Rebensburg wins World Cup GS title

SCHLADMING, Austria - The Associated Press

Viktoria Rebensburg holds the giant slalom globe after winning in Schladming.

Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany underlined her status as skiing’s leading giant slalomer by winning the World Cup discipline title for a second straight year yesterday.

The Olympic GS champion dominated the season-ending race, in which overall champion Lindsey Vonn failed to break the 2,000-point record for one season. The American, who had 1,980 points, needed to finish 12th or better to overtake Austrian great Hermann Maier’s 12-year-old best mark. “I fought hard for it. A bummer it didn’t work out,” said Vonn, who did set a women’s record Saturday by overtaking Janica Kostelic’s 1,970 points.

Vonn ended the opening run in 16th position, and was unable to improve on that after losing her right pole at the start of the final run. She did well to safely guide her way trough the gates at the steep middle part of the hill but finished 4 seconds off the lead in 24th.

Finishing runner-up to Rebensburg underlined Vonn’s growing strength in giant slalom. “Second place means I’ve made a huge step,” Vonn said.