Paerson Collects 2nd SL Victory

Sestriere, Italy, Dec. 9, 2001 — Sweden’s world champion, Anja Paerson, took the first run lead Sunday in a World Cup slalom and held off Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen for the second win of her career. Kristina Koznick of Burnsville, MN was eighth with Sarah Schleper of Vail, CO, the only other U.S. skier in the second run, finishing 20th.

Outdoor Life Network will broadcast coverage of the race Thursday night at 8 EST.

Paerson, gold medalist in slalom under the lights at the World Championships last February but whose only other World Cup victory came in another SL at Mammoth Mountain three years ago, led the first run by .23 with Poutiainen sitting 11th. However, the Finn tore through the second run with the fastest time and posted the best result of her career, but she couldn’t catch Paerson, whose winning time was 1:32.54.

The Finn’s second-place time was 1:32.95 and Swiss racer Sonja Nef completed the podium in 1:33.13.

Koznick hung-up the third-fastest second run and advanced from 14th place to eighth with a total time of 1:33.56. Schleper was 16th in the first run and finished 20th with a time of 1:34.36.

Next, the women head to Val d’Isere for two super Gs and a giant slalom.

CAFE DE COLOMBIA WORLD CUP

Sestriere, ITA – Dec. 9

Women’s Slalom
1. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:32.54
2. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 1:32.95
3. Sonja Nef, Switzerland, 1:33.13
4. Trine Bakke, Norway, 1:33.34
5. Spela Pretnar, Slovenia, 1:33.38
-8. Kristina Koznick, Burnsville, Minn., 1:33.56
20. Sarah Schleper, Vail, Colo., 1:34.36
-Did not qualify for 2nd run: Tasha Nelson, Mound, Minn.; Caroline Lalive, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Lauren Ross, Stowe, Vt.DQ’d: Lindsey C. Kildow, Vail, Colo.