MARIBOR, Slovenia, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Sweden's Anja Paerson won her fourth race of the season on Saturday, beating her Austrian rival Nicole Hosp by over a second in the giant slalom.
Paerson finished with a combined time of two minutes, 24.63 seconds for her two runs.
The reigning slalom world champion delighted with her latest victory in an event in which it took her four years to win her first race.
"In the first run I was surprised I was so fast because I made several mistakes, but it would seem the victory last Sunday has given me a great push and I was really relaxed today," Paerson said. "I now feel able to aim for medals in both technical events in three weeks in St Moritz."
German veteran Martina Ertl reached her first podium of the season in the event, but was still well behind Paerson, a winner in Cortina d'Ampezzo last week.
Italy's Karen Putzer, who came in fifth, increased her lead on Switzerland's Sonja Nef in the giant slalom World Cup standings. Nef, a winner here last year, almost crashed near the finish line and had to be content with 11th place.
Janica Kostelic, despite being roared on by thousands of fans from nearby Croatia, could only manage 23rd, 2.73 seconds behind the winner.
Sunday's slalom here is the last women's race before the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
