Paerson takes slalom; Schleper, fourth, leads three U.S. skiers into top 10

Paerson takes slalom; Schleper, fourth, leads three U.S. skiers into top 10Sweden’s Anja Paerson seized control of the World Cup overall standings and clinched the slalom crown Sunday with a powerful performance at Region Arber. The U.S. team had a strong day, with three skiers in the top 10, led by Sarah Schleper in fourth.

The unstoppable Swede collected her fourth consecutive slalom victory in 1:29.58, opening up a 112-point lead over Renate Goetschl in the overall standings.

In addition to Schleper, the U.S. had teenager Resi Stiegler in eighth and veteran Kristina Koznick in 10th. Also scoring for the U.S. were Lindsey Kildow in 19th and Julia Mancuso in 25th.

Schleper had her best result in a World Cup slalom since finishing second in Sestriere, Italy, in December 2000. She had been fourth once previously, at Ofterschwang, Germany, in January 2001.

Paerson, who locked up the giant slalom crown by winning on Saturday, is now also assured of the slalom title, having won six of the seven races this season.

With five technical events left, she’s favorite to become Sweden’s first overall World Cup champion since Pernilla Wiberg in 1997.

Paerson, who was born in the same town as Swedish slalom great Ingemar Stenmark, said after Sunday’s race on the Arber mountain near the town of Zwiesel on the Czech border that she has a “good chance” of winning the title but said that Goetschl is still a threat.

“I am still trying to keep to my goal of focusing on each race,” Paerson told Reuters after her slalom victory, the 20th World Cup win of her career.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” she added. “My goal for the season was to try to do the best in each race and not to think about anything else.”

Germany’s Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer delighted hundreds of local supporters lining the Arber run near the town of Zwiesel on the Czech border with second place in 1:30.02.

The German’s second place moves her into third position in the slalom standings, ahead of Austria’s Nicole Hosp who is out for the rest of the season after breaking her ankle while jogging last month.

Slovakia’s Veronika Zuzulova was a surprise third in 1:30.26 for her first ever World Cup podium.

Alpine World Cup

Women’s Slalom

Region Arber, Germany

February 8, 2004

1. Anja Paerson (Sweden) 1:29.58 (first run 43.09/second run 46.49)

2. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer (Germany) 1:30.02 (43.43/46.59)

3. Veronika Zuzulova (Slovakia) 1:30.26 (44.71/45.55)

4. Sarah Schleper (U.S.) 1:30.64 (44.18/46.46)

5. Sarka Zahrobska (Czech Republic) 1:30.74 (43.92/46.82)

6. Line Viken (Norway) 1:30.87 (44.50/46.37)

7. Elisabeth Goergl (Austria) 1:30.99 (44.33/46.66)

8. Resi Stiegler (U.S.) 1:31.07 (44.79/46.28)

9. Therese Borssen (Sweden) 1:31.13 (44.89/46.24)

10. Kristina Koznick (U.S.) 1:31.30 (44.12/47.18)

11. Trine-bakke Rognmo (Norway) 1:31.31 (44.64/46.67)

12. Sabine Egger (Austria) 1:31.34 (44.06/47.28)

13. Michaela Kirchgasser (Austria) 1:31.41 (44.47/46.94)

14= Ana Jelusic (Croatia) 1:31.42 (44.99/46.43)

14= Laure Pequegnot (France) 1:31.42 (44.11/47.31)

16. Karina Birkelund (Norway) 1:31.53 (45.28/46.25)

17. Jessica Walter (Liechtenstein) 1:31.55 (45.15/46.40)

18. Annemarie Gerg (Germany) 1:31.57 (44.11/47.46)

19. Lindsey Kildow (U.S.) 1:31.58 (45.26/46.32)

20. Nika Fleiss (Croatia) 1:31.60 (45.30/46.30)

21. Nicole Gius (Italy) 1:31.64 (44.05/47.59)

22. Martina Ertl (Germany) 1:31.65 (44.48/47.17)

23. Annalisa Ceresa (Italy) 1:31.82 (44.84/46.98)

24. Noriyo Hiroi (Japan) 1:32.07 (45.30/46.77)

25. Julia Mancuso (U.S.) 1:32.15 (45.22/46.93)

26. Anna Ottosson (Sweden) 1:32.35 (44.75/47.60)

DNF 2nd: Susanne Ekman (Sweden), Marlies Oester (Switzerland), Tanja Poutiainen (Finland), Sonja Nef (Switzerland)

Other North Americans:

DNQ 2nd: Kaylin Richardson (U.S.); Britt Janyk (Canada)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Women’s Slalom

Region Arber, Germany, February 8, 2004

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Bergmann-Schmuderer, Volkl/Rexxam/Marker

3 Zuzulova, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

4 Schleper, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

5 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia

6 Viken, Dynastar/Lange/Look

7 Goergl, Volkl/Lange/Marker

8 Stiegler, Dynastar/Lange/Look

9 Borssen, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

10 Koznick, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker

It’s the 27th race of the women’s 36-race schedule; 1DH, 2GS, 3SG and 3SL remain. … It’s the 16th win of the season for Salomon skis. … It’s the 20th career win for Anja Paerson, and the ninth of the season. … It’s her sixth slalom victory of the season in seven chances and she was second in the other race. … She clinches the slalom title with three races remaining. … It’s her first slalom crown, her second discipline crown after winning the GS title a season ago.

The fifth career podium for Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer, all in slalom, and three of them this season. … It’s an historic career first podium for Veronika Zuzulova, since it’s also the first for Slovakia. … Her previous best result is a 10th at Are, Sweden, 2/3/2002.

It’s the third-best career result for Sarah Schleper, her top result of the season and the best U.S. women’s slalom result of the season. … It’s the first career top 10 for Resi Stiegler. … It’s her seventh scoring result and sixth of the season, all in slalom. … It’s the 41st career top 10 for Kristina Koznick and fifth of the season. … It’s the first time this season the U.S. has had three top 10 finishers in a single race. … It’s the 13th career scoring finish for Lindsey Kildow, but the first in slalom. … She has eight of those scoring finishes this season. … It’s the 27th career scoring finish for Julia Mancuso and ninth of the season.

Paerson extends her World Cup overall lead to 1220-1108 over Renate Goetschl. … Kirsten Clark is the top American in 10th at 456. … Paerson leads the slalom standings 680-335 over Bergmann-Schmuderer. … Austria leads the Nations Cup 13032-3807 (prior to scoring of men’s event also held today) over Italy with the Swiss at 3805. … The USA is fourth at 3722. … Austria leads the women’s standings 5138-2923 over Germany. … The U.S. women are third at 1881.