Schneider Is Slalom Winner Despite Fall

Defending World Cup ski champion Vreni Schneider of Switzerland, who fell on her first run of the season, turned in two flawless runs to win the women’s slalom Saturday.

Schneider, coming off the best season in the history of the World Cup tour with 14 victories last year, negotiated the 427-meter course in 47.77 seconds on her first run and in 46.88 on her second for a total of 1:34.65.

She easily beat Monika Maierhofer of Austria, who was timed in 48.26 on her first run and 47.71 on her second for a total of 1:35.97.

Schneider, in her season debut Friday, fell in her first giant slalom run.