Oester joint winner in World Cup slalom

Oester is jubilant after the first win in her career Keystone

Switzerland's Marlies Oester and American Kristina Koznick shared victory in Sunday's World Cup slalom in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

Oester’s triumphant run marked the first win in her career. The 25-year old skier, whose previous best was a second place in Sestriere in 1996, was only ninth after the first run, 1.40 seconds behind Sweden’s Anja Paerson. But she made a remarkable comeback in the second leg, completed in 1:56.30, to tie with Koznick.

The first-leg leader, Paerson, crashed out on the second run, after setting the fastest time at the halfway point of the second run.

“I didn’t even notice Paerson’s mistake,” said a jubilant Oester. “I just thought that Paerson would definitely win the race.”

Sunday’s win ranks Adelboden-born Oester in sixth place in the overall slalom standings.

Sonja Nef, who finished fourth in the women’s giant slalom race on Saturday, completed the slalom in 1:57.67, landing her in eleventh place. Nef is placed second in the overall World Cup standings, with two victories in the giant slalom under her belt.

Switzerland’s Corrine Rey Bellet finished fifth in Saturday’s race, while team mate Fränzi Aufdenblatten came in sixth.

Cuche crashes out of slalom

Neuchatel’s Didier Cuche failed to qualify for the second leg of the men’s slalom in Kitzbuhel on Sunday.

“I am disappointed, because I could have made it to the podium if I’d handled the top part of the race course better,” said Cuche. “I couldn’t maintain a steady course. I was too eager at the start, like a frightened horse…”

Cuche is ranked fourth in the overall standings, after finishing sixth in Saturday’s classic Streif downhill race. Austria’s Stephan Eberharter leads the rankings, followed by Kjetil-Andre Aamodt of Norway.

Daniel Défago was the only Swiss skier to make it through to the second leg of the slalom, finishing 23rd, 2:13 minutes behind the winner, Austria’s Rainer Schönfelder.

“I would have preferred having a result like this one earlier in the season,” said Défago, who won his first points of the season on Sunday.

swissinfo with agencies