Paerson Edges Kostelic in First Slalom

ASPEN, Colorado (AP) - Two-time defending World Cup overall champion Anja Paerson of Sweden stormed back in the second run to edge Janica Kostelic by three-hundredths of a second Sunday to win the season's first women's slalom.

Anja Paerson of Sweden skis to the third best time in the first heat of the women's World Cup slalom in Aspen, Colorado December 11, 2005. Croatia's Janica Kostelic had the fastest time and Austria's Kathrin Zettel was second after the first run. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Paerson was in third place, more than a second behind the leader Kostelic, after the first run. But she sailed down the Aspen Mountain course under a clear blue sky in 46.71 seconds in the second run to win with a combined time of 1 minute, 36.01 seconds.

Sweden's Anja Paerson spreads her arms and slides on her belly after winning the slalom at the Women's World Cup in Aspen, Colo., Sunday Dec. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Kostelic, winner of three gold medals for Croatia at the Salt Lake City Olympics, was second at 1:36.04. Kathrin Zettle of Austria, third in Saturday's giant slalom, was third Sunday, too, in 1:36.44.

The competition wrapped up three days of racing at the Aspen Winternational, the only U.S. stop on the women's World Cup circuit.

U.S. skiers had a rough day on their home snow. Kristina Koznick, a six-time World Cup champion who plans to retire after this season, was 14th. Julia Mancuso was 19th, and Lindsey Kildow skied off course and did not finish. One of America's best slalom racer, Sarah Schlepper, is out with a back injury.

Marlies Schild of Austria crashes in the first heat of the women's World Cup slalom in Aspen, Colorado December 11, 2005. Croatia's Janica Kostelic set the best time in the run. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Paerson, second in Saturday's giant slalom, celebrated her 27th World Cup triumph with her trademark belly slide at the finish. She has won 15 World Cup slalom races, including one of the two slaloms in Aspen last year.

Kostelic was 0.84 seconds faster than her nearest competitor Zettel in the first round, but her second run time of 47.77 was more than a second slower than Paerson.

Kostelic, who underwent surgery on her right knee in June, won one of the two slaloms in Aspen last season. She has 21 World Cup titles and two overall championships in a career that has been disrupted by injury and illness. She underwent three knee operations and her thyroid was removed, missing the entire 2003-04 season.

Sweden's Anja Paerson, right, sprays champagne after winning the slalom at the Women's World Cup in Aspen, Colo., Sunday Dec. 11, 2005. At left is second place winner Janica Kostelic of Croatia. (AP Photo/Alex Trovati)

Martina Ertl-Renz, in 11th place, broke the World Cup record for most race appearances with 403. The 32-year-old German was presented with a bouquet at the end of her first run. The previous mark of 402 was held by Anita Wachter of Austria.

"Yeah, that's really many races. I'm proud of it," Ertl-Renz said. "I'm so many years on the world circuit, in all events. It's a special experience. What's also important is I was for four years at the top of the World Cup. I'm still close to the podium. I hope for a podium place or a win this year."

December 11, 2005, 22.30h CET
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer

***

Illegal bindings cost Defago victory

VAL D'ISERE, France (Reuters) - Switzerland's Didier Defago was disqualified from a men's Alpine ski World Cup super-combined event in which he had clocked the best time on Sunday after officials ruled he had used illegal bindings.

Didier Defago of Switzerland speeds past a gate during the slalom to win the Men's World Cup Combined ski race in Val d'Isere, France, December 11, 2005. Austria's Michael Walchhofer and Rainer Schoenfelder placed second and third. (REUTERS/Robert Pratta)

The plates on the bindings of Defago's skis were measured by officials after the race and found to be too high by a few tenths of a millimeter.

Michael Walchhofer, who had clocked the second best combined time, was proclaimed the winner and scored his second victory of the weekend after leading an Austrian clean sweep in the downhill here on Saturday.

Austria's Michael Walchhofer slaloms past a pole on his way to win a men's World Cup combined event in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

"I feel sorry for Didier because he's such a nice guy," said Walchhofer.

"I would have been perfectly happy with second place. My slalom run, in particular, pleased me and gives me a lot of hope for the combined event of the Olympics."

Austria's Michael Walchhofer speeds past a gate on his way to win a men's World Cup combined event in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Fellow Austrian Rainer Schoenfelder took second place with American Bode Miller completing the podium to consolidate his lead in the overall World Cup standings.

The authorized height between the base of the skis and the plate of the binding on which the boot rests is 55 millimeters.

"It was measured about 10 times and half the measures seemed to show it was okay while the other half didn't," said Michel Vion, head of the competition department of the Swiss racer's ski manufacturer, Rossignol.

"We accept that a rule is a rule but in this case we would have appreciated a bit more understanding," said Vion, who was seen shouting at World Cup race director Gunther Hujara in the finish area.

"We take full responsibility for a small mistake with a big effect," added Vion, who said Defago's serviceman had failed to measure the skis before the race.

"We feel particularly sorry for Didier, who did nothing wrong and had a fantastic race".   

The race officials said the decision to disqualify Defago was final and neither his team nor his ski manufacturer could lodge an appeal.

The 28-year-old Defago, who was not among the pre-race favorites, clocked the best time of two minutes 42.96 seconds and had hoped for the second World Cup win of his career after a super-G in 2002 in Val Gardena.

For several minutes he believed he had given the Swiss men's team their first World Cup victory since Didier Cuche won a downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in January 2004.

Defago was devastated after hearing about the mistake by his serviceman and left the French Alpine resort without a word.

Canadian Erik Guay, who led after the downhill leg, ended outside the top 20 after a big mistake near the top of the slalom run.

There was disappointment also for Norwegian all rounder Kjetil Andre Aamodt, who had hoped for his first World Cup victory since 2003 after clocking the second best time in the downhill section.

The 34-year-old Aamodt suffered on a deteriorating slalom piste and finished fourth but nevertheless confirmed he was back in top form after taking second place in a downhill last month in Lake Louise, Canada.

A new event inaugurated last season, the super-combined consists of a downhill and a one-run slalom, held on the same day. The skier with the best combined time wins.

The men's World Cup continues on Monday with a slalom under floodlights in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

Sun Dec 11, 2005 11:04 AM ET
By Patrick Vignal, REUTERS

***

Defago upsets Austrians with combined win

VAL D'ISERE, France (Reuters) - Switzerland's Didier Defago upset the mighty Austrian squad to win a men's Alpine ski World Cup super-combined event on Sunday.

Defago, in fourth place after the downhill leg, held his nerve in a tricky slalom run to clock a winning combined timed of two minutes 42.96 seconds.

Michael Walchhofer, who led an Austrian clean sweep in Saturday's downhill here, had to be content with second place, 0.19 seconds off the pace.

Fellow Austrian Rainer Schoenfelder completed the podium with third place, 0.36 seconds back.

The 28-year-old Defago, who was not among the pre-race favorites, recorded the second World Cup win of his career after a super-G in 2002 in Val Gardena.

His win lifted the gloom surrounding a struggling Swiss men's team who had been waiting for a World Cup victory since Didier Cuche won a downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in January 2004.

The crisis-hit Alpine nation failed to win a single race last season for the first time since the World Cup circuit was launched.

SATISFYING WEEKEND

Defago's win completed the most satisfying weekend for Switzerland in a long time after Nadia Styger restored the once great country's pride by winning a women's super-G on Friday in Aspen, Colorado.

American Bode Miller finished fourth with a trademark spectacular slalom run to retain the lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Canadian Erik Guay, who led after the downhill leg, ended outside the top 20 after a big mistake near the top of the slalom run.

There was disappointment also for Norwegian all rounder Kjetil Andre Aamodt, who had hoped for his first World Cup victory since 2003 after clocking the second best time in the downhill section.

The 34-year-old Aamodt suffered on a deteriorating slalom piste and finished fifth but nevertheless confirmed he was back in top form after taking second place in a downhill last month in Lake Louise, Canada.

A new event inaugurated last season, the super-combined consists of a downhill and a one-run slalom, held on the same day. The skier with the best combined time wins.

Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:11 AM ET
By Patrick Vignal, REUTERS

***

Guay leads super-combined event after downhill

VAL D'ISERE, France (Reuters) - Canada's Erik Guay led a men's Alpine ski World Cup super-combined event on Sunday after the downhill run.

Guay, who finished joint seventh in a downhill in this French Alpine resort on Saturday, clocked the fastest time of one minute 48.72 seconds down the sun-drenched Oreiller-Killy piste.

Norwegian all rounder Kjetil Andre Aamodt was ideally placed for final victory after the slalom leg later on Sunday with the second-best time, just O.O6 seconds off the pace.

American Bode Miller, the overall World Cup champion, and Austria's Benjamin Raich remained in contention with the seventh and ninth-fastest times respectively.

A new event inaugurated last season, the super-combined consists of a downhill and a one-run slalom, both held on the same day. The skier with the best combined time wins.

Sun Dec 11, 2005 6:47 AM ET
REUTERS

***

Austrians rule men's downhill; Canadians crack top-15

Michael Walchhofer led an Austrian medal sweep, while British Columbia's Manual Osborne-Paradis rubber-stamped an Olympic berth at a men's downhill race on Saturday.

Michael Walchhofer of Austria reacts after winning the Men's World Cup downhill ski race in Val d'Isere, France, December 10, 2005. (Eric Gaillard/Reuters)

Walchhofer, the defending World Cup champion, negotiated the 3.1-kilometre Oreiller Kelly course in two minutes, 0.15 seconds in Val d'Isere, France.

Reigning Olympic champion Fritz Strobl followed in 2:00.67, while fellow countryman Hans Grugger was third (2:01.10).

Eric Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., tied for seventh with American Bode Miller.

Osborne-Paradis will join Guay at the Torino Winter Games in February after posting a personal-best time of 2:01.65 to reach the Olympic qualifying standard.

Guay appeared headed for a much quicker time, but he lost control in the air 50 seconds in his run while coming over a bump.

"I did scare myself a little going in there but I think I would have had a pretty fast time if I hadn't made that mistake," said Guay. "But it's part of downhill. I'm not going to hold it against myself. I'm still happy I took a lot of risks.

"Seventh place, I can't be mad with that either. It's a good result."

Guay added his ability to regain focus was the key to a top-10 finish.

"I'm happy I didn't panic even though I made that mistake and I still let my skis run after that," he said. "I tried to be calm. I was pretty fast at the bottom so I'm happy with my run all in all."

Osborne-Paradis was at a loss to explain the 12th-place performance on just his second trip down the hill.

"I'm not really sure what clicked," said the native of Inverness, B.C. "I always ski better in Europe. I don't really know why. I think it's because I get on a place and fly to Europe and I'm just here to ski."

Francois Bourque, from New Richmond, Que., placed 25th in 2:02.22.

Miller did enough to claim first place in the overall World Cup standings with 318 points. Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal has 307 and dropped to second.

CBC Sports

***

Spanish Skier Wins Giant Slalom
Marie Jose Rienda Contreras Edges Reigning Champion Anja Paerson to Capture World Cup Giant Slalom

ASPEN, Colorado, December 10, 2005 (AP) — Marie Jose Rienda Contreras of Spain edged reigning overall champion Anja Paerson of Sweden on Saturday to capture a World Cup giant slalom at the Aspen Winternational.

Maria Jose Rienda of Spain skis to the best time in the first heat of the women's World Cup giant slalom in Aspen, Colorado December 10, 2005. Nicole Hosp of Austria was second in the heat and Tanja Poutiainen of Finland third. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Julia Mancuso was the top U.S. finisher in 12th place.

Rienda, who earned her third World Cup victory, won in a combined time of 1 minute, 57.17 seconds. The 30-year-old Spaniard led by one-tenth of a second after the first run and held on while racing in the early afternoon shadows on Aspen Mountain.

Paerson, fifth after the first run, was next at 1:57.51 while Austria's Kathrin Zettel was third in 1:57.53.

Rienda, a World Cup skier since 1997, earned her first victories last season in giant slaloms at Are, Sweden, and Lenzerheide, Switzerland. She finished second in the overall giant slalom standings.

"Just when you get new boots, the plastic isn't as worn in, so they're a little more aggressive," she said. "The position of my foot in the boot isn't what I've been training on all summer, so it's a little bit hard. I need to get used to them."

Mancuso also said she is having trouble with new boots.

"I'm still heading into the season with better results than last year at the beginning of the year," said Mancuso, third in the giant slalom at last season's world championships. "It just takes a little more time to get me warmed up and ready to go."

Maria Riesch of Germany was taken off the hill on a stretcher after a crash midway through her second run. She slammed through a gate and landed hard on her left shoulder, narrowly missing a group of photographers.

Austria's Nicole Hosp, second after the first run, lost a ski and crashed in the second but appeared to escape serious injury.

The top 30 in the first run qualified for the second. Among those who didn't advance was American Lindsey Kildow, who was last among the 59 who finished the first run. Kildow, whose worst finish in the last four races was seventh, said she needs more training in the giant slalom.

"I don't really care about today," she said. "I skied well but I went so far out of the course there was no chance. I still have to develop better tactics in the GS. I don't really do well when the rhythm changes a lot."

Caroline Lalive of the United States injured her left knee in a crash during Friday's super-G and was too sore and stiff to race Saturday. She was replaced by Libby Ludlow, who was 40th in the first run.

Kristina Koznick was the only other U.S. skier to qualify for the second run, finishing 24th.

Canadian Emily Brydon, skiing out of 57th place in the first run, barely qualified in 30th, then had the fastest second run at 58.23 seconds to finish 13th.

The race was the second giant slalom of the season. Tina Maze of Slovenia won the first at Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 22. She was eighth on Saturday. The Aspen event, the only U.S. stop on the women's World Cup circuit, concludes with a slalom on Sunday.

By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer

***

Switzerland's Styger edges trio of Austrians

ASPEN, Colorado, 12/10/2005 (AP) - Switzerland, that Alpine paradise of chocolate and money, is back in business in ski racing, too, after a sweet triumph for Nadia Styger in the super-G on Friday.

Nadia Styger of Switzerland skis to victory in World Cup women's Super-G in Aspen, Colorado(AFP/Don Emmert)

Styger's victory, two days shy of her 27th birthday, was Switzerland's first World Cup win in two years. She edged a trio of Austrians and surging U.S. veteran Kirsten Clark, whose fifth-place finish was her best in two years.
 
"After last year, it was not so easy for the whole team," Styger said. "I'm very happy for the whole team that I can give Switzerland a victory.

The normally powerful Swiss didn't have a top-three finish last year, but Styger's teammate Sylviane Berthod proclaimed "Switzerland is back" after taking second in the downhill last week at Lake Louise.

Styger won in 1 minute, 13.77 seconds on a sunny morning, with the skiers darting in and out of the shadows on Aspen Mountain. Michaela Dorfmeister, a 21-time World Cup winner, was a tenth of a second back in second place. Twenty-year-old Austrian Andrea Fischbacher was third. Alexandra Meissnitzer, winner of the season's first super-G last Sunday, was fourth.

Genevieve Simard of Canada was sixth, and American Lindsey Kildow seventh.

Styger's World Cup victory was her second. She won the super-G in Sestriere, Italy, in 2004.

"For two years I had very good years," Styger said. "I went with very high expectations in the last year. I had some little accidents in my back and my legs, and it was not so good for me. But I learned very much."

Clark, at 28 the oldest on the U.S. women's team, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and had a cyst removed from behind her knee on Sept. 1. A staph infection developed, setting her back in her training.

"I didn't think I'd be where I am for sure," Clark said. "I mean, I'm so excited. To be getting consecutive top 10s in the super-G is awesome."

Clark has to hobble around because of her knee woes, but once she leaves the starting gate, the health problems disappear, she said.

"That's unbelievable," U.S. women's coach Patrick Riml said of Clark's performance. "It's good to see her being up there, and Lindsey had a decent race. She made some mistakes and was not super-clean and over-skied a little bit, but she was still in there, and that"s quite positive."

The steep course on Ruthie's Run, overlooking the city, challenged the skiers with difficult gate placements that they had to negotiate at high speeds.

"I think it's one of the most difficult courses in the World Cup," Dorfmeister said. "The speed is very high in the middle and the lower part, and the timing is very important."

Clark called it 'one of those things where you've got to risk just enough in order to be fast, but you can't do too much or you're going to end up scrubbing and being slow, so it's a fine line."

American Caroline Lalive clipped a ski on one of the trickier turns, crashing head over skis, then sliding down the hill. She injured her left knee and was questionable for Saturday's giant slalom.

"I tried to cut the line a little too much," Lalive said, "and literally put my body inside the gate."

Dorfmeister, retiring after this season, earned her fourth consecutive podium finish.

"At this moment, when I go in the start I know when I have a normal race and a normal run I am on the podium," she said.

Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister kisses one of her skis after finishing in second place in the Women's World Cup super-G with a time of one minute 13.87 seconds in Aspen, Colorado December 9, 2005. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

The 2-3-4 Austrian finish followed a 1-2-3 super-G sweep at Lake Louise five days earlier. In the Canadian race, Miessnitzer won, followed by Fischbacher and Dorfmeister.

Kildow, cheered on by a large contingent of friends and family, was satisfied but not thrilled with her performance.

"It's fine," she said. "I'm still good in the standings. I was a little bit tentative on the bottom. I think it was getting a little bit slick. I just didn't let my skis run as much as I could have. But I think it was better for me in general from my skiing at Lake Louise."

NEXT ALPINE SKI RACES

Men
12.12.05 Madonna di Campiglio (ITA) SL
16.12.05 Val Gardena (ITA) SG
17.12.05 Val Gardena (ITA) DH
18.12.05 Alta Badia (ITA) GS
21.12.05 Kranjska Gora (SLO) GS
22.12.05 Kranjska Gora (SLO) SL
29.12.05 Bormio (ITA) DH

Ladies
17.12.05 Val D'Isere (FRA) DH
18.12.05 Val D'Isere (FRA) SG
21.12.05 Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE) GS
22.12.05 Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE) SL
28.12.05 Lienz (AUT) GS
29.12.05 Lienz (AUT) SL
05.01.06 Zagreb (CRO) SL

Alpine Ski Overall World Cup Standing - Men

World Cup Leader: Miller Bode
12.10.1977 (Franconia) Ski: Atomic 
1. Miller Bode  378 
2. Svindal Aksel-Lund  344 
3. Walchhofer Michael  318

Alpine Ski Overall World Cup Standing - Ladies

World Cup Leader: Dorfmeister Michaela
25.03.1973 (Neusiedl) Ski: Atomic 
1. Dorfmeister Michaela  334 
2. Paerson Anja  262 
3. Meissnitzer Alexandra  260