Norwegian skier Loeseth leads World Cup slalom after 1st run
SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy (AP) Norwegian skier Nina Loeseth posted the fastest time in the opening run of a women's World Cup slalom on Tuesday.
Chasing her first career win, Loeseth timed 58.70 seconds on the Deborah Campagnoni course to hold a 0.25-second lead over Charlotte Chable of Switzerland, who started 28th.
Former world champion Sarka Strachova of Czech Republic trailed by 0.33 in third.
''I was a bit nervous. It was my first time starting No. 1,'' Loeseth said. ''It was a stable run, no mistakes.''
Loeseth has three career podium finishes, most recently in last month's giant slalom in Courchevel, France. She said she will have to attack in the final leg to land her maiden victory.
''I have to push harder in the second run,'' she said. ''I am a very safe skier. I have to challenge myself to ski more on the limits.''
Chable is competing in only her 10th World Cup race. She scored points just twice, placing ninth in a slalom in Aspen, Colorado, in November. No Swiss skier has won a women's World Cup slalom in 14 years.
Many favorites struggled in the opening run. Frida Hansdotter of Sweden had 0.97 to make up in the second run, while Petra Vlhova of Slovakia slid off course and failed to finish. Hansdotter leads the discipline standings, 100 points clear of Vlhova.
Wendy Holdener of Switzerland, who was runner-up to Hansdotter in Lienz, Austria, last week, was 1.12 behind in 12th.
The race has been moved from Zagreb because of a lack of snow and mild temperatures in the Croatian resort.
