The Queenstown ski ace won the Kronplatz round of the giant slalom world cup in northern Italy.
It was a fourth career world cup victory for the 23-year-old skier, and her first since she won the Lenzerheide round in March 2021.
An emotional Robinson was ecstatic to be back on top at one of her favourite race venues.
"I am really quite speechless," she told Snow Sports NZ.
"It’s been four years since I last won and there were definitely some times in those four years where I wasn’t sure if I was going to win again.
"To be back winning here is so special. I’m just proud.
"The second run, I just really wanted to be brave and ski on the limit and I am really proud of that."
As Robinson had expected, it was an exceptionally tight race.
After the first run, the top eight women were separated by less than 1sec, and Robinson was sitting in fifth place, 0.49sec off the pace of leader Federica Brignone, of Italy.
Pushing out of the start gate for run two, Robinson knew she needed to produce something special to be in for a shot at the podium.
"I knew after the first run that I had a little mistake, and I felt like the last few races I have been missing that extra gear to push a bit harder and take a few more risks.
"In the second run, I just really didn’t want to get to the finish and feel like I could have done more. I took a lot of risks and it wasn’t perfect, but it was fast."
Robinson immediately begun to build speed and increase her advantage, taking the lead by almost 1sec as she blasted across the finish line, posting the fastest second run of the day.
With the fastest four athletes still to take their second run, Robinson sat nervously in the leader’s seat.
It was a dramatic final few runs with Brignone and Sara Hector (Sweden) both recording uncharacteristic DNFs (did not finish).
The two athletes who completed their runs were no match for Robinson’s lightning-fast second run and she claimed victory by over 0.5sec.
Robinson was joined on the podium by 2024 FIS giant slalom Crystal Globe winner Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, and American skier Paula Moltzan.
Yesterday’s result bodes well for Robinson, who will next be in the giant slalom start gate at the world championships in Saalbach, Austria, next month. — APL
