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www.skiworldcup.org/Sestriere (ITA) 13.03.2004
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Women's Slalom - Race report
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| Report I Race results I SWC SL I Overall |
Sestriere
Womens Slalom final
First win for Marlies Schild
Sestriere, Italy, March 13th , 2004
- Marlies Schild of Austria surprised
everyone in snowy, foggy conditions
to win the final womens slalom of the
world cup alpine season. Anja Paerson
of Sweden finished in 6th place , good
enough to take the overall world cup.
Schild laid down the fastest time in
the first run with a time of 48.30 seconds
and cruised to victory after no one
could match catch her time in the second
run . Her final time was 1:41:82, 21/100
of a second faster than American Sarah
Schleper, coming back after missing
three weeks due to a back injury. Tanja
Poutiainen of Finland was third with
a time at 19/100.
“It’s a great way to finish
the season, especially because I had
to skip a few races due to injury,”
Schild said. “I’ve been in
the lead twice but never won, so it
was important that I came through this
time. It was also very nice to win my
first race on the future Olympic course.”
Schleper almost didn’t come to
the World Cup finals because of her
bad back. “After taking 4th in
slalom at Zwiesel, I went home to Vail
to rest my back,” she said. “
I decided to come at the last moment
and I’m really happy I did.”
"This slope fits me well, I was
on the podium here a few years ago.
This success means a lot to me as I
struggled quite a lot in recent season.
This spring, I'll take a long break
in order to let my back recover. I hope
that I'll not need surgery at my herniated."
Tanja Poutianen is part of a Finnish
team which is gaining strength in slalom
and giant slalom. “Since the races
in Finland, my confidence has been high,
“ said Poutainen. “I like
racing in Sestriere and its my third
time on the podium here. It's just too
bad that I didn't reach the podium in
the World Cup standings this time!"
The bigger story was the incredible
season long performance of Swedens Anja
Paerson. The 22-year-old Tarnaby native
scorched the World Cup this season,
especially in giant slalom and slalom.
Paerson won six slalom races and four
GS races in defeating Renate Goetchl
of Austria by over 100 points. Goetchl
dominated the speed events, winning
the downhill and super-G world cups.
“It quite incredible what happened
to me this year,” said Paerson.
“At the start of the season, I
didn’t want to think about the
overall title, just the slalom world
cup, but what a bonus!”
Anja said she enjoyed the battle this
season with Goetchl. “ The fight
with Renate was interesting,” she
said.” We were focussed on different
things, me with the technical races
and her with speed races, but still
involved in the big globe race.”
“It has been a great year with
so many surprises,” said Anja.”I
don’t think I’ll ever forget
it. I will talk to my father, he’s
so happy and couldnt believe it.”
The Swede will now try to end the season
with an 11th victory in Sunday's giant
slalom sponsored by Mapei.
Eric Moffitt
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