Flachau, Austria –Austrian Marlies Schild took the wire-to-wire win for the 30th Audi FIS Alpine World Cup slalom win of her career Tuesday as World Cup overall leader Lindsey Vonn finished eighth.
“I didn’t ski as aggressive as I wanted to on the first run, but it was a solid run without any big mistakes. I was happy to be in there for a second run,” admitted Vonn. “Slalom is easier now, I feel really comfortable. I felt like I was skiing really well in the first run from Courchevel (France, last weekend) before I went out. I know I can be there, it’s just a matter of skiing more aggressively.”
Vonn, of Vail, Colo.,was the sole U.S. woman to complete both slalom runs on Tuesday. Her fellow Vail resident Sarah Schleper, as well as Jackson Hole, Wyo.’s Resi Stiegler did not qualify for a second run, whileMikaela Shiffrin and Hailey Duke did not finish the first run.
Canada’s Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, finished just behind Vonn in ninth for her first top-10 result of the 2011-12 World Cup season.
“It’s funny. I’m really happy with the result but this year I want more. I keep wanting more,” said Gagnon, who is currently ranked 12th in the world in slalom. “I’m slowly getting my start numbers down. It’s getting really exciting but I know I can do more. I think I still have to learn to really go for it.”
Gagnon’s teammate Erin Mielzynski finished 14th,, while Anna Goodman, of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, failed to qualify for a second run.
Vonn will carry a 554-324 point lead in the overall standings over Schild into the Christmas break, during which she’ll make a guest appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman this Thursday. Women’s World Cup action returns Dec. 28-29 with a giant slalom and slalom in Lienz, Austria.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Flachau, Austria – Dec. 20, 2011
Women’s Slalom
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | FIS Points |
| 1 | 1 | SCHILD Marlies | 1981 | AUT | 55.48 | 56.05 | 1:51.53 | 0.00 |
| 2 | 6 | HOEFL-RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 56.01 | 55.98 | 1:51.99 | 2.52 |
| 3 | 5 | MAZE Tina | 1983 | SLO | 55.77 | 56.58 | 1:52.35 | 4.48 |
| 4 | 4 | ZETTEL Kathrin | 1986 | AUT | 56.54 | 56.29 | 1:52.83 | 7.11 |
| 5 | 9 | NOENS Nastasia | 1988 | FRA | 56.90 | 56.06 | 1:52.96 | 7.82 |
| 6 | 15 | KIRCHGASSER Michaela | 1985 | AUT | 57.44 | 55.98 | 1:53.42 | 10.34 |
| 7 | 8 | BORSSEN Therese | 1984 | SWE | 57.19 | 56.32 | 1:53.51 | 10.83 |
| 8 | 16 | VONN Lindsey | 1984 | USA | 57.29 | 56.25 | 1:53.54 | 10.99 |
| 9 | 21 | GAGNON Marie-Michele | 1989 | CAN | 57.44 | 56.25 | 1:53.69 | 11.81 |
| 10 | 14 | MOELGG Manuela | 1983 | ITA | 56.89 | 56.93 | 1:53.82 | 12.52 |