Sweden's world champion, Anja Paerson, took the first-run lead Sunday in a World Cup slalom and held off Finland's Tanja Poutiainen for the second win of her career. Kristina Koznick (Burnsville, MN) was 8th with Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO), the only other U.S. skier in the second run, finishing 20th.

Paerson, gold medalist in slalom under the lights at the World Championships last February, but whose only other World Cup victory came in another slalom at Mammoth Mountain three years ago, led the first run by .23 with Poutiainen sitting 11th, .76 behind. Poutiainen then tore through the second run with the fastest time and posted the best result of her career, but she couldn't catch Paerson, whose winning time was 1:32.54.

The Finn's second-place time was 1:32.95 and Swiss racer Sonja Nef rounded out the top three with 1:33.13.

Koznick hung up the third-fastest second run and advanced from 14th to 8th with a total time of 1:33.56. Schleper was 16th in the first run and finished 20th with a time of 1:34.36.

The women head to Val d'Isere for two super Gs and a giant slalom.

— Courtesy, US Ski Team