LEVI, Finland :Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history as he delivered Brazil's first-ever Alpine skiing World Cup victory in a thrilling season-opening race at Levi on Sunday.

Pinheiro Braathen, who switched allegiance from Norway to Brazil last year, held a commanding 0.41 seconds lead from the first run and weaved his way down through the gates again in an ice-cool second to claim the landmark win.

France's Olympic slalom champion Clement Noel was second, 0.31 seconds slower, while home fans in the Arctic Circle resort celebrated noisily as Eduard Hallberg came third.

Brazil is better known for soccer and samba, but as the 25-year-old Pinheiro Braathen hurtled across the line, he dropped to his knees and roared to the dark sky having become one of the vast South American country's most

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