Abtenau, Austria (Thursday, January 30, 2003) - Stephani Victor (Park City, UT) took a win in the first of seven disabled World Cup races in Abtenau Thursday winning a slalom.

The U.S. Ski Team was strong in the first run with both Victor and Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, CO) in first, with Lacey Heward (Park City, UT) and Monte Meier (Hastings, MN) both second. A more difficult second run course and deteriorating conditions took its soll, with Jones and Meier falling back. Jones ended up fourth and Meier sixth. Heward ended up second, closing the gap to .09.

"It was a great day for us to open the World Cup over here," said Coach Kevin Jardine. "We're looking forward to racing in the GS -- the first-day jitters are over and they're ready to turn it on.

Racing continues Friday with the giant slalom.