Craig Branch has returned to World Cup downhill action, as Jono Brauer continues to re-build his form and confidence in FIS events in Europe.

Brauer won a FIS giant slalom in Flumserberg, Switzerland, a day after claiming GS silver at the same venue.

The 27-year-old AIS skier recorded a total time of 2 minutes 9.35 seconds for his two runs to edge out Swedish skier Fredrik Kingstad by 0.11 seconds.

Three days later he was on the podium again, this time claiming bronze in Hintersoder.

Brauer’s last victory in Europe was in a Europa Cup slalom at the same Austrian resort in January 2006.

Making just his third downhill appearance for the season, Craig Branch finished in 51st place in the opening Kvitfjell race in a time of one minute 50.36 seconds, 3.27 seconds behind race winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada.

Michael Walchhofer of Austria took the silver medal, with bronze going to Norwegian skier Aksel Lund Svindal.

In the second event he went three places better, finishing in 48th position, 3.01 seconds behind gold medallist Klaus Kroell, also from Austria.

Walchhofer collected his second consecutive silver medal of the weekend, and with two downhills left on the schedule, he has a 75 point lead over his team-mate in the World Cup title chase.

Walchhofer won the downhill title in both 2005 and 2006.

The Kvitfjell super G race was cancelled.

The final two downhill events of the season will be contested in Are, Sweden, on March 10 and 11.