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