Paerson beats Kostelic at Maribor, Poutiainen wraps up slalom title  
 
MARIBOR, ( 23/01/2005 13:51 ) Slovenia (AP) _ Anja Paerson of Sweden won her first World Cup of an up-and-down season at Maribor Sunday while Finnish rival Tanja Poutiainen sealed the overall slalom title with one race left. Paerson, last year's overall champion, picked up her 14th career World Cup win, tearing down the slope on a sunny day to finish both heats in 1 minute 32.38 seconds, 0.28 ahead of Croatia's Janica Kostelic. "This place is special for me," said Paerson. "It's been a frustrating year in slalom. It's good to come back in good shape for the upcoming world championships." The women's world titles start next Sunday in Santa Caterina. Poutiainen was third in 1:32.73, wrapping up the slalom title. She has 520 points in the slalom, while Austrian Marlies Schild is second on 376 with one race remaining in the season.
Americans Sarah Schleper and Kristina Koznick finished fourth and fifth respectively. Paerson won 11 times last season to claim the overall title but has struggled this time around. The Swede's previous best placing in the slalom this season was second at the opener in Aspen. Poutiainen has reached the podium nine times this season, with four wins. "It's the little things _ I had a good summer training, I've been healthy _ it gives me a lot of confidence," the Finn said.  

 
Maze wins third giant slalom of season in front of home crowd  
 
MARIBOR, ( 22/01/2005 16:36 ) Slovenia (AP) _ Slovenia's Tina Maze won her third women's giant slalom of the World Cup season on Saturday, much to the delight of 5,000 home fans. Maze, making a charge at the discipline title, finished her two runs in 2 minutes, 16.36 seconds, .022 ahead of Italy's Karen Putzer on a cold, sunny day. It the was the fourth title of the Slovenian's career and her third in two months. Maze said she could hear the cheering crowd _ waving banners with her picture _ before she even started her run down the Goldenfox slope. "I almost froze up. Then I said, 'let's go, Tina, let's show them a good race,"' said Maze, 21. "I've been training here since I was a young child. This is very special." Martina Ertl of Germany took third in 2:17.29, while rising American star Lindsey Kildow enjoyed the best giant slalom race of her career, taking ninth in 2:17.99. The 20-year-old Kildow, a speed specialist, had failed to complete any of her three previous giant slaloms after breaking onto the scene with a downhill win at Lake Louise and piling up seven more podium finishes since. Maze was just ahead of Putzer at the first timed interval before crossing the finish line and throwing up her arms in triumph. The 31-year old Ertl said she was happy with her third at a course she knew well, having won twice. "In the second heat, I couldn't have run any better," said Ertl, who moved up from sixth. American Julia Mancuso tied with Austrian Nicole Hosp for fifth in 2:17.58, while the giant slalom and overall leader Tanja Poutiainen was seventh. Maze is closing in on Poutiainen's giant slalom lead with two events left. The Slovenian said she was gaining confidence for the world championships, which start on Jan. 28 in Santa Caterina. "If I can overcome all the pressures and fears till now, then I can do well in the future," Maze said.  
 
 
General Standing 
  
World cup Leader

Poutiainen Tanja
06.04.1980 (Rovaniemi)
Ski: Volkl

  Poutiainen Tanja  902
  Kostelic Janica  879
  Paerson Anja  856
  Gotschl Renate  804
  Dorfmeister Michaela  730
  Kildow Lindsey C.  691
  Gerg Hilde  589
  Schild Marlies  533
  Maze Tina  494
  Ertl Martina  443  

Next Races

23.01.2005 Kitzbuhel (AUT) SL
23.01.2005 Kitzbuhel (AUT) K
23.01.2005 Maribor (SLO) SL
25.01.2005 Schladming (AUT) NSL
29.01.2005 Bormio (ITA) SG
30.01.2005 Santa Caterina (ITA) SG
03.02.2005 Bormio (ITA) K