Slovenia gold, silver and 2 bronzes

Slovenia gold, silver and 2 bronzes at the last European Youth Cup event, for a total of three precious medals in EYC 2012.



The final of the European Youth Cup (EYC) 2012, which took place on 24 and 25 November, in the Zlato polje Kranj sports hall, ended TRIUMPHANTLY for Slovenia once again – Domen Škofic won both today's competition and the overall EYC 2012 standings among youth males. Slovenia earned 4 medals at the last EYC event, and gold, silver and bronze in the overall standings of this year's EYC season!



After the World Cup final among seniors, where Mina Markovič won, Maja Vidmar placed third, and Mina also achieved victory in the overall World Cup standings in lead and combined, 186 young competitors from 24 countries competed at the last event of the 2012 European Youth Cup under the auspices of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC in Kranj. Among them were also Slovenians, namely 31 of the best young Slovenian climbers under the leadership of the selector of the Slovenian youth national team in sport climbing Borut Kavzar. Among this year's young climbers, who were very successful at all events, today's winner and overall winner of the 2012 European Youth Cup among youth males Domen Škofic certainly stands out, who is also this year's youth world silver medalist and youth European champion, then there is Anže Peharc, world champion among older boys and silver in the overall EYC 2012 standings, and youth male Sergej Epih, third in the overall standings among youth males in EYC 2012 and otherwise with a handful of medals at this year's EYC, Jure Raztresen with third place among youth males at this year's World Championships in Singapur, and cadet Martin Bergant, also third at the 2012 World Championships.



SLOVENIAN TEAM RESULTS EYC Kranj 2012:

Out of 31 Slovenian competitors, a total of 13 of our best young athletes qualified among the top 10 best young sport climbers in the world in the final (in each category): all five youth males led by Domen Škofic, youth females Tina Šušteršič and Anja Šerbinek, cadets Gregor Vezonik, Milan Preskar and Martin Bergant, cadet female Tjaša Kalan, and current world champion Anže Peharc and Domen Kolenko among older boys. In the final, the best performances came from Anže Peharc, who climbed to a bronze medal (and thus silver in the overall EYC 2012 standings), Gregor Vezonik with silver and Martin Bergant with bronze; Domen Škofic also lived up to all the best expectations, our best young sport climber. The youth female Tina Šušteršič had a bit of bad luck; although she reached the highest height in the final, after a protest from some teams she lost first place and finished 5th. However, we can say she was the moral winner, as the official winner Tina Johnsen Hafsaas from Norway gave her own gold medal to her.

Older girls (Youth B), total 32 competitors: 13. Julija Kruder, 15. Larisa Fabjan, 18. Brina Pirc, 23. Urška Blejec, 25. Kaja Skvarč Božič

Older boys (Youth B), 44 competitors: 3. Anže Peharc, 7. Domen Kolenko, 23. Miha Kostanjevec, 26. Kristjan Jurčič, 28. Miha Hajna, 35. Igor Primc

Cadet girls (Youth A), 31 competitors: 6. Tjaša Kalan, 15. Veronika Meke, 16. Jera Lenardič, 20. Živa Ledinek, 24. Karin Erjavec, 25. Ajda Remškar

Cadets (Youth A), 39 competitors: 2. Gregor Vezonik, 3. Martin Bergant, 4. Milan Preskar, 22. Tim Unuk, 26. Blaž Oblak, 27. Urh Tomažič

Youth females (Juniors), 15 competitors: 5. Tina Šušteršič, 8. Anja Šerbinek, 14. Katarina Fon

Youth males (Juniors), 25 competitors: 1. Domen Škofic, 5. Jure Raztresen, 6. Sergej Epih, 8. Jakob Šparovec, 9. Gašper Pintar



SLOVENIAN RESULTS IN THE EUROPEAN YOUTH CUP 2012 - OVERALL IN LEAD

(the overall standings count the 4 best results from EYC lead events)

Older girls (Youth B): 18. Julija Kruder, 24. Larisa Fabjan, 30. Urška Blejec, 50. Brina Pirc, 56. Kaja Skvarč Božič

Older boys (Youth B): 2. Anže Peharc, 15. Domen Kolenko, 51. Miha Hajna, 58. Miha Kostanjevec, 65. Kristjan Jurčič

Cadet girls (Youth A): 16. Jera Lenardič, 19. Rebeka Kamin, 21. Tjaša Kalan, 23. Živa Ledinek, 42. Veronika Meke, 51. Karin Erjavec, 52. Ajda Remškar

Cadets (Youth A): 4. Martin Bergant, 6. Gregor Vezonik, 7. Milan Preskar, 8. Tim Unuk, 64. Blaž Oblak, 66. Urh Tomažič

Youth females (Juniors): 12. Tina Šušteršič, 18. Anja Šerbinek, 36. Katarina Fon

Youth males (Juniors): 1. Domen Škofic, 3. Sergej Epih, 24. Gašper Pintar

FULL RESULTS available by clicking on the links at the categories, source: IFSC



STATEMENTS:

Selector of the Slovenian youth national team in sport climbing Borut Kavzar assessed today's competition as follows: "I am very satisfied with today's competition, especially because we showed ourselves in the best possible light on home ground. Here it is worth mentioning all the medalists, I am particularly pleased that Tina Šušteršič also climbed as we have long wanted on her last competition of the year. In the end, she unfortunately had bad luck with the protest from other teams, which brought her to 5th place. The most emotional moment for me today was when the official winner Tina Johnsen Hafsaas from Norway gave our Tina her gold medal. This gesture is rare in sport, so I would like to highlight it especially."

And the assessment of the entire this year's season?: "In all three levels of competitions, we have once again exceeded our expectations, the most resounding part of the season was the youth world championships in Singapur. In the overall standings, we also have quite a few medalists, which shows the consistent form of our competitors.

I am slightly concerned about the strategy of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC, which for next year fails to ensure a sufficient number of European Youth Cup EYC events, which is a very bad foundation for promising competitors across Europe. I hope that all our multitude of talents, especially among the boys, will prove themselves in senior competition as well. In conclusion, I can say that with the youth team, especially the boys, we have proven that we have no equals in the world."



Absolute winner of this year's European Youth Cup, 18-year-old Domen Škofic from Radovljica, student in the last year of the sports department at Gimnazija Jesenice, says: absolute winner, last year sports department Gimnazija Jesenice, says: "The season could not have been more successful, maybe I could have won the youth world championships in Singapur too, but that would probably be a bit kitschy :). I am very satisfied, I hope the next season will be just as successful, and I wish to show even more in the World Cup senior competition - to be a regular finalist. This year's season was quite long, I think I competed in 23 international competitions, so I am glad it is over and I can gather strength for the new season."

What follows now until the end of the year? "Now rest follows. And for the new year, I will stay home, study to catch up with classmates, as I was away for a long time due to World Cup competitions on the Asian tour."

How do you rate your progress? "The progress is constant and I like that very much. This gives me even more motivation for training, especially now that we have a new wall in the club, a kilometer away, at Grad Hotel Podvin. I put all my holds there and I really look forward to the wall and training on it. Also for even better form."

Who is your coach? "I am still my own coach, but I train a lot with the senior and youth national team, where I would highlight the senior team selector Simon Margon, youth team selector Borut Kavzar, and sport climbing coach Roman Krajnik, who additionally help me with advice."

And what are your wishes going forward? "I hope it continues like this - without injuries and with lots of successes."



Our best youth sport climber Domen Škofic performed excellently in this year's EYC - he achieved 5 wins in five competitions he competed in, and even before today's competition secured the overall victory in the 2012 European Youth Cup with a perfect score.



Domen, after last year's title of world champion among cadets, continued his successful season this year in the youth European Cup in lead, won the first youth European championships (Gemozac, France), became youth world silver medalist, and was also successful in the World Cup in lead among seniors. Thus, he pleasantly surprised at the senior World Cup event (seniors) in lead in Atlanta, where he qualified for the final at senior WC for the first time and with 8th place achieved his best placement among seniors. At the Rock Master seniors in the Chinese city of Wujiang near Shanghai, he achieved an excellent second place, and at the penultimate (senior) World Cup lead event 2012, he just missed the final qualification by one place.



Domen also won the bouldering event of the 2012 European Youth Cup in Grindelwald.



REVIEW OF MEDALS in the youth national team 2012 - 10 golds, 6 silvers and 6 bronzes:



at EYC 2012 events:



Edinburgh, lead: 1. Anže Peharc (older boys), 1. Domen Škofic (youth males), 2. Sergej Epih (youth males)

Moscow, lead: / we did not participate.

Grindelwald, boulder: 1. Domen Škofic (youth males)

Voiron, lead: 1. Domen Škofic (youth males), 2. Anže Peharc (older boys), 3. Sergej Epih (youth males) - 3.

Linz, lead: 1. Domen Škofic (youth males), 2. Anže Peharc (older boys), 3. Sergej Epih (youth males), 3. Tim Unuk (cadets)

L'Argentiere, boulder: 1. Gregor Vezonik (cadets), 2. Anže Peharc (older boys)

Imst, lead: 1. Domen Škofic (youth male)

Kranj, lead: 1. Domen Škofic (youth male), 2. Gregor Vezonik, 3. Martin Bergant (both cadets), 3. Anže Peharc (older boys)



Youth World Championships, Singapur, lead: 1. Anže Peharc (older boys), 2. Domen Škofic (youth males), 3. Martin Bergant (cadets), 3. Jure Raztresen (youth males).



First youth European Championships Gemozac, lead: 1. Domen Škofic (youth male).



The youth national team also performed very successfully at the Alpe-Adria Games, returning with as many as 13 medals.