Finnish skier makes history with slalom win on home snow; Koz, fifth, tops for U.S.

Finnish skier makes history with slalom win on home snow; Koz, fifth, tops for U.S.Tanja Poutiainen marked an historic day for Finnish alpine skiing with victory in a World Cup slalom race on Saturday.

The first World Cup race to be held in Finland attracted thousands of fans to the picture postcard venue of Levi, deep inside the Arctic Circle.

They were rewarded for braving temperatures which dropped to minus 28 degrees Celsius as local favorite Poutiainen won in 1:49.12 for the first World Cup victory of her career, the first on the alpine World Cup by a female skier from Finland. The only other wins for Finland have come from Kalle Palander on the men’s side.

For the U.S. team, Kristina Koznick had the best finish, in fifth place, equaling her best slalom result of the season. Julia Mancuso was 10th, her first-ever top-10 finish a World Cup slalom. Resi Stiegler was 17th. Lindsey Kildow was a second-run DSQ.

Overall World Cup leader Anja Paerson, winner of six of the previous seven slaloms this season, had a rare day off as she finished fourth.

Elisabeth Goergl of Austria was second with 1:49.30 and Germany’s rising star Maria Riesch was third in 1:49.45.

“This is a dream come true,” an emotional Poutiainen said in the finish area after holding her nerve with a solid second run to protect her advantage from the first run. “I was so pleased when I found out they would hold a World Cup race here because this is my home ground. I’m so happy to get my first victory in Finland in front of my home fans. I know the hill so well I was able to attack throughout.”

Paerson, untouchable at the top of the slalom standings, was not too worried about missing the podium. “I can’t ski my best every day,” said the Swede who still stretched her overall lead to 173 points over Renate Goetschl, who failed to qualify for the second run.

Maria Riesch’s third place was her first podium in the technical events, the 19-year-old German underlining her emergence as future challenger for the overall title.

“This was a real surprise for me because my previous best in slalom was 13th,” said the junior world giant slalom champion.

Sunday’s second slalom, the last women’s race before the World Cup finals in Sestrieres, will give Poutiainen another chance to delight the fans and the 23-year-old is clearly relishing her time in the spotlight.

“Everything has fallen into place so far this weekend,” she said. “It has been perfect and I believe I can win again on Sunday.”

Alpine World Cup

Women’s Slalom

Levi, Finland

February 28, 2004

1. Tanja Poutiainen (Finland) 1:49.12 ( 57.40/51.72)

2. Elisabeth Goergl (Austria) 1:49.30 ( 57.91/51.39)

3. Maria Riesch (Germany) 1:49.45 ( 57.70/51.75)

4. Anja Paerson (Sweden) 1:49.50 ( 57.90/51.60)

5. Kristina Koznick (U.S.) 1:50.60 ( 58.40/52.20)

6= Sarka Zahrobska (Czech Republic) 1:50.87 ( 59.18/51.69)

6= Martina Ertl (Germany) 1:50.87 ( 58.89/51.98)

8. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer (Germany) 1:50.91 ( 59.00/51.91)

9. Veronika Zuzulova (Slovakia) 1:50.95 ( 58.09/52.86)

10. Julia Mancuso (U.S.) 1:51.04 ( 58.52/52.52)

11. Trine-bakke Rognmo (Norway) 1:51.16 ( 58.85/52.31)

12. Therese Borssen (Sweden) 1:51.35 ( 58.79/52.56)

13. Nika Fleiss (Croatia) 1:51.93 ( 59.09/52.84)

14. Annemarie Gerg (Germany) 1:52.13 (1:00.16/51.97)

15. Line Viken (Norway) 1:52.14 ( 59.33/52.81)

16. Lisa Bremseth (Norway 1:52.22 ( 59.15/53.07)

17. Resi Stiegler (U.S.) 1:52.23 ( 59.92/52.31)

18. Corina Gruenenfelder (Switzerland) 1:52.52 ( 59.35/53.17)

19. Sabine Egger (Austria) 1:52.68 ( 59.76/52.92)

20. Vanessa Vidal (France) 1:53.10 ( 59.65/53.45)

21. Manuela Moelgg (Italy) 1:53.20 (1:00.00/53.20)

22. Karina Birkelund (Norway) 1:53.39 (1:00.13/53.26)

23. Janette Hargin (Sweden) 1:53.55 (1:00.23/53.32)

24. Andrine Flemmen (Norway) 1:53.58 ( 59.86/53.72)

25. Florine De Leymarie (France) 1:53.69 (1:00.30/53.39)

26. Noriyo Hiroi (Japan) 1:53.72 (1:00.40/53.32)

27. Silke Bachmann (Italy) 1:54.47 (1:00.25/54.22)

DNF 2nd: Anna Ottosson (Sweden), Marlies Oester (Switzerland)

DSQ 2nd: Lindsey Kildow (U.S.)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Women’s Slalom

Levi, Finland, February 28, 2004

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Poutiainen, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

2 Goergl, Volkl/Lange/Marker

3 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia

4 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

5 Koznick, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker

6 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia

6 Ertl, Rossignol/Nordica/Rossignol

8 Bergmann-Schumderer, Volkl/Rexxam/Marker

9 Zuzulova, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

10 Mancuso, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

It’s the 30th women’s race of 36 on the original schedule. … five remain: two slaloms, on giant slalom, one super G, one downhill. … It’s the 12th win of the season for Rossignol skis. … It’s the first career win for Tanja Poutiainen; she has recorded two second-place finishes, plus one in the knock-out slalom of 2002. … She had been no better than fifth this season. … It’s the first win for a Finnish woman, and first win for any Finn not named Kalle Palander. … It’s the first World Cup held at Levi, Finland.

It’s the fourth career podium for Elisabeth Goergl and matches her career-best result from Bormio 1/5/2003, also in slalom. … Her other two podiums are in GS. … It’s the sixth career podium for Maria Riesch, but first in slalom. … She has podiums in all disciplines save GS — in which her career-best finish is fourth.

It’s the 25th career top-five result for Kristina Koznick. … It matches her best result of the season from Madonna di Campiglio 12/16. … It’s the fourth career top 10 for Julia Mancuso and first of the season. … It’s her best slalom result ever, eclipsing a 20th from Bormio 1/5/2003. … It’s the seventh career and season scoring result for Resi Stiegler.

Anja Paerson’s overall lead is 1381-1208 over Renate Goetschl… Kirsten Clark — knocked out for the season January 30 — is the top U.S. skier in 13th with 456 points. … Paerson has clinched the slalom title, and her lead is 730-367 over Bergmann-Schmuderer. … The Austrian Nations Cup lead is 14510-4403 over Italy (includes men’s race today). … The U.S. is third at 4304. … Austria leads the women’s standings 5583-3192 over Germany. … The U.S. is third at 2094.