ALPINE:

Schild rips to first-run lead in Zagreb slalom

Jan. 4, 2011 

ZAGREB, Croatia — Marlies Schild overcame bad weather conditions to post the fastest time in the first run of a women's World Cup slalom on Tuesday, while Lindsey Vonn crashed out for a third straight slalom race.

Thick fog over the icy Crveni Spust course caused poor visibility, especially for the early starters.

Schild, who won three of four slaloms this season, finished her run in 1 minute, 1.09 seconds.

"I couldn't see much, just the next gate. It was like flying blind," said the Austrian, who won in Zagreb in 2006 and '07. "I didn't feel like having a good run."

Manuela Moelgg of Italy, wearing bib No. 20, took advantage of slightly improved conditions and was 0.19 seconds back in second. Maria Riesch of Germany was third with 0.76 to make up in the second run.

"It was very hard," Riesch said. "I could see just three gates ahead and I never was in a good rhythm coming down."

Riesch led Vonn in the overall standings by 106 points going into the race and could now put even more pressure on the defending champion American.

Vonn never looked comfortable from the start of her run. She was already 1.62 seconds behind when she lost balance in a right turn and slid off course. The defending overall champion also went out in both previous slalom races in Courchevel, France, and Semmering, Austria.

Julia Mancuso also went out early as she straddled a gate after 8 seconds, but American teammate Sarah Schleper, who started 30th, had a near-perfect run to clock the fifth-fastest time and finish within a second of Schild.

"I didn't feel that good coming down. My skis were sliding a little bit," Schleper said. "I was actually very surprised to see where I ended up. Maybe if I can clean up a couple of turns, I can be right there with the best girls."

The 31-year-old Schleper, who won a slalom in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, in 2005, said she would "fully attack" in the second run.

"I've had a hundred-something top-30's in my career so I am not going out for these top-30's anymore," Schleper said. "I want to get the best race I can get, going as fast as I can."

No Canadians qualified for the second run.   S-Magazine

— The Canadian Press contributed to this report

Zagreb women's World Cup slalom run No. 1. results