Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) had trouble near the end of her second run Saturday - "I kinda just ran out of gas" - and settled reluctantly for 10th place Saturday in the first World Cup slalom of the new season while Anja Paerson of Sweden registered her second victory in 24 hours at the Chevy Truck America's Opening at Park City Mountain Resort.

ESPN will broadcast coverage of the race Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. EST.

Paerson, who won Friday's giant slalom at PCMR by more than 1.4 seconds, captured the slalom - the 13th victory of her career - by 1.14 seconds. Her winning time was 1:33.74 with Swiss star Sonja Nef second (1:34.88).

Koznick, coming back from a hip injury that sidelined her for the season opener five weeks ago in Soelden, Austria, was third after the first run on CB's despite flat light and tough visibility. "The light was flat on rthe first run and then the sun was coming in and out on the second run," she said.

Mixed emotions for Koznick
Looking for the seventh victory of her World Cup career, Koznick finished in 1:36.07 with Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) 27th and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) 28th. Stiegler, however, won't receive any World Cup points because she was 31 seconds behind Paerson after hiking a gate to complete her second run.

"I'm disappointed because I skied really well in the second run. I know I did," said Koznick. Noting it was just her third day of running slalom since the mishap, she added, "I kinda just ran out of gas. I haven't been able to workout the last six weeks or so with my hip.

"I threw my skis up there [to slow down]. I got more out of 'em than I was expecting, and I knew I lost a lot of my time, but I told myself 'You BETTER finish this race.' I'm disappointed making that kind of a big mistake but, y'know, finishing 10th with a mistake like that - I'll take it for the first slalom of the season."

U.S. Head Coach Patrick Riml said, "We saw a lot of positive things today. The way Kristina skied the first run after that whole thing with her injury - that first run where the light was flat and she finished third, that was great. The second run was not so easy, the snow got bumpy and rutty, and she got a little too far back out of the hairpin, but that happens. It was still a really good day and after missing all those days - hey - this was a good one for her.

Resi Stiegler celebrates as she qualifies for the second run while Kristina Koznick smiles for her 10th as Uncle E speaks with back-to-back winner Anja Paerson. (U.S. Ski Team/Tom Kelly)

Coach counts positive points
"A couple of more days of training and Kristina's going to have her confidence back even more," Riml said, "and it's only getting better from here. And Sarah, she was the only one who was going to challenge Paerson on that first run - she was flying - but then she had that mistake and it was over, but she's skiing so fast, too."

He would have liked better results from Mancuso and Stiegler, he said, "but this is just the start. These are young skiers and they're going to get better. And Kaylin Richardson [Edina, MN - who missed qualifying for a second run by.07] had an excellent run - there were many positives today."

The women have Chevy Truck Super Series giant slaloms Sunday and Monday at Park City Mountain Resort. The World Cup resumes Friday in Lake Louise, west of Calgary, with two downhills and a super G.

Women's Slalom

1. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:33.74
2. Sonja nef, Switzerland, 1:34.88
3. Marlies Schild, Austria, 1:35.15

10. Kristina Koznick, Eagan, Minn., 1:36.07
27. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, Calif., 1:39.29
28. Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, Wyo., 2:05.26

Did not qualify for 2nd run: Kaylin Richardson, Edina, Minn.; Lindsey Kildow, Burnsville, Minn.; Jessica Kelley, Starksboro, Vt.
DNF-1: Sarah Schleper, Vail, Colo.

— Courtesy of US Ski Team