This weekend Klingenthal will be the first stage of ski-jumping world cup, and of competitions in Nordic combination as well. The Slovenian Nordic national team (the contract with the Slovenian Ski Association SZS will be signed only today) was today introduced to the press. As the training on snow is not yet possible, and there are no comparisons as yet with foreign national teams, no big promises were made, but the standard "Let's just wait for the first match". The previous season was really exceptional, as the Slovene competitors won the record 4664 points in the Cup of Nations.
They don't aim very high
"Our objective in the world cup is similar to the one we had last year: three individual placings among the first three, five more among the first six, and ten among the first 15. One of our competitors should be placed among the first ten, and another among the first 15. The objective for the New Year tour is the same: one among the first ten, and another among the first 15. For the Olympic games our goal is similar as in the World Championship in Predazzo: in individual competition on the medium and large hill one place among first 6, one among first 15, and one more among first 30 places, while in team competition we aim for the fifth place. Our quiet wish is a medal from Sochi," said the Goran Janus, the head coach.
Jaka Hvala is not satisfied with his jumps yet
Robi Kranjec naturally wishes for a different beginning of the season from the one he had last year, "which was rather pathetic and I was always behind. It was very unpleasant." Jaka Hvala, who in the previous season won a world cup match for the first time, is satisfied with physical fitness training, but not so much with his jumps. "There is too much instability. The beginning will be of crucial importance, afterwards everything will be easier." Jernej Damjan, the Slovenian hero of this summer season (he was close to winning the Sumer cup), said that they worked a lot on the physical fitness, and that the form is improving daily.
The first contact with snow only on Friday
Peter Prevc thought of Sochi whenever he got tired of training. He should be prepared even better than he was for the previous winter. "Not improving means staying behind. I am sure there is improvement." Jurij Tepeš who a month ago admitted a lot was still missing is slowly catching on. Matjaž Pungertar (after a very good summer season) believes there is not much difference between artificial surface and snow. He is aware his technique is not yet optimal. For now there is no snow nowhere close, so this year they will jump on snow for the first time in Klingenthal. But that should not be an excuse, as all the other national teams have the same "problem" due to the lack of snow.
The girls are fed up with fitness training
The female ski-jumping national team, joined by Anja Tepeš, absent because of the injury for quite some time, will be quite numerous this year – which promises a hard fight for places in the Olympic team. Jože Berčič, their trainer, said: "After 14 days we are returning to ceramics, as there is no snow anywhere close by. I can't comment much on readiness, but I believe we are well prepared. We need composure, constancy, and 20 to 30 jumps on ceramics for self-confidence and a normal start in the world cup." Let us mention that the matches at Ljubno will take place on January 25 and 26. Špela Rogelj jokingly claims that her fans are already gathering, and they will need three and a half busses to get there. The girls are impatiently waiting for the first match. "We are already fed up with fitness training, and I can't wait to go back to the ski jump," said Katja Požun.
