Austria rules slalom event

Japan's Takanobu Okabe flies through the air to place fourth in the first leg of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Austria's Marlies Schild led an Austrian 1-2 finish in a World Cup slalom on Thursday, while Croatia's Janica Kostelic regained the overall lead from Anja Paerson with her third-place finish.

Schild the Schlossberg marathon course in a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 57.92 seconds, a whopping 1.02 seconds ahead of teammate Nicole Hosp, runner-up in 1:58.94.

It was Schild's fifth career World Cup victory.

"It's marvelous. Last year, I had two big successes after winning a slalom and giant slalom at home in Semmering, and I won again in Austria today," said Schild, who posted the fastest times in both runs on Thursday.

"After leading in the first run, I was nervous second run. I was really surprised to win with such a large margin. I didn't feel so good on the course and it was tough work."

It was the first time Austria's women have ever swept the top two places of a slalom on home snow and was the third victory by an Austrian woman this season, after Alexandra Meissnitzer won the super-G in Lake Louise, Canada, and Michaela Dorfmeister clinched another super-G in Val d'Isere, France.

Daron Rahlves of the US sprays sparkling wine as he celebrates on the podium after winning a men's World Cup downhill event in Bormio, Italy, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Kostelic, who said she woke up feeling weak and unwell, crossed fourth after the opening leg and climbed a spot in the second leg to finish third in 1:59.65.

The triple Olympic champion's result allowed her to replace Paerson atop the World Cup overall and slalom standings.

Kostelic the overall with 592 points after 13 races. Paerson dropped to second with 540, while Austria's Michael Dorfmeister, the overall champion in 2002, is third with 510.

Austria's Marlies Schild passes a gate on her way to winning a women's World Cup slalom event in Lienz, Austria, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Paerson Kostelic for last season's overall title by three points.

Kostelic tops the slalom table after three races with 220 points. Paerson is second on 200, with Schild third at 160.

Paerson, who won Wednesday's giant slalom here, slid out on the fall-away in the first leg -- the first time in almost a year that she has failed to qualify for the second run of a World Cup slalom.

Paerson broke one of her best skis with which she won the season's opening two slalom races in Aspen, Colorado, and Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.

"When you see the Austrians leading at home it kind of hurts," Paerson said. "You kind of want to be in there pushing for it. But that's the sport. I'm going to come back in Zagreb and push for it.

"It's disappointing because I think I was up there for the win today. I think I was pretty fast. But I'm not aiming for fifth-place finishes this year. My goal is the Olympics this year. I'm not chasing points for the World Cup title, so I am risking everything, trying to go for it all the time, to win races so I can do it in Turin."

American Kristina Koznick ended a disappointing streak in which she had delivered strong opening runs but fumbled on the second legs by finishing fourth in 1:59.81.

Defending World Cup slalom champion Tanja Poutiainen was sixth in 2:00.76. The Finn, who is also the defending World Cup giant slalom champion, has struggled in both events this season.

She has yet to place better than sixth this season. She was sixth in the slalom in the Czech Republic last week and sixth in a giant slalom in Aspen.

Last season, she dominated the slalom, sealing the discipline title by late January.

Austria's Michaela Kirchgasser, 20, tore ligaments in her left ankle after crashing on the final pitch just four gates from the finish in the first run. The team said her ankle was already vulnerable after a training crash in New Zealand in August.

The women next race a slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, on Jan. 5.

Daron Rahlves waved two fingers atop the podium after his World Cup downhill win Thursday.

Two for two.

Rahlves four goals entering this season, which will likely be his last before retirement. The first was achieved by winning the downhill at Beaver Creek, Colorado, on Dec. 2. Thursday's race was No. 2.

A win in Kitzbuehel -- skiing's sacred ground -- next month and finishing his career with a gold medal at the Turin Olympics in February are the objectives that remain.

What will that take?

"More of what I did here," Rahlves said.

Rahlves the Stelvio course, the most physically demanding on the World Cup circuit, on a day when it was at its extreme nastiest.

Extremely snow and impaired vision -- due to strong sunlight contrasting with large shady areas -- saw several skiers seriously hurt. Not Rahlves.

"I like the risk factor," Rahlves said. "This course demands a lot. It's unfortunate that some guys got hurt -- but that's ski racing. It wakes you up a bit at the start.

"You have to respect the hill but also fight back. So many downhills are getting slower and easier. This is still real technical."

Rahlves the Stelvio course for three straight days, also leading both training sessions.

"I'm super satisfied," Rahlves said. "This is the ultimate. This week was good every single day."

He moved from fifth to lead the overall standings with 489 points. Teammate Bode Miller, who last season became the first American overall winner in 22 years, stays second on 471 after a ninth-place finish.

"The overall is going to be decided at the end of the season, like it always is," Miller said. "Of course that won't stop everyone from talking about it."

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal had led entering the race, but he didn't compete due to a broken rib and drops to fourth.

Rahlves the 3.68km Stelvio course in 1 minute, 57.68 seconds.

Fritz Strobl of Austria was second, 0.32 seconds behind, and held onto the leader's red bib in the downhill standings. Tobias Gruenenfelder of Switzerland was third, 0.35 back.

Gruenenfelder on pace to finish first or second until he fell crossing the finish line, tearing ligaments in his right knee.

Hans Grugger of Austria dislocated his right hip after losing control and falling hard. He was undergoing surgery at the Morelli Hospital in nearby Sondalo, organizers said.

Reigning Olympic downhill champion Strobl expressed concern over yet another Austrian skier being injured this season.

"I'm upset. This is the third time this year one of our guys has been seriously injured," Strobl said. "I've been saying for years that this downhill is too dangerous. For the last couple of years it was OK, but now it's back to being too dangerous. I'm happy I made it down healthy."

Austrians Christoph Kronberger and Werner Franz also suffered serious injuries this season.

Thursday's race was delayed for half an hour due to a crash by a forerunner testing the course. Rahlves wasn't bothered though.

"I took a little extra time in inspection today because I knew it was going to be tough. I heard the wind blowing last night in my bus," he said.

Rahlves won on the Stelvio in 2002 and finished second to Miller in the downhill at last season's world championships here. It was the 11th World Cup victory of his career.

Miller the only skier to skip inspection, the period before the race when skiers check the course to memorize bumps and changes in direction.

Miller his troublesome left knee feels good, but acknowledged that he has not been at his best lately.

"There's been no time for training," Miller said. "Hopefully I can take it easy this next week."

The World Cup resume with a giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, on Jan. 7.

Defending Janne Ahonen of Finland won Thursday's first leg of the annual ski jumping Four Hills Tour for his first victory of the season.

Ahonen after his first jump of 130.5m and landed at 130m in the second to collect 270.9 points and beat Roar Ljoekelsoey of Norway.

Ljoekelsoey scored 268.4 points for jumps of 129.5m and 132m.

The Finn is seeking to equal Jens Weissflog's record of four overall wins in the tour, which is the most prestigious ski jumping competition outside the Olympics or world championships.

Ahonen, who won last season's overall World Cup title, had been overshadowed this year by Jakub Janda of the Czech Republic, the winner of four events so far. Janda finished third Thursday.

Janda fifth after his first leap of 123.5m, but then had the longest jump of the day by soaring 133.5m to earn 262.6 points.

Takanobu Okabe of Japan was fourth with 260.8 points for jumps of 128m and 130.5m.

Matti Hautamaeki of Finland could only jump 125m in the second series to finish fifth.