Nef retains giant slalom title

Nef won bronze at the Salt Lake City Olympics

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Swiss skier Sonja Nef won the final giant slalom event of the season in Flachau to secure the World Cup title.

Nef, who led women's overall champion Michaela Dorfmesiter by 20 points heading into the race, was never seriously threatened.

She came down the testing Austrian slope in 1.21:08 on her first run to put her in pole position.

She led by 1.01 seconds, with Dorfmeister down in sixth place 1.87 seconds behind Nef.

It is fantastic to get it for the second time in a row.

Sonja Nef

Nef kept her cool on her second run to win by 0.84 seconds with Sweden's Anna Ottosson second and Finland's Tanja Poutiainen third.

"I just hoped I could make it down," Nef said. "I was a bit nervous. I definitely wanted this crown. It is fantastic to get it for the second time in a row."

Dormeister was down in sixth.

Nef ended the season on 574 points with Dorfmeister 80 points behind her.

Dorfmeister was gracious in defeat. "I think she deserves her crown just like I deserve my overall crown," she said.

"I tried to give it my all but I lost too much time in the first run."

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Flachau giant slalom results:

1. Sonja Nef, Switzerland 2:42.96 (1:21.08-1:21.88).
2. Anna Ottosson, Sweden, 2:43.80 (1:22.19-1:21.61).
3. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 2:44.49 (1:22.09-1:22.40).
4. Karen Putzer, Italy, 2:44.69 (1:22.32-1:22.37).
5. Ylva Nowen, Sweden, 2:45.05 (1:22.71-1:22.34).
6. Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria, 2:45.27 (1:22.95-1:22.32).
7. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 2:45.44 (1:23.29-1:22.15).
8. Janica Kostelic, Croatia, 2:45.51 (1:23.10-1:22.41). (tied), Birgit Heeb-Batliner, Liechtenstein, 2:45.51 (1:23.34-1:22.17).
10. Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austria, 2:45.60 (1:23.06-1:22.54).

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