Vonn leads Levi slalom after first heat

Defending Overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn surprised all her rivals this morning at Levi, Finland as she clocked the fastest time in the first run of the opening World Cup slalom.

Vonn, regarded as a speed event ace, has never won a Cup slalom, but both of her top slalom finishes have come in Levi. She was fourth and sixth in back-to-back races in March 2006. After one run this morning, she leads Austria’s Nicole Hosp by .22 of a second and Sweden’s Maria Pietilae-Holmner by .38.

Defending Overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn surprised all her rivals this morning at Levi, Finland as she clocked the fastest time in the first run of the opening World Cup slalom.

Vonn, regarded as a speed event ace, has never won a Cup slalom, but both of her top slalom finishes have come in Levi. She was fourth and sixth in back-to-back races in March 2006. After one run this morning, she leads Austria’s Nicole Hosp by .22 of a second and Sweden’s Maria Pietilae-Holmner by .38.

The last American to have won a World Cup slalom was Sarah Schleper in 2005. Schleper was the only other American to qualify for a second run, finishing in a tie for 30th. Canadian Anna Goodman was 20th.

“It’s a wonderful result, but I can’t be totally surprised,” said Vonn, “because I trained very hard last summer. I felt confident this morning. I skied will in Austria last month and I was charging hard, as usual.”

She said last season she was recovering from knee injuries, but that his summer training had been smooth. “It has always been my goal to become a strong all-rounder. I must also say my skis were perfect on the last steep pitch. I had no problem handling the ice and ruts.”

The top 10 skiers of the first run were within a second.
-SR Staff report with help from Patrick Lang.