Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) finished sixth Saturday to lead four U.S. women into the top 16 in the first World Cup slalom of the season. Croatian Janica Kostelic, returning after a year on the sidelines following thyroid and knee surgery, won by 1.27 seconds despite light but steady snow throughout the final run.

Despite flat light, Kostelic had the fastest second run to win in 1:43.70 with defending World Cup champion Anja Paerson of Sweden second at 1:41.97. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, who won Friday's giant slalom, completed the podium; Friday, it was Poutiainen, Paerson and Kostelic.

For Kostelic, who won four Olympic medals - three of them gold - at Salt Lake City, it was a dramatic return after surgery to remove her thyroid a year ago and additional knee surgery.

Koznick finished in 1:45.97 with Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) 10th, Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) 11th and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) 16th. The women run another slalom Sunday to complete the Aspen Winternational.

"It was a rodeo. It was crazy," Koznick said of the second run, which was held in light snow and flat light. "I need to come out [Sunday] and go as fast as I can, and make my first run a lot better."

Good start spot helps Mancuso
Mancuso, who tied her best World Cup result in slalom, drew a comparison with starting 30th in the first run. "The course conditions for me were very different because, for me, I started second the second run [in the flip-30 format after finishing 29th in the morning slalom] and it was a lot smoother, and I could let it run. I couldn't really take my own line on my first run and the groove was pretty hard, and I was jamming it into the groove, and it was pretty slow. So, the second run I knew I could take my own line and I knew that I could let it fly."

She added, "I never started in the first group of 30, so coming into the race I was pretty sure I would have a good run. When I got to the finish I knew I would really have to work for this...I knew I would really have to charge it on the second run. I need to get better on those first runs."

Schleper was feeling better after having fallen Friday in the GS. "My equipment is dialed-in now and it took that first race to see what we needed to do," she said. "I knew I was skiing pretty well and that first run kind of shocked me. Sometimes I do that. I just get real tight and don't take the chances I should take. And then second run I tried to take more chances and that worked."

Coach likes aggressive show
Coach Patrick Riml said the snow conditions were "great" and while the flat light was troublesome, "It was the same for everyone, so that's fair...The first run was okay - they skied okay; they didn't really attack it too much...and then second run they went for it."

He liked the way Stiegler continued to battle after nearly missing a gate at the top. "She never stops fighting; she makes a mistake and she forgets about it, and then keeps fighting on," Riml said. He not only was pleased with the four top U.S. racers but was happy to see the others fighting hard. "They attacked, which is good, for sure. They made too many little mistakes, but they'll be going for it again [Sunday].

WOMEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Aspen Winternational
Aspen, CO - Nov. 27, 2004

Women's Slalom
1. Janica Kostelic, Croatia, 1:43.70
2. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:44.97
3. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 1:45.02

6. Kristina Koznick, Eagan, Minn., 1:45.97
10. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, Calif., 1:46.99
11. Sarah Schleper, Vail, Colo., 1:47.11
16. Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, Wyo. 1:47.55

Did not qualify for 2nd run:
Lindsey Kildow, Vail, Colo.; Lauren Ross, Stowe, Vt.; Kaylin Richardson, Edina, Minn.; and Jessica Kelley, Starksboro, Vt.

— Courtesy of US Ski Team