Finland celebrate historic triumph
LEVI, Finland -- Tanja Poutiainen marked an historic day for Finnish Alpine skiing with victory in a World Cup slalom race on Saturday.
The first World Cup race to be held in Finland attracted thousands of fans to the picture postcard venue deep in the Arctic Circle -- with a temperature of minus 23 degrees Celsius .
And they were rewarded as local favorite Poutiainen won in one minute 49.12 seconds. It was also the first World Cup victory of her career.
Overall World Cup leader Anja Paerson, winner of six of the previous seven slaloms this season, had a rare day off as she finished fourth.
Elisabeth Goergl of Austria was second with 1:49.30 and Germany's Maria Riesch was third with 1:49.45.
"This is a dream come true," an emotional Poutiainen said in the finish area after holding her nerve with a solid second run to protect her advantage from the first leg.
"I was so pleased when I found out they would hold a World Cup race here because this is my home ground. I'm so happy to get my first victory in Finland in front of my home fans."
Paerson, untouchable at the top of the slalom standings, was not too worried about missing the podium.
"I can't ski my best every day," said the Swede who still bolstered her lead at the top of the overall standings from Renate Goetschl.
Paerson held a 123-point advantage before the race and with the Austrian speed specialist failing to make the halfway cut she widened the gap with another slalom to come on Sunday.
Maria Riesch's third place was her first podium in the technical events, the 19-year-old German underlining her emergence as future challenger for the overall title.
