Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) earned her first World Cup podium in two seasons Sunday, finishing third in the Aspen slalom behind winner Tanja Poutiainen of Finland. Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) was 15th, while Lauren Ross (Stowe, VT) scored her first World Cup points, finishing 23rd.

Saturday's winner, Croatian Janica Kostelic led the first run, but went out in the second. It was the second win of the weekend for Poutiainen, who finished in 1:50.77 with Manuela Moelgg of Italy second (1:51.98). Snow fell throughout the opening run but it was sunny and clear for the final run.

Koznick, fourth in the first run, was timed in 1:52.14 for her first top-3 since winning a slalom March 15, 2003 on the Olympic course in Hafjell, outside Lillehammer, Norway. Schleper's time was 1:54.16 with Ross - starting 57th in the ragged first run which was staged in a snowstorm - timed in 1:55.38.

Koznick was troubled throughout the 2004 season after dislocating a hip on the eve of the season opener. "I wasn't loving what I was doing," she said. Now, she's happy again and with a fourth in the first giant slalom of the season plus this podium, "I'm excited for this season..."

"When I start the season well, in the past, I have a consistent year," she explained, adjusting her ski hat with the new LAKE PLACID sponsor logo. "I'm excited for the next race," she said.

Schleper said, "I'm hoping to get better and better as the chase goes on. Obviously, I'm not satisfied with this result - it's nowhere where I want to be," she said.

Ross, starting at the back and knowing she had to battle her way through deteriorating conditions and flat light, said she focused and charged through the first run. "I knew it would happen eventually," she said, "but I wasn't really super confident coming into these slaloms. I'm not sure why. I've been skiing well in training but..."

"We saw some good skiing out there," said U.S. Coach Trevor Wagner. "Koz skied solidly and for someone who didn't ski for about two months this fall while resting her back, Sarah was outstanding. She hasn't had a lot of slalom training, so this was impressive...and for Lauren, it's awesome. She did such a great job fighting down in that first run, skiing it smart. It was incredible."

The next women's races are two downhills and a super G Friday through next Sunday in Lake Louise, in the Canadian Rockies west of Calgary.

WOMEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Aspen Winternational
Aspen, CO - Nov. 28, 2004

1. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 1:50.77
2. Manuela Moelgg, Italy, 1:51.98
3. Kristina Koznick, Eagan, Minn., 1:52.14

15. Sarah Schleper, Vail, Colo., 1:54.16
23. Lauren Ross, Stowe, Vt., 1:55.38

DNGF-2:
Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, Calif.

Did not qualify for 2nd run:
Jessica Kelley, Starksboro, Vt.; Lindsey Kildow, Vail, Colo.; Kaylin Richardson, Edina, Minn.,; Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

— Courtesy of US Ski Team