Aspen: Poutiainen leads slalom after first run

ASPEN, Colo. — Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen raced into position for the second World Cup slalom win of her career here Sunday, taking a slim lead over Austrian Nicole Hosp after the first run on a sun-splashed day.
    Poutiainen, who won both the slalom and GS races in Aspen back in 2004, started No. 2 on the Lower Ruthie’s Run course and clocked a time of 46.10 seconds.
    “I had a good number and a good run. I’m happy,” Poutiainen said.
    The U.S. Ski Team’s top slalom skier, Resi Stiegler, occupies 10th place, clocking 47.35. Americans Kaylin Richardson (17th place), Lindsey Vonn (18th), and Julia Mancuso (28th) earned second runs. Hailey Duke just missed the top 30 flip, finishing 33rd.

ASPEN, Colo. — Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen raced into position for the second World Cup slalom win of her career here Sunday, taking a slim lead over Austrian Nicole Hosp after the first run on a sun-splashed day.
    Poutiainen, who won both the slalom and GS races in Aspen back in 2004, started No. 2 on the Lower Ruthie’s Run course and clocked a time of 46.10 seconds.
    “I had a good number and a good run. I’m happy,” Poutiainen said.
    Hosp, who skipped Saturday’s downhill because of soft snow and bad visibility, rebounded strong with a time of 46.13 seconds and should contend for just the third World Cup slalom win of her career. Hosp’s teammate Kathrin Zettel sits third after the first run, clocking 46.20. Sweden’s Therese Borssen, who survived the course on a day when teammates Anja Paerson, Jessica Lindell-Vikarby and Maria Pietilae-Holmner didn’t, sits fifth, 0.33 back at 46.43.
    Current World Cup leader Marlies Schild, winner of the first two slalom races this season, sits in seventh place.   
    The U.S. Ski Team’s top slalom skier, Resi Stiegler, occupies 10th place, clocking 47.35. Stiegler nailed the top section of the course but struggled and lost time on the bottom. Afterward she was clearly frustrated but planned on attacking all-out in the second run.
    “I’m just kind of frustrated because I’m having these awesome top splits,” she said. “At Panorama I was winning the top both runs and then I come down and I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just stopping.
    “Maybe we haven’t trained long enough courses because this course is really long and you have to really keep charging because it’s not that steep at the bottom so it’s a good chance for you to push forward and go.”
    Americans Kaylin Richardson (17th place), Lindsey Vonn (18th), and Julia Mancuso (28th) earned second runs. Hailey Duke just missed the top 30 flip, finishing 33rd.

UNOFFICIAL FIRST-RUN RESULTS