Liberec, Czech Republic - Justyna Kowalczyk became the first Polish woman to win a cross-country skiing world title and Wolfgang Loitzl ended a long ski-jumping title drought for Austria at the Nordic world championships on Saturday.

Kowalczyk, 26, passed long-time leader Kristin Stoermer Steira of Norway on the final turn to win the 15-kilometres pursuit race.

Loitzl, 29, then proved his big event qualities this year, when he added the normal hill world title to the Four Hills crown in January. He won from compatriot Gregor Schlierenzauer as Austria got its first individual ski-jump world title since Heinz Kuttin's success in 1991.

Both events took place in excellent conditions on the first day without snowfall in a week at the North Bohemian venues.

Kowalczyk won the women's 15km race in 40 minutes 55.3 seconds. Steira trailed by 1.7 seconds as she missed a major individual title again. Thursday's 10km world champion Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland came third, 8.0 seconds behind the winner.

The three medallists, Italy's 10km silver-medallist Marianna Longa and Valentina Shevchenko of Ukraine had formed a five-strong leader group in the 7.5km classic style portion. Steira then set a brutal pace in the freestyle leg which eventually only Kowalczyk could follow.

"Kristin thank you very much," said Kowalczyk at the post-race news conference, smiling at her friendly rival sitting next to her.

"She knows and I know that we are not so good sprinters. I just closed my eyes and went. It was the race of my dreams, the best finish of my life."

Steira said she had seen it coming all the way as she failed to shake off Kowalczyk: "I tried and tried. I feared her sprint and then knew it would be silver. I was not surprised that she won."

Saturday's win was the biggest career success for Kowalczyk. She won a 30km bronze at the 2006 Olympics and got a bronze in Thursday's 10km. She has also won five World Cup races. It was the second gold for Polish cross-country skiers overall, following Josef Luszczek's 15km success 1978 in Lahti, Finland.

Steira missed a big title again. She has a relay gold from the 2005 worlds, but on her own only a 30km silver 2007, and pursuit bronze 2005 and 2007 to go with Saturday's silver.

Loitzl soared 103.5 metres and 99m for a winning total of 282 points. The World Cup leader Schlierenzauer had 275 points from 102m and 99m. Reigning large hill world champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland completed the podium in third place with 102m and 99.5m for 274.5 points.

"This is great. I knew my second jump was worth a lot. My aim was a medal, now I am world champion," said Loitzl, who was placed second after the first round.

Loitzl is enjoying his best career season. He won the Four Hill crown in January thanks to his first three World Cup wins and coach Aleaxander Pointner called him "a superstar" after Saturday's win.

Schlierenzauer named his first individual medal at the worlds "a dream come true" as Austria again underlined its dominance in the sport.

Austria would have even swept the podium had not Thomas Morgenstern failed to stand the longest jump of the second round, 101.5m, which dropped him to eighth place.

First round leader Harri Olli of Finland, who only non-Austrian World Cup winner in 2009, had a poor second jump as he faded to 13th place. Norway's Anders Jacobsen dropped from third to 17th while holder Adam Malysz of Poland managed no better than 22nd on the day.

The Nordic worlds continue on Sunday with the men's 30km cross-country pursuit and a Nordic combined normal hill competition. (dpa)