World Cup Skiing : Figini Wins for Second Straight Day, Takes Points Lead

Michela Figini of Switzerland won a World Cup race for the second consecutive day, finishing first in a super giant slalom at Rossland, Canada.

Figini, whose victory put her atop of the World Cup overall standings with 244 points, was elated by her victory. She dropped her usual reserve and triumphantly raised her arms and hugged Swiss team staff members.

“I’m happy,” she said. “For me this is great. I hope I can continue the way I have been skiing.”

Swiss teammate Brigitte Oertli finished 12th, adding four points, and trails Figini by 18 points.

Figini also won Saturday’s downhill race at Red Mountain, British Columbia, giving her a secure hold on the downhill title.

Ulrike Maier and Anita Wachter of Austria placed second and third in the super giant slalom with times of 1:16:74 and 1:17:02.

Top U.S. finishers were Edith Thys and Hilary Lindh, who placed 25th and 26th, respectively.

Three skiers, including Tracy McEwan of Bellevue, Wash., suffered injuries after crashing at treacherous turns on the 5,500-foot, 39-gate course. McEwan, 21, suffered the most serious injuries, a broken left arm and facial cuts.

Frank Piccard of France won his second super giant slalom in as many races, while Markus Wasmeier of West Germany moved a closer to the World Cup super-G title at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Piccard, 23, the Olympic gold medalist in the super giant slalom, beat Wasmeier by nearly two-tenths of a second on the 41-gate course. Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg finished third after third-place finishes in downhill races Friday and Saturday.

World Cup overall leader Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland won his mini-duel with Italian Alberto Tomba. Zurbriggen was fourth, just ahead of Tomba.

Piccard was timed in 1:45.97, followed by Wasmeier in 1:46.19, Girardelli in 1:46.25, Zurbriggen in 1:46.26 and Tomba in 1:46.42.