(Adds quotes, background) By Patrick Lang KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia, March 9 (Reuters) - Taking risks paid off for American Ted Ligety as he won the Kranjska Gora giant slalom for a fifth time on Saturday to secure the World Cup in the discipline. It was the triple world champion's fourth giant slalom crystal globe and the victory on the Podkoren slope, one of his favourites on the circuit, was his fifth of the season.

(Corrects number of crystal globes won in 2nd para) By Patrick Lang KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia, March 9 (Reuters) - American Ted Ligety won the Kranjska Gora giant slalom for a fifth time on Saturday to secure the World Cup in the discipline. It was the triple world champion's fourth giant slalom crystal globe and the victory on the Podkoren slope, one of his favourites on the circuit, was his fifth of the season.

Ted Ligety has etched his name in the pantheon of ski greats after sealing a third men's gold at the World Ski Championships, a feat last achieved by Jean-Claude Killy in 1968. Not taking anything away from French icon Killy, skiing has come a long way since the 1960s, and for a skier nowadays to dominate multiple events is a rare feat given technical advancements that invariably accentuate specialisation in either the speed or techical events.

Triple gold-medallist Ted Ligety may have dominated the world championships but if he is to be believed, his skis do all the work and he just follows along. The 28-year-old American breezed to a world title in the super-G and super-combined before successfully defending his giant slalom medal on Friday, making his runs down icy courses at speeds approaching 115kph look like a walk in the park. But the cool exterior was deceptive, he insisted after snatching his third world championship gold in Schladming and fourth overall.