ZWIESEL, Germany — Marlies Schild of Austria won a World Cup slalom on Friday for her fifth victory of the season, while Lindsey Vonn missed the race because of a concussion.
Schild moved from third to first with a fast second run for a combined time of 1 minute, 55.19 seconds in foggy conditions and strong wind atop the Arber course.
Veronika Zuzulova of Slovakia was second in 1:55.87 for her best career finish. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland was third. Overall leader Maria Riesch of Germany did not finish.
Vonn decided to skip the race, although she was cleared by doctors Friday.
“I got up this morning, prepared to race, but after a few warm-up runs, I wasn’t feeling confident on my skis,” she said. “Normally, I can fight through injuries, but head injuries are different. You can’t just grit your teeth and go.
“I’ll go through my normal routine (today). . . . If things feel more normal, I’m hoping to start the giant slalom.”
Vonn suffered a concussion in a crash Wednesday while practicing a giant slalom in Austria.
Vonn will not lose any ground in the overall race on rival and friend Riesch. The German, who leads Vonn by 145 points, crashed in the first heat on the foggy course.
“It’s always upsetting to fall,” Riesch said. “I didn’t get into a good rhythm at the top. But I am not going to let myself be bothered by this small setback. I know I will be back stronger.”
American Julia Mancuso also skipped the slalom to concentrate on the giant slalom in practice before the world championships next week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Canadians sweep skicross
PARK CITY, Utah — Skicross racers Chris Del Bosco and Kelsey Serwa helped Canada enjoy a big day at the Freestyle World Ski Championships by sweeping gold medals and securing world championships in skicross for their native country.
Del Bosco, a Colorado native, earned the No. 1 seed in qualifying and finished first in three of the four rounds he raced in to claim the men’s title. Finland’s Jouni Pellinen finished second.
Serwa completed the sweep after taking advantage of the top three women’s seeds losing in earlier rounds. Compatriot Jaime Murray was second.
