YONGPYONG, South Korea (AP) _ Finland's Kalle Palander on Sunday edged out Italy's Giorgio Rocca to win the men's slalom and his third World Cup title this season. The world's No. 2 slalom skier, Palander defeated Rocca by just over half a second with a two-run combined total of 1 minute, 42.12 seconds.

 Kalle Palander

Rocca timed 1:42.65, ahead of Austrian Benjamin Raich's 1:43.56 in the competition at Yongpyong ski resort, 155 kilometers (96 miles) east of Seoul.
Croatia's Ivica Kostelic, who leads the slalom title race by 100 points over Palander, finished a disappointing 15th with 1:44.63.

Kalle Palander

Palander, who won two men's slalom events in Austrian cities of Kitzbuehel and Schladming in January, was 0.19 seconds ahead of Rocca after the first run with 50.73. Despite a slower second run of 51.39, Palander widened the gap as Rocca finished his second run in 51.73.

Giorgio Rocca

Skiing under the winter sun with temperatures reaching 3 degrees Celsius (37.4 degrees Fahrenheit), Palander said the soft snow helped him put on the breaks while making turns, according to South Korea's national Yonhap news agency.

 Giorgio Rocca

The Finn also said he was in very good condition, Yonhap reported.
Bode Miller of the United States, who finished third in the giant slalom Saturday, was sixth behind French Pierrick Bourgeat and Kilian Albrecht. Bourgeat finished in 1:43.81, Albrecht in 1:43.99 and Miller in 1:44.08.

Giorgio Rocca, Kalle Palander and Benjamin Raich

Sunday's slalom competition wrapped up the two-day World Cup after two technical events.
Switzerland's Michael Von Gruenigen won the giant slalom competition Saturday with the two-run combined time of 2:26.68, beating France's Frederic Covili by 0.17 seconds. Miller finished third at 2:27.00. 

AP, 02.03.2003 

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