Sport climbing elite gathered in Kranj for the weekend

On November 15, the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia held a press conference in its premises ahead of this year's penultimate World Cup event in lead sport climbing. On Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20, 2011, Kranj will host the World Cup in lead sport climbing for the sixteenth time in the Zlato polje sports hall, marking the ninth event of this year's World Cup.

The 2011 World Cup in lead sport climbing will not conclude in Kranj as usual, but a week later in Barcelona, where the final, tenth event of this year's World Cup will take place. We expect the most from our top climbers led by Mina Markovič and Maja Vidmar; however, the other competitors can also shine, as a home event is something special. The encouragement from fans, friends, and locals has often carried climbers very high.

The successes of our female sport climbers place Slovenia at the top of the world climbing map. The 2011 World Cup in lead sport climbing is truly Slovenian: Mina Markovič leads the current overall standings with 641 points, 141 points ahead of South Korean Jain Kim. Currently in third place is Maja Vidmar with 453 points, followed by Austrian Katharina Pösch (357). We can already say that Slovenia is poised for an exceptional success in this year's overall ranking, regardless of the outcome.

Mina spoke about expectations for the Kranj event and, when asked about calculations for points needed for overall victory, said, "I don't plan to play tactics, as it doesn't work. I'll give my all as before. I'll take the competition like any other. I've prepared well, and motivation is not lacking. There will be several distracting factors at the home event, but I'll try to block them out and climb well on my own, as I know how and as I've proven several times this year." This year, she has stood on the top step of the podium four times, been silver twice, and bronze once. Mina won the Kranj event in 2009.

Currently third in the 2011 World Cup overall standings, Maja Vidmar says: "My goal is to climb full out, fight to the end, without easing up or mistakes. Otherwise, the Kranj event is very popular among climbers, and they like to participate." Maja won the World Cup lead sport climbing in Kranj in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, she was also the overall World Cup winner and lifted the big crystal globe.

Head coach of the Slovenian senior national team Simon Margon presented the Slovenian team for the World Cup in Kranj. "14 female and male climbers will compete, making it the largest Slovenian national team lineup so far. With the numbers, we'll break the pressure solely on individuals. Our top seniors will not be missing, nor will cadet world champion Domen Škofic and junior Jure Raztresen. Cadets and juniors will join the seniors; among the women, besides Mina Markovič and Maja Vidmar, the younger ones Asja Gosar, Katja Kadič, Jera Lenardič, and Tina Šušteršič will compete. In the men's competition, climbing under Slovenian colors will be Klemen Bečan, Sergej Epih, Jernej Kruder, Jure Raztresen, Matej Sova, Domen Škofic, Urban Primožič, and Izidor Zupan."

More about Slovenian competitors, participants in the Kranj event.

The press conference also featured coach Roman Krajnik, who said preparations are proceeding as usual, and they had intensive training in a climbing center in Austria. Our best among the men, Klemen Bečan, winner of the 2008 World Cup in Kranj, looks optimistically at the upcoming event; he is well prepared, and the desire to climb well in front of the home crowd is great. Cadet world champion Domen Škofic, who competed in Kranj for the first time last year and thus debuted in World Cup lead sport climbing events, relaxedly explained that he too will not be burdened and looks forward to the crowd's support. The press conference also featured our very successful Slovenian national team member Natalija Gros, who after fifteen years of climbing career is ending her competitive path. "For now, I'm not thinking about which path I'll take next..., wherever it leads, I'm sure I'll surrender to it. At the beginning of the year, I saw that I no longer feel that thrill

when I go to compete. My long-standing wish has been to leave at the top of my career." And how does she compare the Kranj World Cup event with others she has climbed in her extensive competitive career? "The Kranj event is always something special, always excellently prepared and executed. That's certainly a reason why climbers like to come to us," reflected Natalija.

Head of the Kranj 2011 World Cup Tomo Česen presented the event schedule, result updates, accuracy, and route setters at the press conference, who always do excellent work. The route setters for this Kranj event will be experienced climbers and route setters Simon Margon, Aljoša Grom, and Ukrainian Jevgenij Krivošejcev. "Registrations are closed. 97 competitors from 24 countries are registered – from Norway, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Macedonia, Canada, Korea, China, Japan, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Great Britain, Israel, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, France, Netherlands (and home Slovenia)," explained Česen. List of registered for the World Cup in Kranj.

This year's successes of Slovenian male and female sport climbers confirm the good, planned, and persistent work of the teams, coaches, and of course the climbers themselves, their strong motivation, and desire to be the best in the world. On behalf of everyone, especially the coaches and national team selector, congratulations for excellent work were given at the press conference by President of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia Bojan Rotovnik, and he wished the climbers great atmosphere and a good World Cup Kranj 2011 competition.

Schedule of the Kranj 2011 World Cup in lead sport climbing

(detailed)

Saturday - November 19

9.00 men's qualifications

14.00 women's qualifications

20.00 semifinals

Sunday - November 20

17.00 finals

Welcome to Kranj!

Zdenka Mihelič