Zahrobska retains Aspen slalom crown

Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic celebrates in the finish area after she won the women's World Cup Slalom ski race in Aspen, Colorado November29, 2009.

ASPEN, Colorado (Reuters) - Czech Sarka Zahrobska retained her Aspen slalom crown on Sunday and took the second World Cup win of her career.

The 2007 world champion crushed the opposition by more than a second in a first run held in extreme conditions then retained her lead in the afternoon for a combined winning time of one minute and 43.45 seconds.

Zahrobska, 24, beat the Austrian pair of Marlies Schild and Kathrin Zettel, who finished 0.58 and 0.77 seconds adrift respectively.

"I heard there was some controversy that the first run was too hard, too icy, too technical, but it suited me fine. I felt at home in the first and in the second runs," said Zahrobska, who also won silver at the 2009 worlds in Val d'Isere.

The icy course on the first run caused some problems and 24 skiers failed to make it to the bottom.

For Schild, who missed the 2008-2009 season through injury, this was her first podium placing since March 2008.

"It was sheer emotion and I struggled to hold the tears back," she told reporters.

"When I realized I was on the podium, it all came back to me. The hard times and the suffering," added the Austrian, who won one of her 20 career World Cup wins in Aspen three years ago.

Zettel's podium finish, her third this season, meant she seized the overall World Cup lead on a day when her main rivals faltered.

Finn Tanja Poutiainen, the previous overall leader, did not start because of a back injury.

It was a barren weekend for Lindsey Vonn, who slid out of contention in the morning run having failed to qualify for Saturday's giant slalom second leg after hitting a rock.

The American 2008 and 2009 World Cup winner left Aspen without a point, a disappointment she will be eager to avenge next weekend in Lake Louise in her favorite speed events.

(Editing by Alison Wildey)