one minute 21.80 seconds in a race dominated by the Scandinavian skiers.

Sweden's Patrik Jaerbyn was surprise silver medallist in 1:22.09 on a 44-gate course set by team coach Peter Andrass. Norway's slalom and giant slalom world champion Kjetil-Andre Aaamodt took the bronze medal, 0.02 seconds further behind. Finland's Janne Leskinen was fourth in 1:22.37.