Lindsey Vonn of the United States recovered from a big mistake on the second run to clinch a maiden World Cup slalom victory in the Finnish resort of Levi on Saturday.

Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the World Cup Slalom skiing competition in Levi November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

Vonn, last season's overall winner and downhill champion, almost crashed out but fought back to finish 0.40 seconds ahead of Maria Pietilae-Holmner of Sweden in the first women's slalom of the alpine ski World Cup season.

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, speeds down the course on her way to setting the fastest time, during the first run of an alpine ski World Cup Women's Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Sweden's Maria Pietilae-Holmner clears a gate during the first run of the World Cup Slalom skiing competition in Levi November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

It was the 14th World Cup win for 24-year-old Vonn, but the first in the slalom discipline for the downhill specialist.

Last season's super giant slalom champion Maria Riesch of Germany edged Austria's Nicole Hosp for third place to finish 0.66 seconds behind Vonn.

Maria Riesch of Germany clears a pole during the first round of the FIS Alpine Slalom Women's World Cup in Levi, Kittila Finland on November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva (FINLAND).

Vonn, who had led from the first run, looked to be on her way to a smooth victory, but then almost missed a gate half-way down the second leg.

Although she recovered, the mistake appeared to have cost her too much time, and she was clearly amazed herself when she still crossed the line 0.40 seconds up on Pietilae-Holmner with a combined time of 1 minute 47.98 seconds.

Lindsey Vonn of the US clears the final gate and heads for the finish line enroute to winning the World Cup Slalom skiing competition in Levi November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

"I only thought hopefully I can get third place but I really didn't expect to be on the podium," she said.

"It is incredible. I never in my life thought I could win here today."

The slalom was the second race of the World Cup season after the season's opener - a giant slalom - in Soelden, Austria was won by Austrian Kathrin Zettel on October 25.

Zettel, who was fifth after the first run, was one of several skiers who failed to finish the second leg.

Vonn's victory puts her ahead in the overall standings on 129 points, with Tanja Poutiainen of Finland and Pietilae-Holmner both on 120, Zettel on 100 and Riesch on 80.

Finland's Tanja Poutiainen clears a gate during the first run of the World Cup Slalom skiing competition in Levi November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

A men's slalom is scheduled Sunday in Levi before the season continues in two weeks in Lake Louise, Canada for the men and Aspen, Colorado for the women.

DPA
The Earth Times
Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:09:16 GMT

Sweden's Anja Paerson picks up her team mate Maria Pietilae-Holmner after Pietilae-Holmner took second place in the World Cup Slalom skiing competition in Levi November 15, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, holds up her skis as she celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski World Cup Women's Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Place   Levi (FIN)   Discipline   Slalom
Date   15.11.2008   Category   FIS World Cup
Race codex   5525   Gender   L
Valid for FIS Points   NO   TD Name   Forsmark Jarl (SWE)

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time
 1  18  537544 VONN Lindsey  1984  USA   53.61  54.37  1:47.98
 2  14  505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria  1986  SWE   53.99  54.39  1:48.38
 3  4  206001 RIESCH Maria  1984  GER   54.08  54.56  1:48.64
 4  2  55690 HOSP Nicole  1983  AUT   53.83  55.11  1:48.94
 5  6  705287 ZUZULOVA Veronika  1984  SVK   54.59  54.51  1:49.10
 6  3  185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja  1980  FIN   54.52  54.76  1:49.28
 7  13  505483 PAERSON Anja  1981  SWE   54.90  54.40  1:49.30
 8  7  505610 BORSSEN Therese  1984  SWE   54.62  54.84  1:49.46
 9  1  155415 ZAHROBSKA Sarka  1985  CZE   54.52  54.96  1:49.48
 10  8  205636 BERGMANN Monika  1978  GER   54.83  55.27  1:50.10

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