Winter in SLOVEnia
Four seasons, four charms of Slovenia. Feel them! Those who usually come in
summer and are familiar with the country’s green landscapes may hardly
recognise them in winter time and vice versa. In Slovenia, everything that is
charming starts with a song – also in winter. In the Toboggan Polka, one may
even hear a distinctive ”shshts” – the sound of a turn on a fresh snow! This hit
song composed by the Avsenik brothers who are known worldwide as the kings
of polka and the founding fathers of the popular folk music is one of those
evergreens which one can also hear on ski lifts and at après-ski parties on
Slovenian ski slopes.
The Avsenik brothers, Slavko and Vilko, come from Gorenjska, a region featuring
the highest and, therefore, usually snow-covered peaks. Slovenia is probably one
of the few countries where one can escape to a ski slope even in the middle of a
working day and then return to the town on the same day. Moreover, in making
turns on snowy slopes, Slovenes have achieved a cult status, however not only
owing to Tina Maze, the ambassadress of the Slovenian tourism and the recordholder in the overall standings in the women’s Alpine Ski World Cup. Having been
the first to use wooden skies in order to be able to move across the winter
landscape, be it for the purpose of hunting, daily errands or simply for pleasure,
the skiers from the Bloke Plateau are known as pioneers in the Central Europe.
Shshts on fresh Slovenian snow
There is hardly anything more pleasant to be experienced in Slovenia in winter time than a
ride down a snowy slope and a sunbath in front of a mountain hut amid the snow-covered
peaks. Even more adrenaline and the feeling of freedom are released during ski touring on
powder snow or while climbing frozen waterfalls. The winter romantic atmosphere from the
tales is revived on treks in snowshoes on deep snow or while night sledding down the
illuminated slopes in the middle of the Julian Alps and the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps. The
article published last year in the Guardian describes enthusiastically the advantages of
winter holidays in Slovenia – natural fresh snow, accommodation just steps away from
skiing slopes amid the unspoilt nature, more than competitively priced ski holidays,
excellent courses and hospitable local people. Visit this natural white fairy-tale! This year’s
novelty is a single season ski pass, Active Slovenia (ESSV AS), which interconnects all
major Slovenian ski resorts. For more information on the offer, please visit
www.activeslo.com and the web portals of the ski centres.
A Country of the Alps and Winter Sports
A green, active and healthy Slovenia is a diversified Alpine country which as to the number
of superb achievements in winter sports is among the leading countries in the world. The
Slovenians collected the record-breaking eight medals during the last Winter Olympic
Games! We carry alpine skiing, Nordic disciplines and snowboarding in our hearts
also as hosts of the World Cup events. In winter, Slovenia abounds in natural snow.
The modern ski centres boast a total of more than 300 km of ski runs and 280 km
of winter cross-country trails. To sum up, almost every bigger place has a ski centre in
its vicinity.
Venues of World Cup Events
The winter season kicks off at the beginning of December and usually ends in April. The
most popular ski centres are Kranjska Gora, the venue of the 54th Vitranc Cup featuring
the men's World Cup competition in slalom and giant slalom to take place on 14 and 15
March 2015, Mariborsko Pohorje, the host of the 51st Golden Fox women’s FIS
competition in slalom and giant slalom on 21 and 22 February 2015, and Rogla which
excels for its well-prepared ski-runs and cross-country trails amid its snow-covered
forests. The pleasures of winter can also be enjoyed on Krvavec, only a 15-minute drive
from Ljubljana, as well as on the slopes of Cerkno, Vogel, Golte and Stari Vrh and on more
than thirty other smaller ski slopes throughout the country. The pleasure of making turns
on white slopes is upgraded by the après-ski parties and indulgences in wellness
centres, which can be reached by taking a stroll even in ski boots.
Alpine Skiing and Nordic Disciplines
For adventure seekers who wish to have an even closer contact with nature there are
excellent possibilities for ski touring in Slovenia. Fighting through the untouched powder
snow and victorious mountain peak views are an unforgettable experience. In Slovenia,
you can hire certified guides who will take care of your safety and show you spots around
Kranjska Gora, Lake Bohinj, Vršič or Pokljuka where ski touring is especially popular. The
Triglav National Park is an excellent starting point for cross-country skiing. The Pokljuka
Plateau above Bled features more than 30 km of well-prepared cross-country ski trails.
The plateau surrounded by forests has frequently hosted the Biathlon World Cup and is a
popular training centre for athletes. Zreško Polje, the Rogla Cross-Country Centre, offers
seven various polygons for each type of cross-country skiers. Both Pokljuka and Rogla
offer accommodation supplemented by an excellent catering service. Slovenia is a country
of long ski jumps. Planica where the Slovenian eagles learn how to fly best is well-known
for its Nordic Centre and the organisation of the Ski Flying World Cup Finals. In the current
competition season, this event will take place between 19 and 22 March 2015. In winter
there are eight ski jumping hills at disposal: from the smallest for children to the second
largest ski jumping hill in the world that lags behind the record-holder Vikersundbakken,
Norway, by only ten metres.
Night Sledding and Torch Hikes
There are several Slovenian sports agencies which offer the possibility of organised
sledding; the participants are driven to the hilltop and then take an amusing ride to the
bottom of the hill. The feeling of speed, cold fresh air and peace in the snow-covered
nature is a unique and invigorating experience. Night sledding amid the Alps additionally
increases the heart rate, since the only source of light are the snow, the torches and the
stars. The attractions of the Slovenian winter landscape can be discovered by taking a
trip on dog sleds or on horse. Exciting winter adventures can also be experienced by
ice climbing, winter fishing and skating. One of the most beautiful natural ice rinks can
be found in the idyllic Jezersko region in the northern part of the country. The ice
frequently covers several Alpine lakes, the most popular being Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled.
Several Slovenian towns feature small open-air synthetic ice rinks in the vicinity of sport
and shopping centres that add a special touch of magic to the festive holiday atmosphere.
In the Alpine and Sub-Alpine parts of Slovenia, many local people have grown up
hand in hand with hiking and mountaineering. Today there are more than ten
thousand kilometres of well-maintained mountain paths. The Alpine Association of
Slovenia provides for their accessibility also when the country is covered in snow. From the
mountains whose summits tower more than two thousand metres above sea level there
are breath-taking views on white peaks and valleys. Night hikes with torches through
winter landscapes are especially romantic. A contribution to an authentic experience
is made by hospitable mountain hut keepers. They are happy to offer the hikers a homemade Alpine tea, hot
jota (bean and pickled turnip soup)
or sour milk – delicacies
which warm up a sporting heart. The Slovenian winter is characterised by lots of laughter
and fun. In winter, almost every Slovenian family builds in front of their house a snowman
with a small carrot instead of a nose. During the traditional event called Castles of King
Matthew which has been taking place under Mount Peca in Koroška since 1993, the teams
from Slovenia and abroad are competing in building sculptures and castles made of
ice and snow. On the other side that is in Kranjska Gora there is the Ice Park where you
can learn ice carving yourselves.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Slovenian Tourist Board
Dimičeva 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Tel.: 00386 (0)1 5898 550, Fax: 00386 (0)1 5898 560
www.slovenia.info/press
Brina Čehovin, Head of Marketing, brina.cehovin@slovenia.info
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