ALPINE SKIING, WORLD CUP. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany - The Czech Republic on Sunday won the alpine skiing team event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, beating Switzerland in the final. The event at the alpine ski finale in the German winter sport resort saw two men and two women skiers compete against another country in four one-on-one races.

Czech Republic takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

The competition involved four skiers from each nation - two men and two women - who competed individually against each other in a parallel slalom format. Each win is worth one point. The fastest time is used as a tiebreaker.

German alpine ski director Wolgang Maier said that the new format was a good one. "Sportingly it is a challenge, athlete against athlete. At the end, you see who is first," he said.

German Felix Neureuther, who on Saturday won a World Cup event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, said that he enjoyed the new format. "The competition is definitely much better than it used to be."

The Czech team of Sarka Zahrobska, Ondrej Bank, Lucie Hrstkova and Krystof Kryzl took first place ahead of Switzerland and Austria.

DPA
Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:04:04 GMT

Atmosphere during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Atmosphere during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Atmosphere during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Team Czech republic takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nations Team Event on March 14, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 13, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

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