LEVI, Finland (Feb. 28) - The alpine World Cup made its debut in Finland Saturday and Tanja Poutiainen of Finland won the first World Cup of her career while Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) finished fifth with Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) 10th. Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) was 17th while Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) was disqualified on the second run.

Poutiainen led the first run and finished with a combined total of 1:49.12. Elisabeth Goergl of Austria was second at 1:49.30.

Koznick, sixth after the first run, moved up to equal her best slalom finish of the season in 1:50.60 with Mancuso, who started 38th, posting her first top-10 in slalom with a time of 1:51.04. Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) was 17th while Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) ran 48th and was 13th in the first run before missing a gate on her final run.

"We had four girls and they all made it to the second run. They know they can do better and they've said they will [Sunday in the second slalom]," Head Coach Patrick Riml said. "I'm totally happy with their improvement in their focus, their work and especially with how they're bringing their skiing in training into the races...

"Koz was solid on the top," he said, "and she's made some adjustments with her boots, so she is skiing better. She knows this was not her best but it was a good one and it's positive, so...

"Julia has skied so well - slalom and GS - in training and today she brought it into the race and skied strong on both runs. That first run was nothing super special and she could see that with a normal run Julia could be top 10, so that is a big step forward," Riml said. "She knows she has more to give but this shows her she can ski at that level."

Riml said the organizers "did a great job. The course was excellent - hard and grippy. Lindsey couldn't have come from 48th to 13th in that first run if it weren't so good.

"This was our first World Cup and it's been so good. The organizers are pleased we're here and we're glad to be racing here. It's a great hill and I hope we come back."

The women run another slalom Sunday - "the girls are excited to be racing here again," Riml said - and then have a weekend off before World Cup Finals March 10-14 in Sestriere, Italy. The top 25 skiers in any discipline plus the world junior champion go to Finals; for the U.S. Ski Team, Koznick (eighth in SL points), Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO - 17th in slalom), and Stiegler (20th) are headed for Finals and Mancuso has an outside chance, depending on how she skis Sunday. In addition, Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME), as a 400-plus points skier, is qualified for Finals but is sidelined for the end of the season with injuries.

WOMEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Women's Slalom

1. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 1:49.12
2. Elisabeth Goergl, Austria, 1:49.30
3. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:49.45
4. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:49.50
5. Kristina Koznick, Eagan, Minn., 1:50.60

10. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, Calif., 1:51.04
17. Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, Wyo., 1:52.23

DQ-2: Lindsey Kildow, Vail, Colo.

— Courtesy of US Ski Team