Zagreb: The crown awaits

As if a World Cup victory in front of what could be 40,000 spectators isn’t enough incentive to go for gold in Sunday’s women’s slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, winning this particular race comes with another kind of prestige. She who crosses the finish line the fastest is crowned Snow Queen, and don’t think it’s going to come easily.

Last year’s queen, Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen, who is leading the giant slalom standings and with a second place in last weekend’s Semmering SL race and sitting in fourth in the standings, is clearly on top of her slalom game, will be looking to keep the tiara on her head.

Then there’s new slalom standings leader Maria Riesch, who will be looking for a hat trick on the Zagreb course, where she will run third after starter Nicole Hosp and Lindsey Vonn, who will be wearing bib No. 2 and charging to get the red slalom bib back.

As if a World Cup victory in front of what could be 40,000 spectators isn’t enough incentive to go for gold in Sunday’s women’s slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, winning this particular race comes with another kind of prestige. She who crosses the finish line the fastest is crowned Snow Queen, and don’t think it’s going to come easily.

Last year’s queen, Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen, who is leading the giant slalom standings and with a second place in last weekend’s Semmering SL race and sitting in fourth in the standings, is clearly on top of her slalom game, will be looking to keep the tiara on her head.

Then there’s new slalom standings leader Maria Riesch, who will be looking for a hat trick on the Zagreb course, where she will run third after starter Nicole Hosp and Lindsey Vonn, who will be wearing bib No. 2 and charging to get the red slalom bib back.

“The course is in perfect shape,” said U.S. women’s head coach Jim Tracy, after a conversation with tech coach Trevor Wagner, who also said the women had a successful round of training on the hill Saturday.

“Training went well and they’re ready to go,” Tracy said.

The Zagreb course is one of the most hyped on the women’s race circuit, hence the creation of the Snow Queen crown.

“All the girls like racing there,” Tracy said. “When Janica [Kostelic] was doing so well, there would be upwards of 45,000 fans. That’s all they can put on at that venue – a slalom race – and they make a huge party out of it. They’ll have 30,000-plus people there. Maybe more.”

Run No. 1 begins at 9:45 a.m. local time, followed by run No. 2 at 12:15 p.m. Watch it live on Universal Sports.