 Zettel finally took top spot in Aspen |
Austria's Kathrin Zettel took the first World Cup win of her career in the opening giant slalom of the Alpine skiing season in Aspen, Colorado. Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, Olympic silver medallist in the discipline, led the first leg on the Lower Ruthies Run in perfect conditions.
But she had to settle for second ahead of Austrian Michaela Kirchgasser.
Olympic giant slalom champion Julia Mancuso, skiing on home snow, could manage only seventh place.
Zettel, 20, showed her potential last season with three second places and four third-place finishes.
She also took third in this month's opening slalom, and reached the top of the podium on Saturday with a combined time of two minutes 16.10 seconds.
"I don't think I can find the right words to express my feelings," said Zettel, the junior world slalom champion in 2004. "This is a dream come true for me."
Sweden's Anja Paerson, who won the World Cup giant slalom title last season, launched her defence by crashing out on the first run, when she caught a gate.
Austria's Marlies Schild, who won the slalom event at Levi, also failed to qualify for the second run.
Women's World Cup giant slalom, Aspen:
1. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 2:16.10
2. Tanja Poutiainen (Fin) 2:16.38
3. Michaela Kirchgasser (Aut) 2:16.68
4. Nicole Hosp (Aut) 2:16.88
5. Maria Pietilae-Holmner (Swe) 2:18.15
6. Kathrin Hoelzl (Ger) 2:19.20
7. Julia Mancuso (US) 2:19.22
8. Anna Ottosson (Swe) 2:19.24
9. Denise Karbon (Ita) 2:19.32
10. Manuela Moelgg (Ita) 2:19.45
Overall World Cup standings:
1 Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 160pts
2 Nicole Hosp (Aut) 130
3 Marlies Schild (Aut) 100
4 Tanja Poutiainen (Fin) 98
5 Michaela Kirchgasser (Aut) 96
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