Paerson back on top in Lienz slalom; Stiegler leads U.S. team in 13th place

By Published On: June 3rd, 2004Comments Off on Paerson back on top in Lienz slalom; Stiegler leads U.S. team in 13th place

Paerson back on top in Lienz slalom; Stiegler leads U.S. team in 13th placeAnja Paerson regained her winning touch in the women’s World Cup slalom at Lienz, Austria, on Sunday, riding the fastest second run to a victory over her chief rival, Nicole Hosp of Austria.

Paerson, runner-up to Hosp in the first run, outpaced the young Austrian by nearly a second (0.98) in the second run to take her third slalom win of the season with a total time of 1:48.97. Hosp, who wound up second 0.34 behind, had won the two previous gate races to establish herself as the primary challenger to Paerson in the World Cup overall competition.

Germany’s Monika Bergman-Schmuderer, 25, was third, her third career podium finish. Her best-ever World Cup finish, second place, also came in a slalom at Lienz, two years ago.

The U.S. team appeared poised for a strong showing after the first run, with Kristina Koznick in sixth, Sarah Schleper in 12th and Resi Stiegler in 18th. Stiegler, 18, wound up leading the way for the U.S. in 13th. Koznick and Schleper were both DNFs.

Stiegler was also 13th in a slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, earlier this season. Her only better World Cup finish was 11th, also in a slalom, a year ago in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

Julia Mancuso narrowly missed qualifying for a second run, finishing 32nd in the first. Lindsey Kildow was a DNF in the first run. Neither Britt Janyk nor Emily Brydon, the only Canadian starters, qualified for a second run.

“This is a big relief,” Paerson said after completing her trademark belly dive celebration in the finish area. “I was very nervous before the start, what with my disqualification yesterday and in the downhill [last week at St. Moritz, Switzerland]. I wanted so much. … I didn’t think I’d win it because Niki is so strong.”

Paerson, still just 22, raised her total of World Cup victories to 15. Paerson extended her lead in the overall standings to 610-500 over Hosp.

Hosp, who’s been on the podium in all six races she’s finished this season, was gracious in defeat. “You can’t always pull off a second run like the one I had in the opening leg, so second place is super,” the 20-year-old Austrian from Tyrol said. “I wasn’t skiing with my handbrake on [in the second run], I just felt a bit tired. But that’s no excuse because the others are just as tired.”

The women return to World Cup racing in the New Year at the French resort of Megeve, with a super G on January 3 followed by a slalom the next day.

Alpine World Cup

Women’s Slalom

Lienz, Austria

December 28, 2003


1. Anja Paerson (Sweden) 1:48.97 (first run 53.94/second run 55.03)

2. Nicole Hosp (Austria) 1:49.31 (53.30/56.01)

3. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer (Germany) 1:49.32 (53.97/55.35)

4. Annemarie Gerg (Germany) 1:49.71 (54.04/55.67)

5. Trine-Bakke Rognmo (Norway) 1:50.12 (54.40/55.72)

6. Sonja Nef (Switzerland) 1:50.19 (54.27/55.92)

7. Anna Ottosson (Sweden) 1:50.49 (54.46/56.03)

8. Christel Pascal (France) 1:50.56 (54.81/55.75)

9. Tanja Poutiainen (Finland) 1:50.85 (55.36/55.49)

10. Sabine Egger (Austria)1:50.95 (55.72/55.23)

11. Martina Ertl (Germany) 1:51.09 (54.67/56.42)

12. Marlies Oester (Switzerland) 1:51.39 (55.15/56.24)

13. Resi Stiegler (U.S.) 1:51.45 (55.53/55.92)

14. Petra Zakourilova (Czech Republic) 1:51.49 (55.62/55.87)

15. Line Viken (Norway) 1:51.56 (56.18/55.38)

16. Karina Birkelund (Norway) 1:51.66 (56.16/55.50)

17. Karin Truppe (Austria) 1:51.68 (55.66/56.02)

18. Henna Raita (Finland) 1:51.72 (56.31/55.41)

19. Veronika Zuzulova (Slovakia) 1:51.94 (56.41/55.53)

20. Therese Borssen (Sweden) 1:52.14 (56.14/56.00)

21. Ana Jelusic (Croatia) 1:52.18 (56.37/55.81)

22. Marlies Schild (Austria) 1:52.43(53.99/58.44)

23. Annalisa Ceresa (Italy) 1:52.72 (56.03/56.69)

24. Kumiko Kashiwagi (Japan) 1:53.49 (56.36/57.13)

25. Nicole Gius (Italy) 1:58.33 (55.37/1:02.96)

DNF 2nd: Manuela Moelgg (Italy), Sarah Schleper, Kristina Koznick (U.S.), Sarka Zahrobska (Czech Republic)

DSQ 2nd: Elisabeth Goergl (Austria)

Other North Americans:

DNQ 2nd: Julia Mancuso (U.S.), Britt Janyk, Emily Brydon (Canada)

DNF 1st: Lindsey Kildow (U.S.)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Women’s Slalom

Lienz, Austria, December 28, 2003


Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker

3 Bergmann-Schmuderer, Volkl/Rexxam/Marker

4 Gerg, Volkl/Lange/Marker

5 Bakke Rognmo, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

6 Nef, Volkl/Lange/Marker

7 Ottosson, Dynastar/Lange/Tyrolia

8 Pascal, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

9 Poutiainen, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

10 Egger, Head/Lange/Tyrolia

It’s the 12th race of 36 on the women’s World Cup schedule, and the fourth of 11 slaloms. … The 15th career win for Anja Paerson, 10th in slalom (plus a KO-SL), and her fourth win of the season. … In eight giant slaloms and slaloms held to date, she has four wins, two seconds, a fourth and a DSQ. … It’s her second straight slalom win at Lienz; she joins former teammate Ylva Nowen as the only skiers to win two slaloms at Lienz.

The 12th career podium for Nicole Hosp. … She hasn’t yet missed the podium in her six finishes this season. … It is the third career podium for Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer. … Her only better result is a second, also in slalom, also at Lienz (12/29/01). … She was 0.01 behind Hosp.

It’s the fourth career scoring finish, and third of the season, for Resi Stiegler. … It’s the first time she has led the U.S. team in a race. … All of her results are in SL. … Kristina Koznick was sixth after the first run, and Sarah Schleper 12th before both became second run casualties. … No Canadian woman has gained a point in slalom since March 2003.

Paerson extends her overall lead to 610-500 over Hosp. … She also leads the slalom standings 380-240 over Hosp. … The top American woman overall is Kirsten Clark, in 11th with 217. … Kristina Koznick leads U.S. skiers in slalom standings in 11th with 100.

Austria leads the Nations Cup 5850-1763 over Italy. … U.S. is fourth with 1542. … Austria leads the women’s standings 2259-1078 for Germany. … U.S. is sixth with 732.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh