World Cup competition with the best Slovenian...

World Cup competition with the best Slovenian sport climbers at the new venue in Koper.

After 25 years of tradition organising competitions in Kranj, the international lead climbing competition is moving to the Coast. The 26th World Cup in sport climbing will take place for the first time this year at the outdoor climbing wall of the Koper Climbing Centre - Plus climbing, on 2 and 3 September 2022. 123 competitors from 24 countries will participate in the magnificent sports event, including the 17-member Slovenian national team with European champion Janja Garnbret.

The 2022 World Cup in sport climbing, organised by the Alpine Association of Slovenia under the auspices of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), will take place for the first time in Koper this year, at the outdoor climbing wall of the Koper Climbing Centre – Plus climbing, whose investor is the Municipality of Koper. Koper Mayor Aleš Bržan is proud of the new sports facility, which complements the wide offer of natural climbing areas in the municipality and aligns with the municipal efforts to develop sport climbing in our country.



Successful climbers have returned from Munich these days, where they collected five medals at the European Championship. Janja Garnbret became European champion in lead, bouldering and combined, Luka Potočar is the European silver medallist in lead, and Mia Krampl is the new European silver medallist in combined. The other Slovenian climbers were also successful, and it is a fact that the Slovenian national team in sport climbing ranks at the top of this sport. At this year's sports event named First to the Top, a strong 17-member Slovenian team will also compete among the 123 competitors. In addition to Janja Garnbret, Mia Krampl, Vita Lukan, Lučka Rakovec, Tjaša Slemenšek, Lana Skušek, Katja Debevec, Sara Čopar and Rebeka Kamin will also be in Koper. In the men's competition, Luka Potočar, Domen Škofic, Milan Preskar, Martin Bergant, Matic Kotar, Anže Peharc, Zan Lovenjak Sudar and Gregor Vezonik will compete for medals.

WC PROGRAMME in sport climbing KOPER 2022


Friday, 2 September Saturday, 3 September
9:00-15:00 Qualifications
09:00-12:00 Programme for primary schools and youth with Mini Olympics
09:00-15:00 Climbing on the mobile climbing wall
17:00-19:30 Programme at stalls and music programme with DJ
20:00 Semifinals 09:00-15:00 Open day at Plus climbing centre
15:00-18:00 National championship in speed climbing for younger and junior categories
15:00-22:00 Accompanying programme at stalls
18:00-19:30 Music programme with DJ
19:30-20:00 Opening of the finals
20:00-22:00 Finals
22:00-24:00 Concert


"Janja has complete dominance in this year's World Cup lead competitions, but I'm glad that the others are also showing excellent performances, some of which were crowned with medals at the European Championship. I always hope and wish for more appearances in the finals, as the competition is even better for me that way, but I am aware that it is not easy. I think our competitors have proven many times that they belong to the top of sport climbing and I believe they will confirm it again in Koper, as the home crowd will give them an extra percentage of strength. Unfortunately, we are deprived of the performances of the best juniors this year, as they are currently at the junior world championship in the USA, so only one junior Sara Čopar will compete at the event, returning from the competition as the new junior world champion in bouldering," announced the national team selector and coach Gorazd Hren.

The best Slovenian and world sport climber Janja Garnbret is coming to Koper with three gold medals from the European Championship. But despite the incredible successes, she still has a lot of drive. "I'm going into this competition with the same goal as all previous ones, to win. But I am aware that it is hard to compete in front of the home crowd, as I want to show them the best I can. I will go into the competition focused, concentrated and enjoying it." Although she is welcome everywhere in the world and has strong fan support, the home crowd is additional motivation. "I know that my friends, former teachers, professors, classmates and relatives will come to the competition. I know that there will also be children at the competition for whom we are role models. All this is additional motivation. When I hear encouraging Slovenian words from the crowd, I make two more moves than I might otherwise."

The silver medal in combined and fourth place in lead at the EC confirmed that Mia Krampl's form in lead is in good shape and she is thus prepared for the home competition. "When I came back from the competition in Munich, I was mentally and physically exhausted and needed a few days to get back into the training routine, but I still feel well prepared and hope to show it successfully. I look forward to the support of the home crowd, which is my additional encouragement." She added that the competition in Slovenia has great importance for the development of climbing in Slovenia, as it is excellent promotion for this sport.

Luka Potočar won his first World Cup medal in Kranj last year, and this year he comes to Koper as the European silver medallist in lead. As he said at the press conference, his form is exactly where it should be and after excellent results from the championship, he has high goals. "A medal is a realistic goal for me, but it requires top climbing throughout the competition. The crowd is an important part of every sport and will certainly be great motivation for all Slovenian competitors."

Vita Lukan, who has not yet managed to show everything she wanted this year, wants to climb the route as fluidly and relaxed as possible at the Koper competition. "I have many good memories from competitions in Kranj, which I want to continue at the new venue." Lučka Rakovec's season has not gone according to plan this year, but her motivation is still where it should be, so she hopes to put together a good performance at this competition in Koper in front of the home crowd. Domen Škofic is also very much looking forward to the competition in Koper, as he believes it will be a new top experience for him. "I will be very happy if I can climb all four routes and show my maximum in them."

As the Slovenian athletes concluded, the home crowd and Slovenian support mean a lot to them. To give them extra impetus and an even greater dose of adrenaline on the wall, we invite you to watch the competition in Koper in as large numbers as possible. This year's novelty of the competition is free tickets, offered by PRVA, the general sponsor of the sport climbing national team and the general sponsor of the competition in collaboration with the Alpine Association of Slovenia. On the website navrhu.prva.si, fill out the online form with your personal data and the free ticket for the magnificent event is yours. "PRVA, with its general sponsorship of the Slovenian sport climbing national team, contributes to creating conditions for quality work so that our climbers can reach the highest places. For every athlete, performing in front of the home crowd is special, so we at PRVA have also taken over the general sponsorship of the World Cup competition in Slovenia. To ensure that as many people as possible support Slovenian athletes with loud cheering, we have also provided free tickets, which you can secure until 31 August," highlighted the President of the Management Board of PRVA Personal Insurance Company Nataša Hajdinjak.

If you do not wish to participate in the promotional campaign for free tickets but still want to see the best climbers live, you can buy a ticket at Eventim sales points. The price of the single ticket for the entire competition (Friday and Saturday) is 20 euros. The ticket price for members of the Alpine Association of Slovenia and residents of the Municipality of Koper is 15 euros.



On Friday and Saturday, there will also be interesting events alongside the competition. PZS, together with the Municipality of Koper, is preparing a two-day climbing programme aimed at the general public. "On Friday, during the qualifications, the programme will be aimed at primary school students. They will have the opportunity to try climbing on the mobile climbing wall and participate in the mini Olympics. Already on Friday evening, there will be semifinals of the best. On Saturday afternoon, there will be a recreational speed climbing competition, and in the evening, the grand final in lead of the best sport climbers in the world. This will not be the end of the events, a concert by the band 6 Pence – Queen Tribute will conclude the varied programme. Both days, local providers will present their products and services, as will the event partners," announced the competition organisational manager Matej Planko.

Detailed information is available on the competition website worldcupslo.com, where all results after the qualifications, semifinals and finals, as well as photos, will be published. We will also post everything promptly on the PZS website and our social networks.



The final competition will be broadcast live on the 2nd programme of TV Slovenija. The general sponsor of WC Koper 2022 is Prva, major sponsors are the Slovenian Tourist Board and Adidas, co-organiser of the event is the Municipality of Koper.