Medvode-Litija victory at the 35th national competition...

Medvode-Litija victory at the 35th national competition Youth and Mountains.

The title of primary school state champions at the 35th Youth and Mountains competition on January 18 in Pirniče was defended by Planinske brihte (PD Medvode) ahead of Neustrašnimi (PD Dobrovlje Braslovče) in second and Cesarskimi lovci (PD Srednja vas v Bohinju) in third place. Secondary school awards were shared by Oi oi oi Baaaka and Litijska luftarja in first and second place, both from PD Litija, and the pair Stena (PD Idrija) in third.

Do you know how to properly attach an ice axe to a backpack? Can you stop yourself correctly with it? What about putting on a climbing harness, attaching a self-belay set, and tying a bowline knot? Would you recognize Jalovec in a photograph? Do you know how to find the North Star in the night sky? Do you know the alpinist Valentin Stanič? Do you know what the highest award of the PZS Youth Commission is called, how humpy meadows are formed, or how to recognize snow blindness? All this and more is effortlessly recalled by the competitors at the 35th national competition Youth and Mountains, hosted by Primary School Pirniče on the third Saturday in January, where there was a true anthill of young mountaineers and their mentors.



The most established mountain challenge for youth, drawing from knowledge, skills, and experiences in mountaineering activities, prepares primary school students for safer and independent mountain visits, and this year, for the ninth time, secondary school students also demonstrated their knowledge of mountaineering. Youth and Mountains is not just a competition, but also an opportunity for socializing and acquiring lifelong mountaineering knowledge. In the location of last year's winners, where the Saturday vibe was set by admirable mountaineering knowledge and good cheer among around a hundred competitors, the 35th national MIG competition was organized by the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia, the PZS Youth Commission, the Medvode Mountaineering Club, Primary School Pirniče, and the Institute for Sport RS Planica.

To dispel pre-competition nerves, students from OŠ Pirniče provided songs and recitations, and they also helped create the mountaineering scenery in the sports hall. The competitors were encouragingly addressed by the vice-president of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia Roman Ponebšek, deputy mayor of the Municipality of Medvode Mojca Murnik, principal of OŠ Pirniče Damijana Božič Močnik, vice-president of the Youth Council of Slovenia Jan Verovšek, head of the PZS Youth Commission Ana Skledar, and the indispensable Brigita Čeh, who has been the competition coordinator for over 20 years. The hidden guest Viki Grošelj, one of the greatest names in Slovenian and world alpinism, told the young mountaineers about the important mountaineering environment they were competing in—a stone's throw from Šmarna gora, at whose foot Jakob Aljaž was born, and not far from the Turnc climbing area, where Slovenian top alpinism began to develop. He also gifted each participant an English edition of his book Crown of Slovenia.

Three- and four-member primary school teams and two-member secondary school teams started the competition in the morning with tests on mountaineering knowledge, acquired by the youth in mountaineering clubs and through participation in mountaineering. The top six teams advanced to the primary school national competition final, answering quiz questions from the Mountain School and additional material on extreme weather events in 2023. They also had to handle practical tasks on mountain movement—how to properly attach an ice axe to a backpack and the body position for stopping with an ice axe—and night sky orientation using stars.

Nineteen teams competed for the state champion title in the primary school category, with the top six in a live final that was a challenging test of knowledge for all present. Last year's victory was defended by the team Planinske brihte (PD Medvode) ahead of second-placed Neustrašnimi (PD Dobrovlje Braslovče) and Cesarskimi lovci (PD Srednja vas v Bohinju) in third. Fourth place went to Trrrrdi svizci (PD Snežnik Ilirska Bistrica), fifth to Gorski ventilatorji (PD Kamnik), and sixth to Paštete (PD Podnanos).

The title of primary school state champions was defended by Planinske brihte, named by Manja Goslar, Karin Jakša Jovanovski, Sara Mis, and Viktoria Ana Šušteršič. "Although we were determined to win from the start, we still had to try hard, but it was a bit easier than last year. We're of course very happy about the victory!" the eighth-graders beamed before the loud home fans, this year finalists for the third time in the Youth and Mountains competition, convinced that "the knowledge gained here is the most useful you get from competitions." They've upgraded it since last year with more thorough mastery of Mountain School content and past tests, with their mentor providing additional practical help and motivation. All attend the school mountaineering club, one pair hikes a lot with family gaining practical experience, the other pair acquires knowledge more theoretically. "The Youth and Mountains competition seems important to me because the girls gain practical knowledge they can use in the mountains. So they can go to the mountains on their own or still with family, manage situations, and ensure safety, perhaps upgrading their knowledge in the alpine section or as mountain guides," emphasized their proud mentor Mojca Resnik.

At the ninth Youth and Mountains competition for secondary school students in Pirniče, 16 secondary school teams competed. The top seven had to know mountaineering from A to Z in the final, plotting points on a map, putting on a climbing harness and attaching a self-belay set, recognizing ice axe parts, tying a bowline and prusik knot, and recognizing crampons that hinder walking in snowy conditions. Victory was celebrated by the pair Oi oi oi Baaaka (PD Litija), second place went to Litijska luftarja (PD Litija), and third to the team Stena (PD Idrija). Fourth were last year's winners Neustrašna gorska učenjaka (PD Kranj), fifth Pohodni šuh na kvadrat (PD Litija), sixth Gorski podmornici (PD Litija), and seventh Gorska škrata (PD Bled).

The victorious secondary school pair Oi oi oi Baaaka, Nuša Šef and Jurij Cvikl, are old acquaintances of the competition; Nuša was a primary school state champion with her team in 2020, Jurij was part of the third-placed team a year earlier. "There's a strong link between learning, good results, and how long you've been competing, as you build knowledge year by year. The most useful is knowledge of mountain movement, equipment use, and orientation, gathered in the field and applicable at the competition," highlighted the high school seniors, who spend free time in the mountains—Nuša, also a youth leader, prefers high mountains, Jurij is enthusiastic about sport climbing, both having attended mountaineering clubs, excursions, and camps for years. "Through the Youth and Mountains competition, we prepare youth for safer mountain visits, passing on this lifestyle and encouraging linking theoretical knowledge with practical," added Alma Jere, co-mentor with Roman Ponebšek of many successful teams from PD Litija.

Theoretical questions and practical tasks are prepared by experts with a diverse range of mountaineering knowledge and experiences, hoping competitors can use the acquired knowledge for independent and safest possible mountain movement. This year, they were overseen by Urška Trček, Brin Tomc, Neža Kočevar, Nejc Bobovnik, Vanja Blažica, Jure Brečko, and Franc Gričar. The best were awarded cups and medals, secondary students also with a free youth camp, all participants with practical prizes. All were thrilled by the visit to Jakob Aljaž's homestead and presentations of first aid and alpine equipment. In the art contest titled Jakob Aljaž - Triglav King, Nina Bratun from PD Litija was awarded, and the competition logo was drawn by Nika Cerk from OŠ Pirniče.