HOENGSEONG, South Korea — Markus Schairer of Austria rallied in the final stretch of the snowboardcross to win at the snowboard world championships, while Helene Olafsen of Norway dominated for the women's title.

Schairer secured his first world title by nosing out 2007 champion Xavier Delerue by just a less than an inch — the closest final at a snowboard world championship. Nick Baumgartner of the United States took the bronze.

"I had a super start and tried to pass Xavier a few times," the 21-year-old Schairer said. "In the end, I noticed that he'd made a mistake and went for it."

Olafsen, a half-pipe specialist, said she typically doesn't train to compete in boardercross, a roller derby-like contest that has athletes jostling for position down a slick course marked by jumps and tight turns.

Olafsen led from the start, leaving Swiss finalists Olivia Nobs and Mellie Francon in her wake.

The competition is the first snowboard world championships held in Asia, with 614 athletes from 45 countries registered to compete in five disciplines: snowboardcross, parallel giant slalom, parallel slalom, half pipe and big air.