Paerson picks up 10th win of the season; Koznick top U.S. finisher in 10th

Paerson picks up 10th win of the season; Koznick top U.S. finisher in 10thSweden’s Anja Paerson captured the giant slalom Sunday on home snow in Are for her 10th World Cup win of the season.

Paerson extended her lead in the overall World Cup by storming from 10th place after the first run to victory in a two-run time of 2:15.64. Maria Jose Rienda Contreras of Spain was second in 2:16.17 and Austria’s Elisabeth Goergl finished third in 2:16.37.

Kristina Koznick was the leading U.S. finisher in 10th, with Lindsey Kildow in 18th. They were the only two scorers for the U.S. team. Sarah Schleper did not start the race because of a sore back.

For Kildow, combined gold medalist at the World Junior Championships last weekend, it was the first time she’d made it to the second run of a World Cup GS.

Canadians Sophie Splawinski, a teenage World Cup rookie, and veteran Allison Forsyth tied for 12th, leading five Canadian skiers into the points. Splawinski bettered her previous World Cup best — a 14th-place finish in super G on Saturday. Also for Canada, Gail Kelly was 16th, Britty Janyk 22nd and Genevieve Simard 29th.

Paerson leads Renate Goetschl, winner of Saturday’s super G, by 123 points at the top of the overall standings after the Austrian failed to qualify for the second run of the giant slalom.

The 22-year-old technical specialist could all but wrap up the overall title next weekend with two gate races in Levi, Finland.

The season ends with the World Cup Finals at Sestriere, Italy, in March.

“This is one of my greatest victories this season”, said Paerson. “To win here, coming back from 10th, was wonderful. I was a little afraid this morning (on the first run) as visibility was not good and I couldn’t attack the way I wanted to.

“Victory was marvellous, especially for all the crowd who came to see me. I could hear them shouting and supporting me,” added Paerson, who got up on stage and sang for her fans afterwards.

Alpine World Cup

Women’s Giant Slalom

Are, Sweden

February 22, 2004

1. Anja Paerson (Sweden) (first run 1:08.00/second run 1:07.64) 2:15.64

2. Maria Jose Rienda Contreras (Spain) (1:07.82/1:08.35) 2:16.17

3. Elisabeth Goergl (Austria) (1:07.77/1:08.60) 2:16.37

4. Denise Karbon (Italy) (1:07.59/1:09.06) 2:16.65

5. Maria Riesch (Germany) (1:08.69/1:08.13) 2:16.82

6. Anna Ottosson (Sweden) (1:08.30/1:08.58) 2:16.88

7. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten (Switzerland) (1:07.66/1:09.27) 2:16.93

8. Tanja Poutiainen (Finland) (1:07.83/1:09.49) 2:17.32

9. Nadia Styger (Switzerland) (1:08.79/1:08.54) 2:17.33

10. Kristina Koznick (U.S.) (1:07.91/1:09.50) 2:17.41

11. Martina Ertl (Germany) (1:08.58/1:08.86) 2:17.44

12= Sophie Splawinski (Canada) (1:08.52/1:08.93) 2:17.45

12= Allison Forsyth (Canada) (1:08.84/1:08.61) 2:17.45

14. Tina Maze (Slovenia) (1:07.80/1:09.67) 2:17.47

15. Maria Pietilae-Holmner (Sweden) (1:08.50/1:09.01) 2:17.51

16. Gail Kelly (Canada) (1:08.73/1:08.83) 2:17.56

17. Michaela Dorfmeister (Austria) (1:08.09/1:09.52) 2:17.61

18. Lindsey Kildow (U.S.) (1:08.14/1:09.48) 2:17.62

19. Isolde Kostner (Italy) (1:08.67/1:09.02) 2:17.69

20. Silke Bachmann (Italy) (1:07.95/1:10.02) 2:17.97

21. Silvia Berger (Austria) (1:08.86/1:09.13) 2:17.99

22. Britt Janyk (Canada) (1:08.15/1:10.10) 2:18.25

23. Emmanuelle Colomban (France) (1:08.74/1:09.58) 2:18.32

24. Audrey Peltier (France) (1:08.90/1:09.58) 2:18.48

25. Manuela Moelgg (Italy) (1:08.62/1:10.01) 2:18.63

26. Annemarie Gerg (Germany) (1:08.61/1:10.18) 2:18.79

27. Therese Borssen (Sweden) (1:08.77/1:10.11) 2:18.88

28. Mojca Suhadolc (Slovenia) (1:08.79/1:10.23) 2:19.02

29. Genevieve Simard (Canada) (1:07.98/1:11.83) 2:19.81

DNF 2nd: Lilian Kummer (Switzerland)

Other North Americans:

DNQ 2nd: Julia Mancuso, Jonna Mendes, Jessica Kelley, Caroline Lalive (U.S.); Emily Brydon (Canada).

DNF 1st: Libby Ludlow (U.S.)

DNS: Sarah Schleper (U.S.)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Women’s Giant Slalom

Are, Sweden, February 22, 2004

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Rienda Contreras, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

3 Goergl, Volkl/Lange/Marker

4 Karbon, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

5 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia

6 Ottosson, Dynastar/Lange/Tyrolia

7 Aufdenblatten, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

8 Poutiainen, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

9 Styger, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

10 Koznick, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker

There are just six races remaining on the women’s schedule: two slaloms, one GS, one SG and one DH. … It’s the 18th win of the season for Salomon skis, 17 of them women’s races.

It’s the 21st career win for Anja Paerson, and her 10th win of the season. … She has not finished worse than fourth in any GS or slalom this season and has been on the podium in 12 of the 14 held, winning 10. … It’s a career-best finish for Maria Jose Rienda Contreras and her third career podium, all this season. … The last win for Spain was Blanca Fernandez-Ochoa in a slalom at Lech 12/1/1991. … The last second place for Spain was Carolina Ruiz Castillo in GS at Sestriere, Italy, 3/11/2000. … It’s the third career podium for Elisabeth Goergl and second this season, both in GS.

It’s the 42nd career top 10 for Kristina Koznick. … It was the 10th score of the season for Lindsey Kildow. … She has now scored in all four disciplines, joining a short list that includes Paerson, Martina Ertl, Renate Goetschl, Maria Riesch and Julia Mancuso.

An historic day for Canada. … The Canadians had not put five skiers in the top 30 since a Val Gardena DH 12/20/1996, and not in a gate race (SL or GS) since the World Cup scoring system was changed from 15 to 30 skiers for the 1992 season. … It’s the second career best in two days for Sophie Splawinski who collected her first score in Saturday’s SG. … It was the sixth score of the season for Allison Forsyth. … It’s a career-best score for Gail Kelly and the third of her career. … Her previous best had been the 23rd in the race in Region Arber 2/7/04. … It’s the fourth scoring result of the season for Britt Janyk. … It’s her sixth career score at Are, easily the World Cup site where she’s had the most success. … It’s the 13th scoring tally of the season for Genevieve Simard.

Paerson extends her overall lead to 1331-1208 over Goetschl. … Kirsten Clark leads the U.S. in 11th at 456. … Paerson’s GS lead expands to 530-289 as Contreras moves into second. … Paerson had previously cinched the GS title. … Sarah Schleper leads the U.S. in 13th with 165 points.

Austria leads the Nations Cup 14234-4191 over Italy with the U.S. third at 4107. … Austria leads the women’s standings 5491-3042 over Germany. … The U.S. is third at 2009.