Austria's Marlies Schild speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
. world ski news : Schild dashes Riesch to win World Cup slalom in Levi - 13 Íîåìâðè 2010 - 15:12
ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. Levi, Finland - Austrian Marlies Schild edged double Olympic champion Maria Riesch to win the women's World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland on Saturday.
Austria's Marlies Schild speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
After the first run, the race appeared to belong to German Maria Riesch who led by 0.58 seconds. The difficult middle steep section proved to be the deciding factor as Riesch, the Vancouver Games slalom gold medalist, lost time and had to settle for second place.
Germany's Maria Riesch speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010.
(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Schild, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist in the slalom, made the second run look easy with the fastest time of the day earning her 24th World Cup victory and her second on this hill (also won in 2006).
A strong second leg by Schild gave her a combined time of 1 minute 52.84 seconds for the two runs, 0.03 seconds ahead of slalom world champion Maria Riesch.
“It’s awesome, I’m so happy, I’m so lucky today,” said Schild. “I don’t know how fast I was in the flat part because in the first run I lost everything in the flat, but it was good. It was racing.”
Obviously energized by the vocal, home crowd, Finland's Tanja Poutianen charged hard down her home course to a third-place finish, 0.34 seconds behind Schild, after standing fourth at the bottom of the first run. She matched her result on the same hill last year. It is her 39th World Cup podium.
Finland's Tanja Poutiainen speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Riesch's younger sister Susanne finished fourth, ahead of Nicole Hosp of Austria and three-time World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn of the United States.
Austria's Nicole Hosp speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Maria Riesch had looked on course to give Germany another victory following the German double at the season opener in Soelden, Austria on October 23 when Viktoria Rebensburg headed team-mate Kathrin Hoelzl in the giant slalom.
But Riesch threw away a 0.58-second advantage over compatriot Katharina Duerr who crashed out on the second run. Schild, fifth after the first run, was the only skier to go under 56 seconds on a flawless second leg to top the podium.
Germany's Katharina Duerr speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Riesch said she could not be happy with second place after enjoying such a comfortable first-run advantage.
"I simply braked my big advantage away," she said.
"I didn't want to take too many risks with the big lead I had, but it shouldn't have happened and I am annoyed with myself."
In keeping with a historic trend, the U.S. women made the long journey to Levi only to be disappointed. Only Vonn made the 30-woman second run, finishing sixth in the first run (0.92 seconds behind Riesch). She stayed put in the second run after a costly mistake at the top of the first steep section caused her to take a gate wide, forcing her to her hip and had her scrambling to make the next gate.
Lindsey Vonn, of the US, speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Vonn, the three-time defending overall champion, finished 18th at the opening GS in Soelden, Austria and currently stands eighth in the overall rankings, 72 points behind Riesch in first.
Fellow Americans Sarah Schleper and Megan McJames had trouble under the lights in hazy Levi finishing tied for 47th and missing the second run, 3.49 seconds behind the leader. Hailey Duke was another half second back in 53rd.
The Canadians also put one women through to the second run as Marie-Michele Gagnon grabbed the last bib in 30th after the first run. She put down an impressive second run (56.72) on the 61-turn course to finish 16th. The 21-year-old is off to a great start this season, she finished 13th in Soelden.
The German’s appear ready for the World Championships at home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February as they looked strong for the second World Cup week in a row. Nine German women made the second run led by Riesch and sister Susanne. Six other German women were in the points as Fanny Chmelar and Christina Geiger finished 10th and 20th, respectively.
From left, second placed Germany's Maria Riesch, winner Austria's Marlies Schild, and third placed Finland's Tanja Poutiainen celebrate on the podium after an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Riesch leads the overall standings after two races with 125 points, ahead of Poutianen (110) and Schild and Rebensburg (both 100).
Sunday will see the first men's World Cup event of the season, with the slalom in Levi.
The scheduled first event - a giant slalom in Soelden - was cancelled after the first run on October 24 because of fog and wind.
Following the Levi weekend, the World Cup moves to North America in two weeks, with the men competing at Lake Louise, Canada (downhill and super-g), and the women at Aspen, United States (giant slalom, slalom).
EarthTimes.org and SkiRacing.com
Sat, 13 November, 2010
RESULTS
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
1 2 55590 SCHILD Marlies 1981 AUT 56.94 55.90 1:52.84 0.00
2 5 206001 RIESCH Maria 1984 GER 56.13 56.74 1:52.87 0.16
3 14 185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja 1980 FIN 56.88 56.30 1:53.18 1.84
4 7 206160 RIESCH Susanne 1987 GER 57.50 56.08 1:53.58 4.00
5 12 55690 HOSP Nicole 1983 AUT 56.87 56.81 1:53.68 4.54
6 11 537544 VONN Lindsey 1984 USA 57.05 56.74 1:53.79 5.14
7 3 155415 ZAHROBSKA Sarka 1985 CZE 57.29 56.54 1:53.83 5.35
8 24 55759 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1985 AUT 57.55 56.48 1:54.03 6.43
9 1 565243 MAZE Tina 1983 SLO 57.18 57.12 1:54.30 7.89
10 13 206035 CHMELAR Fanny 1985 GER 57.88 56.89 1:54.77 10.43
11 27 705287 ZUZULOVA Veronika 1984 SVK 58.38 56.45 1:54.83 10.76
11 4 505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria 1986 SWE 57.60 57.23 1:54.83 10.76
13 16 505483 PAERSON Anja 1981 SWE 57.87 57.03 1:54.90 11.14
14 46 196793 MARMOTTAN Anemone 1988 FRA 58.15 56.77 1:54.92 11.24
15 17 55576 GOERGL Elisabeth 1981 AUT 57.35 57.79 1:55.14 12.43
16 33 105269 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1989 CAN 58.67 56.72 1:55.39 13.79
17 35 56032 SCHILD Bernadette 1990 AUT 58.02 57.38 1:55.40 13.84
18 31 515997 FEIERABEND Denise 1989 SUI 57.89 57.66 1:55.55 14.65
19 19 295435 GIUS Nicole 1980 ITA 58.51 57.09 1:55.60 14.92
20 15 206279 GEIGER Christina 1990 GER 57.79 57.87 1:55.66 15.24
21 21 196806 NOENS Nastasia 1988 FRA 58.56 57.21 1:55.77 15.84
22 57 206355 DUERR Lena 1991 GER 58.45 57.37 1:55.82 16.11
23 34 206290 HUEBNER Monica 1990 GER 58.43 57.43 1:55.86 16.33
24 29 565320 FERK Marusa 1988 SLO 58.08 57.87 1:55.95 16.81
25 18 205993 HOELZL Kathrin 1984 GER 58.49 57.47 1:55.96 16.87
26 47 55807 DAUM Alexandra 1986 AUT 58.53 57.69 1:56.22 18.27
27 23 505610 BORSSEN Therese 1984 SWE 58.56 57.79 1:56.35 18.97
28 43 205239 WIRTH Barbara 1989 GER 58.10 59.10 1:57.20 23.57
Disqualified 1st run
30 196726 BARTHET Anne-Sophie 1988 FRA
Did not qualify 1st run
75 555018 GASUNA Lelde 1990 LAT
74 185334 TOIVONEN Lotta 1992 FIN
73 306987 OKAMOTO Noe 1992 JPN
71 185292 ROVE Kristiina 1990 FIN
70 155479 SMUTNA Michaela 1987 CZE
68 56059 DEPAULI Jessica 1991 AUT
67 705349 GANTNEROVA Jana 1989 SVK
65 425629 LOESETH Lene 1986 NOR
64 565323 JAZBEC Katja 1988 SLO
63 65038 PERSYN Karen 1983 BEL
62 425880 SEJERSTED Lotte Smiseth 1991 NOR
60 297601 BRIGNONE Federica 1990 ITA
59 435142 KARASINSKA Katarzyna 1982 POL
58 296427 SCHNARF Johanna 1984 ITA
56 506350 EKLUND Nathalie 1992 SWE
55 196725 BARIOZ Taina 1988 FRA
54 516138 GUT Lara 1991 SUI
53 515855 GOOD Esther 1987 SUI
52 196179 BERTRAND Marion 1984 FRA
51 196928 WORLEY Tessa 1989 FRA
50 516280 HOLDENER Wendy 1993 SUI
49 537792 DUKE Hailey 1985 USA
48 297134 BORSOTTI Camilla 1988 ITA
45 355040 NIGG Marina 1984 LIE
44 106961 MIELZYNSKI Erin 1990 CAN
42 515733 BONJOUR Aline 1985 SUI
41 206099 PERNER Nina 1986 GER
40 538284 MCJAMES Megan 1987 USA
39 107068 PHELAN Brittany 1991 CAN
38 105615 ROUTHIER Eve 1988 CAN
37 506341 WIKSTROEM Emelie 1992 SWE
36 296509 CURTONI Irene 1985 ITA
32 515619 GINI Sandra 1982 SUI
28 196016 DAUTHERIVES Claire 1982 FRA
26 536481 SCHLEPER Sarah 1979 USA
25 106633 GOODMAN Anna 1986 CAN
22 185271 LEINONEN Sanni 1989 FIN
20 505679 HANSDOTTER Frida 1985 SWE
8 385032 JELUSIC Ana 1986 CRO
Did not finish 2nd run
10 296259 MOELGG Manuela 1983 ITA
9 205168 DUERR Katharina 1989 GER
Did not finish 1st run
72 185317 SOPPELA Merle 1991 FIN
69 25096 GUTIERREZ Mireia 1988 AND
66 355055 BUEHLER Rebecca 1992 LIE
61 306249 HASEGAWA Emi 1986 JPN
6 195972 AUBERT Sandrine 1982 FRA