Slovenian sport climbers at the World Cup final...

Slovenian sport climbers again fighting for top spots at the World Cup final in Kranj

The Alpine Association of Slovenia held a press conference today, November 11, ahead of this year's final World Cup lead climbing event in 2014, attended by Matej Planko, General Secretary of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Aleš Pirc, Head of the PZS Sport Climbing Commission, Tomo Česen, Head of the Kranj World Cup, Roman Krajnik, selector and coach of the Slovenian senior sport climbing team, and the best Slovenian sport climbers Mina Markovič, Maja Vidmar, Domen Škofic, and Urban Primožič. On Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, 2014, the Zlato polje sports hall in Kranj will once again host the FINAL of this year's World Cup in sport lead climbing for the 19th consecutive time.

The 2014 World Cup in sport lead climbing, held under the auspices of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC, will conclude once again in Kranj. Slovenian sport climbers are also achieving exceptional results this season. In addition to the successes in women's sport climbing with flag bearers Mina Markovič and Maja Vidmar, Domen Škofic has ensured a Slovenian breakthrough among the world's best sport climbers this year. The currently most successful Slovenian trio achieved their best placements this year just before the closing World Cup event in Kranj. From the Asian World Cup tour in sport climbing, which ended on October 26, Markovič returned with two gold and one silver medal, Škofic with silver and bronze, and Vidmar with bronze. Mina Markovič is currently in third place in the overall lead standings, Domen Škofic in fourth, which suggests that at the home venue they will reach for the top spots in both the lead and combined overall standings.

The 14-member Slovenian team at the World Cup final in Kranj consists of: Mina Markovič, Maja Vidmar, Jera Lenardič, Katja Kadič, Tjaša Kalan, Rebeka Kamin, Anja Šerbinek; in the men's competition: Domen Škofic, Urban Primožič, Jure Bečan, Martin Bergant, Milan Preskar, Jure Raztresen, and Gregor Vezonik. More about Slovenian competitors at the SP Kranj 2014 event.

That the World Cup final in sport climbing in Kranj is one of the best organized and most popular World Cup events among competitors, and that its organization places the Alpine Association of Slovenia among the larger sports associations also in the field of competitive sports and gives it recognition and prestige both in Slovenia and abroad, was emphasized by Matej Planko, General Secretary of the Alpine Association of Slovenia. The dedication, experience, professional and quality work of the small organizational team led by Tomo Česen, and increased activity in seeking sponsors, was highlighted by Aleš Pirc, Head of the PZS Sport Climbing Commission.

"There are 105 competitors on the start list, 46 women and 59 men, from 24 countries," announced Tomo Česen, head of SP Kranj 2014, and presented the competition and schedule. On Saturday, November 15, men's qualifications start at 9 a.m., followed by women's qualifications at 2 p.m., and semifinals at 8 p.m. the same evening. Sunday, November 16, is reserved for the final, starting at 5 p.m. "I no longer judge if the event is good or not, but given that it's the end of the season and 105 competitors are registered, that's a good sign." The Kranj event is truly a magnet for competitors who will represent the colors of 24 countries this year: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Italy, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Germany,

Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Great Britain, and the United States of America.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE (Source: SP Kranj 2014 website)

Saturday, November 16 9:00 men's qualifications 14:00 women's qualifications 20:00 semifinals

Sunday, November 17 17:00 final

"I rate this season as more than excellent despite a slightly weaker start, but I always believed the climbers were well prepared. At the World Championships in both lead and bouldering, it showed we were on the right track; with Jernej Kruder we got the first men's medal at World Championships in bouldering, which is one of the bigger successes of the Slovenian team, and at the World Championships in lead we finally had a men's final with Domen Škofic, Mina Markovič achieved her first medal at World Championships, the highlight was the Asian tour where all three – Mina, Maja, and Domen – stood on the podium," was satisfied Roman Krajnik, selector and coach of the Slovenian senior sport climbing team, and added: "We have a very successful season behind us, but it's not over yet; the World Cup final awaits, for which the climbers are very well prepared. This year we did a lot, so I just want them to enjoy it and show what they know."

Mina Markovič, this year's runner-up in lead at the World Championships in Spain's Gijón and bronze in combined, strung together her best placements this year on the recently concluded Asian tour: two wins and one second place. In Kranj, she has already celebrated as World Cup winner in 2011 and 2012, last year only South Korean Jain Kim overtook her, but this year it's also quite tight at the top. Markovič, currently 3rd in the World Cup lead overall standings and 2nd in combined, said before the World Cup final: "Given that the start of the season was perhaps a bit weaker, but later in Asia I saw everything going smoothly, I don't want to worry about the final results. I want to climb the Kranj event according to how prepared I am, and that will be my greatest reward."

Maja Vidmar has also been a two-time winner in Kranj in the past; after injury troubles in the recent period, she returned to good climbing tracks on the Asian tour and won bronze in Japan. "Injuries are behind me and in Kranj you can expect the old Maja. I look forward to the competition every year, as the atmosphere is so good that you forget about injuries and just climb as you know how; actually, Kranj gives you an extra boost to climb even better. I know it will be the same this year," she eagerly anticipates the Kranj event.

Domen Škofic with 4th place at this year's World Championships in lead in Gijón and double podiums in the World Cup – 3rd in Chamonix and recent 2nd in South Korea – made a breakthrough for Slovenian men's sport climbing to the world top. "I'm more than satisfied with this season; after quickly achieving the initial goal of stepping on the World Cup podium, I set myself to enjoy until the end of the season and let whatever happens. I've never managed to climb in Kranj as I know how, but it will happen someday – I hope this time. If I succeed, I'm capable of a lot," he predicted at the press conference.

Urban Primožič achieved his first final and best World Cup placement – 5th place – right in Kranj in 2011; this year he reached the final in Chamonix and wants to show good climbing

again on home ground: "If there's any competition that's an opportunity to improve the result, it's definitely Kranj. Three years ago I was in the final, the year before last it was close, last year a bit more due to a mistake, this year I'll definitely give it my all. If I succeed, the result will definitely be good."

Standings in the World Cup lead overall

Women (source: IFSC)

Men (source: IFSC)

1. Jain Kim (KOR) - 561 points

2. Magdalena Röck (AUT) - 501 points

3. Mina Markovič (SLO) - 494 points

...

8. Maja Vidmar (SLO) - 225 points

29. Katja Kadič (SLO) - 28 points

65. Jera Lenardič (SLO) - 4 points

1. Jakob Schubert (AUT) - 483 points

2. Romain Desgranges (FRA) - 414 points

3. Sean McColl (CAN) - 397 points

4. Domen Škofic (SLO) - 379 points

...

20. Urban Primožič (SLO) - 71 points

Standings in the World Cup combined overall

Women (source: IFSC)

Men (source: IFSC)

1. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) - 625 points

2. Mina Markovič (SLO) - 506 points

3. Momoka Oda (JPN) - 305 points

1. Sean McColl (CAN) - 647 points

2. Adam Ondra (CZE) - 394 points

3. Domen Škofic (SLO) - 328 points

Competition website: http://www.worldcupkranj.com/, where all detailed information is available and all results will be published after qualifications, semifinals, and finals, as well as photos.

We will also publish everything on our PZS website, www.pzs.si, and PZS Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/PlaninskaZvezaSlovenije.

Spectators can buy tickets before the start of the competition at the entrance to the Zlato polje sports hall in Kranj, Kidričeva 55 a, Kranj, qualifications and semifinals: 4 EUR, final: 8 EUR.

Watching the competition will also be possible via LIVE broadcast through the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC, and the final on Sunday, November 17, will also be broadcast on TV Slovenia's second channel.

The excellent successes of Slovenian sport climbers and climbers – from youth to seniors – are the result of good, planned, and persistent work of teams, coaches, and of course climbers, their strong motivation and desire to be the best in the world, so they deserve our strong live support on home soil.

HEARTILY INVITED TO KRANJ!