LEVI, Finland (AFP) – Austria's Reinfried Herbst won the first Alpine skiing World Cup slalom of the season here on Sunday, ahead of Croatian Ivica Kostelic and last year's winner, France's Jean-Baptiste Grange.

It was the sixth victory of 31-year-old Herbst's career, all of which have been in the slalom. Last season the Olympic silver medallist enjoyed an explosive January, when he won two races and secured two other podium finishes, before his season collapsed.

Reinfred Herbst of Austria speeds down the course on his way to win an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Herbst subsequently assumed top spot in the slalom standings, which reigning champion Grange led from start to finish last season. Herbst finished last season in fifth place in the slalom classification.

France's Jean-Baptiste Grange clears a gate on his way to set the third fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Grange's performance means he begins the season as he finished the last, when he signed off with a third-place finish in Are, Sweden on March 14.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic clears a gate during the first run of the men's slalom World Cup race at Levi ski resort near the town of Kittila November 15, 2009. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND SPORT SKIING)

Kostelic heads the overall World Cup standings with 102 points after two of 34 races. Cuche and Herbst lie joint second, two points adrift.

Sweden's Andre Myhrer clears a gate on his way to set the fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

France's Julien Lizeroux clears a gate on his way to set the second fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Bode Miller of the United States clears a pole during the first run run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Miller barely qualified for the second run, finishing 30th in the opening run to gain the last qualifying spot. The American, a former two-time overall champion, hit a gate in his second run and was disqualified. (AP Photo/Markku Ulander, Lehtikuva)

Reinfred Herbst of Austria, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup Slalom, celebrates on the podium with second placed Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, left, and third placed France's Jean-Baptiste Grange, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The next slalom race of the season is slated to take place in Alta Badia, Italy on December 21.

AFP
15/11/2009