25th National Competition Youth and Mountains

Today, January 11, 2014, the jubilee 25th National Competition Youth and Mountains for primary school students took place at OŠ Braslovče. The competitors of the Planinske muhe team from Idrija (OŠ Idrija, PD Idrija) showed the most knowledge and convincingly won. The 26th Youth and Mountains competition will thus take place for the first time in Idrija next year.



In Braslovče, 28 best teams from all over Slovenia competed in this National Youth and Mountains Competition, which qualified from 80 teams at the regional competitions on November 9, 2013. The Youth and Mountains competition is always organized under the auspices of the PZS Youth Commission, and the co-organizers of the final, i.e., national competition are the mountaineering association and primary school from where last year's winners come; this time it was the second time for PD Dobrovlje Braslovče and OŠ Braslovče. Other co-organizers were Zavod za šport RS Planica and the Alpine Association of Slovenia.



After the cultural program in which students from OŠ Braslovče participated, the young people were greeted on behalf of the organizers by Bojan Rotovnik, President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Toni Ramšak, President of PD Dobrovlje Braslovče, Matej Ogorevc, President of the PZS Youth Commission, and Andreja Zupan, Principal of OŠ Braslovče; they also wished them successful competition, relaxed socializing, and safe steps in the future from Manja Rajh, President of the Savinja Inter-Association Board of Mountaineering Associations, Branimir Strojanšek, Mayor of the Municipality of Braslovče, Gašper Plestenjak from Zavod za šport RS Planica, and Brigita Čeh, coordinator of the Youth and Mountains competition.



Teams of four students from 6th to 9th grade first wrote the eagerly awaited written tests, on which the young people showed their knowledge acquired on mountaineering hikes and through year-long (or multi-year) work in mountaineering clubs. This year's National Youth and Mountains Competition was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of organized mountaineering in Slovenia, celebrated by the Alpine Association of Slovenia, successor to the Slovenian Mountaineering Association, in 2013.



The top 6 teams qualified for the final part of the national competition, which took place in the form of a quiz – teams answered questions from mountaineering knowledge of the Mountaineering School, including history, additional topics, meteorology..., and they also had to demonstrate practical knowledge of first aid, safer movement in mountains in winter, knot making. The members of the following teams competed for the title of national champions: Rostfraj radiatorji (OŠ Slivnica pri Celju, PD Slivnica pri Celju), Planinske muhe (OŠ Idrija, PD Idrija), Planinska mafija (OŠ Toneta Tomšiča Knežak, PD Snežnik Ilirska Bistrica), Bistri norčki (OŠ Gorje, PD Gorje), Krompirjev hribovc (OŠ Šenčur, PD Kranj), and last year's winners, the locals Nepredvidljivi (OŠ Braslovče, PD Dobrovlje Braslovče). In the tense final, they had to show a lot of mountaineering knowledge, and even after the tenth, last question, the battle for first place was undecided. In the additional part, Planinske muhe and Nepredvidljivi competed, where both teams knew the additional questions like from a cannon. Only the extra-time knot, which all members of both teams had to make, decided the winner. The victory went to Idrija, where the 26th national Youth and Mountains competition will take place next year. Third place went to the Kranj team (Krompirjev hribovc), fourth Rostfraj radiatorji, fifth Planinska mafija, and sixth Bistri norčki.



The winners received participation in a mountaineering camp at the Mountaineering Education Center Bavšica organized by the PZS Youth Commission for first place, the best teams cups and medals, and all teams practical prizes.



STATEMENTS:

The winners Barbara Čibej, Ana Petkovšek, Andrej Rjavec, and Luka Jesenko, along with their mentors Marija Bončina and Nace Breitenberger, were overjoyed with the victory after several second places. About the competition in Braslovče and their expectations and preparations, the young people said: "At the beginning, we didn't expect such a result as it turned out in the end. However, we definitely believed in the victory, during the final we encouraged each other that we can do it and that we want it. The extra-time knot we had to make at the end is not difficult, but our hands were shaking a bit from excitement, but since we had learned it well before, there were no problems. The mentors prepared us a lot for the competition, at agreed meetings they asked us questions to which we diligently answered. On Saturday before the national competition, we had all-day preparations. However, we have been attending the mountaineering club and hikes, camps for many years anyway. Hiking is especially great, more demanding paths are even more interesting."

Mentor Breitenberger said: "The content of the Mountaineering School is very extensive and it is impossible for the young to know everything planned in the Mountaineering School book. They acquire the most knowledge, especially from theory to practice, in mountaineering clubs, hikes, winter camps, camps – which we have been organizing since 1977... Everything they master is an investment for them, for their future hill climbing. We infect them, I hope, with going to the mountains and behaving in nature as everyone would like. This is an investment in the future. It's great if they succeed in the competition, but that was never my first goal. I tried to make them understand, besides motivating them, that what they take away for themselves, for their future mountaineering and for life in general is most valuable." The mentor also said: "We have achieved several second places in this competition, and once we also won, so next year the National Competition will be in Idrija for the first time. I am very happy with the victory because this year is the 25th National Youth and Mountains Competition and because this year I celebrate 44 years of working with youth."



During the breaks in the final, the playful dancers of the Mavrica dance group led by mentor Zina Vovk from Vrtca Braslovče performed, and the best in the literary-art competition were also announced (the best works came from OŠ Belokranjskega odreda Semič and OŠ Idrija) as well as the winner of the prize question about the hidden guest, who this time was Klemen Triler, mountain runner, ultramarathoner, representative in competitive ski mountaineering, and great mountain lover. Triler was the previous record holder on the Slovenian Mountain Trail, which he ran in 2012 in 8 days 14 hours and 45 minutes. To the question of whether he will break last year's record of Marjan Zupančič (7 days 14 h 44 min) this year, he said: "The decision whether I will set out again on our transverzala will be made in February or March, as I need to consult very carefully with my doctor." With his short but inspiring story and example, he certainly encouraged the enthusiastic young mountaineers to continue their mountaineering enthusiasm.



President of PD Dobrovlje Braslovče Toni Ramšak summed up the impressions of this national competition: "We are glad that the competition was with us in Braslovče. The hardest part was obtaining sponsorship funds, so I thank all sponsors who helped us at this point. Without the dedication of our hardworking members, especially the entire Kumer family, this competition would not have happened. Finally, praise to all competitors and their mentors, keep it up!"

School principal Andreja Zupan said: "What we set ourselves at our school, we also do. So we also assembled a team for this competition, had meetings, and strong support from PD Dobrovlje Braslovče. I am glad that our students and also children from the kindergarten are involved in mountaineering. Mountaineering, mountaineering hikes are their passion. These hardworking and diligent children are mostly like that in other areas too, which teachers, school, and parents only wish for. Congratulations to all and good luck."

Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Braslovče Tone Rupnik emphasized that "we are glad for the new success of our team, which achieved 2nd place. We are honored that the national competition took place exactly in our place. Thanks to all for such good organization. To the young mountaineers, I wish that they take care of and respect our mountains and love them further."



Coordinator of the Youth and Mountains competition Brigita Čeh was also very satisfied with the course of the competition. She praised the organizers – the school and the mountaineering association, which cooperated excellently in the organization and prepared a really pleasant and excellently organized competition. At the end, she also said: "Slovenians are truly a mountaineering nation, interest in mountaineering and the Youth and Mountains competition is increasing from year to year. Teams come well prepared with a lot of mountaineering knowledge, which they acquire from an early age, so they can implement their mountaineering knowledge on hikes and their step is always safe with safe return home. Great thanks to all participants, and to all competitors: See you in the fall at regional competitions and in 2015 at the already 26th national Youth and Mountains competition in Idrija, good luck, and may your step safely lead you wherever you walk in our or foreign mountains!"