Milestones

Turning point in history

1689
In The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola Janez Vajkard Valvasor describes Bloke skiing. On the plateau and the valley between the Ribnica field and the Cerknica field Bloke skiing began to develop.

1890
Stanko Bloudek was born, yet today the father of Slovenian ski sport. Many disciplines want to claim him, also the representatives of winter sports. The legendary athlete, trainer, constructor ... died in 1959 with an interesting sports heritage left behind.

1895
In the 90’s of the nineteenth century modern skiing began to develop at several places in Slovenia. A number of records and first photos can prove that.

1910
Unofficial group of skiers called DREN was founded.

1912
The pioneer of ski instruction in Slovenia, Rudolf Badjura, visited the Bloke plateau and started with a detailed exploration of this form of skiing. Badjura has done a lot for the ski literature and gave the initiative for the establishment of the first ski club in 1920 in Ljubljana.

1921
First unofficial national championships in ski jumping and cross-country skiing in Bohinj was held.

1922
The Yugoslav winter sports association was founded in Ljubljana.

1924
Two cross-country skiers, Zdenko Švigelj and Vladimir Kajzelj, attended the first Winter Olympic Games (Chamonix, France). Slovenian athletes were then in substantial majority in Yugoslav teams until the independence of Slovenia in 1991

1934
For the first time Planica hosted an international competition in ski jumping. Already two years later the magic border of 100 metres was beaten, and 60 years later more than 200 metres was reached.

1942
Tone Vogrinec was born. He influenced the development and assertion of competitive Alpine skiing mainly in the last three decades of the 20th century as a competitor, trainer team and ski pool director.

1948
Ski Association of Slovenia was founded. Its first president became Danilo Dougan, PhD.

1961
The Slovenians got their ski jumper on the list of world record holders. On 24th February in Oberstdorf, Joze Šlibar landed at 141 metres. In the same year, two FIS competitions were held in Kranjska Gora and they both historicized as the first Vitranc Cup.

1964
First international competition for Golden Fox took place in Pohorje.

1972
For the first time Planica hosted World Championships in Ski Flying. In subsequent years World Championships in Planica was held for another four times.

1980
As a Yugoslav representative Bojan Križaj reached the first Slovenian victory in slalom. In his career he managed to »collect« eight victories.

1981
In Thunder Bay, Primož Ulaga - now a marketing Director of Nordic disciplines – was happy to reach his first victory in ski jumping. Altogether he managed to »collect« nine victories.

1982
In Schladmig, Boris Strel (giant slalom) and Bojan Križaj (slalom) won the first Slovenian medals at World Championships.

1984
The Olympic Games in Sarajevo were also marked by Slovenian athletes. At the opening ceremony Bojan Križaj swore a solemn oath in the name of the athletes. In Giant slalom Jure Franko reached second place and Slovenia got its first Winter Olympic medal.

1986
With five victories in the season Rok Petrovič won the  Crystal Globe in slalom. Bojan Križaj came second, Mateja Svet, the first female to win in the World Cup competition, came third in Giant slalom.

1987
Bojan Križaj won the Crystal Globe in slalom. At the World Championships in Crans Montana Mateja Svet managed to collect three medals

1988
At Olympic Games in Calgary the Slovenian skiers represented Yugoslavia for the last time. Mateja Svet won silver medal in slalom, Matjaž Debelak won bronze medal in ski jumping (middle hill), ski jumping team: M. Debelak, Tepeš, Zupan and Ulaga won silver medal. Prior Ulaga won silver medal at the Worl Ski Flying Championships. At the end of the season Mateja Svet won the Crystal Globe in Giant slalom.

1989
The best Slovenian female skier, Mateja Svet, became the World Champion in slalom in Vail. In addition, she won a bronze medal in Giant slalom (awarded to her later), Tomaž Čižman surprised with the third place in Super Giant slalom.

1991
On 25th June Slovenia became independent, and Ski Association of Slovenia (SAS) was no longer a part of Yugoslav Ski Association. On 10th November – even before Slovenia was politically acknowledged - SAS was welcomed by FIS.

Franci Petek became the World Champion in ski jumping (middle hill), Nataša Bokal was a runner-up in slalom at the World Championships in Alpine skiing (both representatives of Yugoslavia). At the end of the year they both became the best athletes of the year in independent Slovenia (chosen by Sports Journalists Association).

1992
For the first time in history 25 athletes represented the independent Slovenia at Winter Olympic Games (Albertville, France).

1993
Jure Košir (slalom) and Katja Koren (Super Giant slalom) won the first medals for the independent Slovenia at World Cup competitions.

1994
Olympic Games were held in Lillehammer, also known as the Bronze Age of Slovenian Alpine skiing. Three bronze medals were won: Jure Košir and Katja Koren in slalom and Alenka Dovžan in combined.

1995
1995 was a dream season of Slovenian Alpine skiers. Košir won a silver medal in Giant slalom and a bronze one in slalom and overall standings in the World Cup. Spela Pretnar was third in Giant slalom.

1996
As the first Slovenian female biathlon racer Andreja Grašič stood on the highest podium of the World Cup (Osrblie) and at the end of the season also won first place individually. Urban Franc won a bronze medal at the World Ski Flying Championships in Kulm.

1997
Primož Peterka became the winner of the World Cup in ski jumping overall. He beat the competitors in the classification of flying as well.
The best Slovenian snowboarder Dejan Košir won his first victory.
The foundations of a new discipline within SAS were laid - telemark skiing. David Primožič was the one with great results.

1998
Primož Peterka defended his title of the best ski jumper and won the large Crystal Globe for the second time.

2000
After an exceptional season Špela Pretnar won the Crystal Globe in slalom. In overall Super Giant slalom standings Mojca Suhadolc was third, in overall slalom standings Matjaž Vrhovnik was third as well.

2002
At the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City ski jumping team (Fras, Peterka, Kranjec and Žonta) won a bronze medal.
Portorož hosted a FIS Congress.

2003
In Östersund Janez Marič was the first Slovenian male biathlon racer to win World Cup competition, in Kreischberg Dejan Košir became the World Champion in parallel slalom in snowboarding.

2005
In Obersdorfu Rok Benkovič became world champion on middle hill, his team, including Peterka, Damjan and Bogataj won a bronze medal. At the end of the season, thousands of people witnessed a new world record in Planica, it was 67th in the valley below Ponce. Bjoeren Einer Roemoren landed at 239 metres. Planica once again asserted its important role in ski flying.

2006
Petra Majdič celebrated her first victory in World Cup competitions.
SAS headquarters moved to a more comfortable and larger fascility (from Parmova ulica to Podutiška ulica in Ljubljana).

2007
Petra Majdič was a runner up in sprint. Andrej Jerman became the first Slovenian to win in downhill skiing, which was definitely a revolution for ski fans in Slovenia.
At the world championships in snowboarding in Arosa, Rok Flander won a gold medal in parallel Giant slalom, and came third in parallel slalom.

2008
Petra Majdič won a crystal globe in sprint, Tina Maze celebrated the first Slovenian female victory in downhill, Saša Farič came second in skier cross overall.

2009
An exceptional season of Slovenian »winter princesses«: at the World Championships in Val d'Isere, Tina Maze came second in Giant slalom and was third in overall standings; Petra Majdič won the large Crystal Globe in sprint and was second in overall standings; Teja Gregorin surprisingly won a silver medal at the World Championships in biathlon, Saša Farič came third at X-games.

2010
Unforgettable Olympic Games in Vancouver. Tina Maze won two silver medals (Giant slalom and Super Giant slalom). After falling into an unprotected hole at the course which resulted in broken ribs, Petra Majdič won a bronze medal in sprint and became a Slovenian national heroine. Andrej Šporn came second in a prestige downhill in  Kitzbuechl, Andrej Jerman won in Bormio. The best ski jumpers gathered in Planica at the World Championships in ski flying. More than 82.000 fans cheered Slovenian ski flyers. Robert Kranjec came fifth.