Ski touring - from recreational boom to...

Ski touring - from recreational boom to Olympic dream.



Ski touring is becoming increasingly popular, and interest in the competitive discipline is also growing, with its premiere expected at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. In Slovenia, the roots of ski touring competitions date back to 1927, and since 2004 competitors have been measuring their strength in the Slovenian Cup and participating in international competitions at the highest level, where Nejc Kuhar has achieved the greatest successes. At the upcoming national ski touring championship, which will be held on March 3 and 4 on Zelenica, recreational ski tourers will also be able to test themselves on the competition course and perhaps awaken a competitive passion within them.



The first Slovenian ski touring competition is considered the Triglavski smuk in 1927, which was held until 1950, and among the first Slovenians who participated in competitions in Italy from the 1980s onwards were mountain rescuers, alpinists with good fitness and excellent skiing skills. "In 1996, we organized the first ski touring competition in Slovenia on Jezersko, following the model of the Italian Rally: a hike lasting about three to four hours, sprint and giant slalom. We competed in pairs. The route had to be covered in a set time, and for the final ranking, the sprint time and giant slalom time counted, which were converted into points according to a specific algorithm. Competitions were held in men's, women's and mixed categories. The following year, Tržič residents organized a similar competition on Zelenica, and later other competitions emerged across Slovenia," recalls Milan Šenk from GRS and TTSO PD Jezersko, together with Tonetom Karničarjem the first national champion in pairs in 2004, when the Slovenian pair national championship was first organized. "In that season, we also competed for the Slovenian Cup for the first time. We combined five competitions, and for the cup, the four best results counted. Enthusiasm for competitive ski touring grew, and now every year we compete for the Slovenian Cup and national championships, both individually, in pairs, and in ascent, in four categories: seniors, women, veterans and juniors. About 40 competitors participate in competitions, on Jezersko on average between 60 and 70. Interestingly, in recent years there has been approximately the same number of competitors between seniors and veterans over 45," adds Šenk, a member of the PZS Mountain Sports Commission and head of the Slovenian ski touring cup.



In 2002, the Ski Touring Commission was established at the Alpine Association of Slovenia, which was succeeded in 2012 by the Mountain Sports Commission, under whose auspices competitive ski touring and ice climbing operate. After 2004, an era of international competitions at the highest level began for Slovenians, from participation in world and European championships to appearances in World Cup and European Cup races. The most successful Slovenian competitor is Nejc Kuhar (Društvo za razvoj turnega smučanja), who has been keeping up with the world elite for years, alongside him successfully competing Anže Šenk (TTSO PD Jezersko), the first individual national champion in 2006, Matjaž Mikloša (TSK Olimpik), excellent in ascent, and Luka Mihelič (TSK Olimpik), recently Luka Kovačič (TSK Olimpik) is visibly progressing, and in the women's competition, Karmen Klančnik Pobežin (TSK Olimpik) has achieved the greatest successes at the international level. In 2016, competitive ski touring became a sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee, giving it the opportunity to appear at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. According to Kuhar, ski touring will thus "become more recognizable, especially for young people who are lacking in our ranks, and it can also be a great incentive to engage in this sport with the goal of competing at the Olympics."



Nejc Kuhar reached 5th place in the World Cup in the senior category, his best result at the World Championship is 8th place, both in his flagship discipline of ascent, and he also competes individually and in pairs. At home, he is a serial collector of national champion titles, in the last decade only Luka Kovačič managed to defeat him at the national championship (last year in ascent), who also follows Kuhar's successes in international competition - at the World Cup race on February 9 in France, he achieved 4th place in ascent among U23 and 15th among seniors. For the most successful Slovenian ski tourer in recent years, World Cup races represent a challenge, while the Slovenian Cup is good training for him. This year, he will share his knowledge and experience from the biggest competitions also on home turf, as on Zelenica, which is traditionally the venue for the national championship, a two-day challenge will be organized for the first time at his initiative: "The novelty is primarily the two-day competition and the individual race course, which we wanted to bring closer to the difficulty of foreign competitions. The reason is also that the race will probably be part of the Alpine Cup next season, and for the future we do not hide ambitions to host a World Cup." The Alpine Cup combines races in Austria, Germany and Italy, the biggest classics in competitive ski touring.



Nejc Kuhar reached 5th place in the World Cup in the senior category, his best result at the World Championship is 8th place, both in his flagship discipline of ascent, and he also competes individually and in pairs. At home, he is a serial collector of national champion titles, in the last decade only Luka Kovačič managed to defeat him at the national championship (last year in ascent), who also follows Kuhar's successes in international competition - at the World Cup race on February 9 in France, he achieved 4th place in ascent among U23 and 15th among seniors. For the most successful Slovenian ski tourer in recent years, World Cup races represent a challenge, while the Slovenian Cup is good training for him. This year, he will share his knowledge and experience from the biggest competitions also on home turf, as on Zelenica, which is traditionally the venue for the national championship, a two-day challenge will be organized for the first time at his initiative: "The novelty is primarily the two-day competition and the individual race course, which we wanted to bring closer to the difficulty of foreign competitions. The reason is also that the race will probably be part of the Alpine Cup next season, and for the future we do not hide ambitions to host a World Cup." The Alpine Cup combines races in Austria, Germany and Italy, the biggest classics in competitive ski touring.



Zelenica Ski Raid is a staple, yet a novelty on the Slovenian ski touring calendar. On the first March weekend, March 3 and 4, competitors will compete on Zelenica and surrounding mountains at the national ski touring championship (in ascent and individually), while for recreational ski tourers, a hobby challenge on the race course without time measurement is offered for the first time this year. "The organizers' wish is to prepare races that are fully comparable to World Cup races. The Saturday ascent race will be short and fast, from Ljubelj to the Zelenica hut. The Sunday individual race will be very interesting, leading competitors over the top of Begunjščica, down Smokuški plaz to Završnica, then along the southern slope of Vrtača to the picturesque ramp on the southeastern ridge of Vrtača. This will be followed by a descent through Suho rušje and a final ascent to the Planinski dom on Zelenica. There will also be two hiking sections in between, at the top of Šentanski plaz and below the Vrtača ramp. In the case of favorable snow and weather conditions, we can expect a beautiful race with a configuration typical of World Cup races," emphasizes Nejc Kuhar and particularly appeals to recreational ski tourers, of whom there are more and more in Slovenia: "We want to attract recreational participants primarily so that they can test themselves on the race course, enjoy the company and along the way also cheer on the competitors. For all recreational participants registered in the hobby category, we are also preparing a special draw for rich practical prizes with skis, skins and more."



The competition on Zelenica, organized by Društvo za razvoj turnega smučanja, ŠD Lom, GRS Tržič and PD Tržič, with registrations accepted until March 1, also represents two stages of the 2018 Slovenian ski touring cup. It started on January 27 on Jezersko with the memorial of Luka Karničar and Rad Markič, on February 17 there will be a ski touring descent in the Završnica valley, after Zelenica Ski Raid on March 3 and 4, on March 11 the memorial of Staneta Veninška and Marka Lihtenekerja on Okrešelj follows.