Austria's Benjamin Raich celebrates his win Sunday after the men's World Cup opening slalom event in Levi, Finland. ((Alessandro Trovati/Associated Press))
Last year's overall champion Benjamin Raich of Austria skied to a commanding victory Sunday in a World Cup slalom opener in Levi, Finland, that featured two Top 10 finishes by Canadians.
Raich had the best times in both runs and was more than a half-second ahead of Sweden's Markus Larsson, with Italy's Giorgio Rocca third. American Bode Miller, the 2005 World Cup overall winner, did not make the Top 30 in the first run.
Raich, the reigning world and Olympic slalom champion, was timed in one minute 42.13 seconds down Black course.
''It's my first win in the first race of the season so I'm very happy,'' he said. ''You never know before, even though we had good training.''
Whistler's Janyk, Canmore's Grandi in Top 10
Michael Janyk of Whistler, B.C., finished seventh with a combined time of 1:43.57 while Thomas Grandi of Canmore, Alta., was another second back in eighth place.
Ottawa's Patrick Biggs finished 19th, an impressive result as he started the first run in 53rd. Paul Stutz of Banff, Alta., finished 31st and just missed qualifying for the second run.
''It's a strong start for the team, close to having four guys in the Top 30,'' said men's team coach Paul Kristofic. ''It's important to start strong and get the momentum going early in the season.
''The other groups within the Canadian alpine ski team can feed off these results; it challenges everyone to step up to the plate.''
In other results Sunday, Jean-Philippe Roy of Ste-Flavie, Que., and Toronto's Scott Barrett did not finish the first of two runs.
Course 'wasn't easy,' Raich says
Raich earned his 11th slalom victory and 24th overall. He also has nine giant slalom and four combined wins.
''The course was in perfect condition, but it wasn't easy. It was icy,'' Raich Said. ''My second run was perfect. It was very smooth. I had a lot of fun.''
Larsson, who won the slalom finale last year, finished 0.62 seconds behind. Rocca trailed Raich by 0.03 seconds after the opening run and finished 0.77 behind. StÃ©phane Tissot of France was fourth, 1.12 back.
''I liked the course. It was icy and hard,'' Larsson said. ''It was great to get a good result at the start of the season. I was a little bit uncertain before the opening race.''
Rocca had a sensational start in 2005, winning the first five races. He eventually won the World Cup slalom title despite a sluggish finish.
''I'm not in my best shape and I have a problem with my foot,'' Rocca said. ''I couldn't ski the way I wanted in the second run.''
Le cirque blanc ouvre ses portes ce week-end à Levi en Finlande, qui était initialement prévu à Sölden (Autriche) fin octobre. C'est au tour des hommes de s'élancer pour un slalom aujourd'hui (après les femmes hier avec un podium autrichien : Marlies Schild devançant ses compatriotes Nicole Hosp et Kathrin Zettel).

Tous les favoris sont présents à commencer par Giorgio Rocca, Benjamin Raich ou Thomas Grandi.