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PAERSON Anja

Oh, how the ski world is changing. teenager Anja Paerson became the fifth Swedish woman to win a World Cup slalom at Mammoth Mountain. At just 17 years old Anja is one of the youngest skiers ever to celebrate such a success. She upset all the older favorites on a very windy slalom hill at Mammoth, coming back from a slow first run. Anja has been an "up-and' comer" in recent years, winning the junior World GS title in 1998. She also was the Europacup GS champ and got her to the World cup finals at Crans-Montana, Switzerland in March. She finished 25th in the race won by Alexandra Meissnitzer. Half a year later, the Swede scored her first points in that event when she came in 13th at Soelden, Austria.

Paerson, along with fellow teenager Janica Kostelic of Croatia, are part of the next wave of talented youngsters on the World Cup. Anja grew up in Tarnaby, in northern Sweden, a resort famous as the home of the great Ingemar Stenmark. She was coached by her father who also trained the national team. A very confident skier, Anja excels on intermediate racing hills but she still needs to master her aggressiveness. She skied out in both technical races at the 1999 World Championships in Vail in skiing as fast as possible. Then she was 3rd in the final slalom World Cup standings.

She is fond of music, especially rhythm and blues, and plays guitar. Anja is also an all-around athlete playing football(soccer) and volley ball. While she is relaxed and friendly, Anja Paerson has the "guts" to become the skier to beat in slalom.

Patrick Lang