World Championships in Ski Mountaineering

Pleasing Slovenian successes at the 2015 Ski Mountaineering World Championships in Verbier

At the ski mountaineering world championships, held in Swiss Verbier from February 4 to 12,

2015, Slovenian colors were represented by three competitors: experienced Nejc Kuhar and Klemen Triler, as well as Jure Šuligoj as

a newcomer to the major competitions. The best Slovenian representative was expectedly Nejc Kuhar, who in a very

tight competition achieved an excellent 11th place in the ascent and 15th place individually.

The Slovenian national team in competitive ski mountaineering, led by coach and selector Iztok

Cukjati under the auspices of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, participated in the World Championships Verbier 2015 from February 4 to 12, 2015, where more than 200 competitors from 23 countries took part. For

Slovenia, experienced Nejc Kuhar (TSO PD Jezersko) and Klemen Triler (TSK Olimpik) competed, and as a newcomer, Jure Šuligoj (TSK Olimpik) also tested himself in

world competition. Slovenian competitors participated in the ascent race (Feb 7), individual race (Feb 9), and pairs race (Feb 11).

On Saturday, the first competition day for our competitors, ski mountaineers competed in the ascent race (vertical

race), which is the Formula 1 of ski mountaineering and a spectacle also for spectators, thousands of whom gathered along the track.

In a field of 86 competitors, Spaniard Kilian Jornet Burgada took gold, completing the entire course, nearly five kilometers long with 847 meters of ascent, in 39 minutes and 26 seconds. Exceptional

fitness was shown by Slovenian national champion Nejc Kuhar, just one minute and 55 seconds slower than the winner,

earning him an excellent 11th place. Jure Šuligoj crossed the finish line 53rd, and in the espoirs category (special ranking within the senior category) achieved 16th place overall. Klemen Triler finished the race

in 62nd place. Official results of the ascent race can be viewed at this link.

Monday's individual race, with 91 competitors, featured a fast and attractive track close to

spectators, ascents totaling more than 1600 meters in elevation gain, and bold descents, making it a true promotion of ski

mountaineering. Once again, Spaniard Kilian Jornet Burgada won, the world's best ski mountaineer in recent years. Until

halfway, Italian Damiano Lenzi led, but his fall (and broken ski) determined the winner.

Among the Slovenian competitors, Nejc Kuhar performed best as expected, arriving at the finish with a time of 1 hour 33 minutes and 9

seconds, nearly five minutes behind the winner, and in the very tight competition achieved 15th place. Jure Šuligoj was

51st, Klemen Triler 64th. Official results of the individual race are available at this link.

On Wednesday, February 11, Klemen Triler and Jure Šuligoj competed in the final race for Slovenian ski mountaineers,

the pairs race, which was particularly demanding due to taking place at 3000 meters above sea level, with tough descents adding to the challenge. The Slovenian pair fought their best and, in a field of 37 pairs, achieved 22nd

place. Results of the pairs race can be viewed at this link.

STATEMENTS from competitors and the selector:

"This was my seventh world championships and definitely the best organized. I am very

satisfied with my performances, as the differences get smaller every year and just a few seconds can mean a better or worse placing," said Slovenia's most successful competitor Nejc Kuhar after the

ski mountaineering world championships, who also vividly described both races on his blog.

"They say everything happens for the first time once, and this championship was my first, as was my first appearance among

the world elite. The feelings, the experience, and life in Switzerland in general – indescribable. I am satisfied with the results, and looking back, these races gave me a good foundation and additional motivation for the future. The terrain in Switzerland is really

beautiful, and I could have stayed there another week because the training conditions are phenomenal. We had a great time!" enthused newcomer to major competitions Jure Šuligoj.



"The performances did not go entirely as expected. Unfortunately, knee surgery prevented intensive

training right before the competition season started. This is probably the reason for the poorer competitive form. In the second

half of the season, I want to improve my fitness level, and I look forward to upcoming strong foreign races. Otherwise, this was by far the best organized competition I have ever participated in," summarized Klemen Triler's impressions.

"The Verbier 2015 World Championships were excellently organized, and we were lucky with the nice weather too. Our competitors' performances were good, especially considering the extremely poor snow conditions for training this season.

The competition has tightened tremendously, and large national teams (Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, as well as Germany and

Austria) successfully maintain the gap to competitively less developed countries through systematic work and greater financial resources.

This was definitely a championship that every ski mountaineer would want to compete in," evaluated coach and selector of the Slovenian national team in competitive

ski mountaineering Iztok Cukjati about the elite event in Swiss Verbier.