ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Vip Snow Queen Trophy night slalom is the 5th ladies' slalom of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup season 2010/11. The first run started at 15:00 h CET amidst a thick layer of fog and the second run 18:00 h CET on Zagreb's local mountain "Sljeme," or the "Bear Mountain".

Austria's Marlies Schild competes on her way to win an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom race, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2011. Schild won her fourth slalom title of the season Tuesday at a women's World Cup night race. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

The Snow Queen crown is one of the most yearned for prizes on the ladies World Cup tour. In the end it was the Austrian racer Marlies Schild who took the throne after already posting the fastest first run time.

Marlies Schild of Austria clears the gate during the first run of the women's Alpine World Cup slalom race on Sljeme mountain above capital Zagreb. Schild won her fourth World Cup slalom race of the season. (AFP/Hrvoje Polan)

Not even 1,000 meters high, but accessible from the city by tram, the Zagreb Sljeme slalom has become a must-see-must-be-seen-at spectacle that demonstrates that skiing events are not necessarily tied to alpine locations as was already shown with the preceding City event in Munich.

With nearly 10,000 spectators lining the race hill Tuesday, 4 January 2011, the racers paced down the course to a cacophony of horn-blowing, cheers and the enthusiastic applause of the crowd.

Just as the American Ted Ligety and the Frenchwoman Tessa Worley in giant slalom Marlies Schild now scored the hat-trick in slalom. It was the third World Cup slalom victory in a row for Marlies Schild, and also the third win in Zagreb after 2006 and 2007. At the same time it was her 25th career win. The 29-year-old Austrian from Saalfelden dominated the race and was in the lead after the first run even though she has had denser fog than most of her opponents. Nevertheless, Schild was 0.19 seconds ahead of Italy’s Manuela Moelgg and .76 ahead of Maria Riesch (GER) going into the second run.

Germany's Maria Riesch reacts after finishing second in a alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jab. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Austria's Marlies Schild, left, is helped by third placed Italy's Manuela Moelgg as they open a champagne bottle on the podium of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2011. Schild won the race. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

In the end, Schild who left out the parallel slalom in Munich, finished first 0.75 seconds in front of Olympic champion Maria Riesch. Manuela Moelgg from Italy came in third 1.08 seconds behind the leader. The 27-year-old South Tyrolean is still waiting for the first World Cup victory of her career but has made the podium before ten times. However, it was rather unexpected to see her perform this well in slalom as she has not finished among the top three in this discipline for the past six years.

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, reacts after skiing off course during an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jab. 2, 2011. Vonn never looked comfortable from the start of her run. She was already 1.62 seconds behind when she lost balance in a right turn and slid off course. The defending overall champion also went out in both previous slalom races in Courchevel, France, and Semmering, Austria. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Among the many spectators were also people from Croatia’s social scene and world of sports including the Presidents of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Parliament and the Croatian Olympic Committee, Zagreb’s mayor as well as Alpine skiing legend Alberto Tomba.

FISalpine.com
Tuesday 4 January 2011

Austria's Marlies Schild, center, winner of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom, celebrates on the podium with second placed Maria Riesch, of Germany, left, and third placed Manuela Moelgg, of Italy, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Austria's Marlies Schild celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)