"We paid a lot of attention to giant slalom during preparations, and the progress is noticeable. I hope to get more opportunities to prove it," said the alpine skier from Maribor, one of the three Slovene skiers (along with Tina Maze and Katarina Lavtar) competing at the introductory act of the World Cup new season. She won the opportunity to race in the internal qualifications. Wouldn't it be something if she got the first giant slalom points in her career on her 23rd birthday? "I believe I am capable of good skiing, although this race is rather early, and then another month will pass till the next one – if we don't count the Levi slalom where I won't be present."

The couch and the remote control are things of the past
She trained well. In her blog she wrote that she spent the summer exactly as she should spend it, training, "and not at home, on the couch with a TV remote control in my hand, as during previous three years." Physically, she got stronger, and she can't wait for the white circus to begin. "The autumn part is filled with expectations before the first race. You know the preparations are over and you can't wait for the season to start for real." When asked about her goals, she remained rather mysterious: "I would like to upgrade the last two seasons, and to be constant in achieving good results."

In Sochi a weather lottery can be expected
Injuries which were the bane of her career and which prevented her to excel in the adult category, after prevailing in youth category with two World Championship gold medals, are a thing of the past. Skiing is again painless, with just slight discomforts Ilka dismisses: "Ski boots are a bit too tight, occasionally my soles swell, and now and then a callus forms on my feet." The highest point of the season will be the Olympic Sochi, but Ilka doesn't have fond memories on the race organized there two years ago. "It was my first season after injury, and my self-confidence was low. It might happen that a lot will depend on the weather, just like then. At first we had snow, than sun, and in the end the race was interrupted because of the fog."

When Tina is winning it gets easier
Last year she proved she can be successful at big competitions; she took sixth place at the World Championship in Super-G. "It was a great reward and a confirmation that my career was on the right track." Slovenian fans almost overlooked her success, as everybody paid attention to Tina Maze's gold medal, and the fall of Lindsey Vonn. Is it more difficult because Tina Maze raised the bar so high? "No, actually it is easier, as she gets all the pressure. But, on the other hand, nobody notices other good results. Well, I do, and those who work with me," said for MMC the talented skier, who reads a lot in her free time. The last book she read was Dan Millman's bestseller Way of the Peaceful Warrior.