The 30-year-old from Salt Lake City won his first giant slalom world title at the 2011 World Championship held in Garmisch, Germany, before retaining his crown in Schladming, Austria two years later.

But his attempt to become the first man to win three consecutive giant slalom world titles in a row was always going to come under threat from Austria's Marcel Hirscher, fresh from winning the men's combined world title and the team event.

In the combined both Hirscher and Ligety stormed through the field in their slalom runs to take gold and bronze medals respectively, so it was no surprise that the two men were among the frontrunners after the first giant slalom run.

Hirscher, who leads the International Ski Federation World Cup standings, was fastest at the halfway mark of the event posting a time of 1min 15.18sec, with Italy's Roberto Nani lying second 0.18 seconds back.

Alexis Pinturault of France and Felix Neureuther of Germany locked in joint third place 0.23 off Hirscher's leading mark, while Ligety was well placed just 0.24 off the pace.

Marcel Hirscher added giant slalom silver to his combined and team event gold medals ©Getty Images



Roared on by a passionate home crowd who were hoping to witness the first US gold medal of the Championships, Ligety posted a time of 1:18.74 in the second run, taking his combined total to 2:34.16.

His main rivals were unable to dip below that mark, but Hirscher was able to add the silver medal to his combined and team golds, finishing 0.45sec behind the American, while the podium was completed by Pinturault of France, 0.88s behind the winner's time.

"I love racing in the US," said Ligety.

"It's a real anomaly for us to race in the United States.

"We're always in Europe, so just having that extra comfort level of being closer to home and having the friends and family supporting you here is huge."

Ligety and Hirscher will battle it out again in the slalom competition on Sunday (February 15), as Hirscher aims to defend the title he won in 2013, while the women's slalom event is due to take place tomorrow. 

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