Skiing Competitions on Mt. Kopaonik

Two international skiing competitions, the FIS Bambi Cup for children 12 to 15 years of age and the Simpo FIS Championship of Serbia for seniors, were held in late February and in early March.

By Aleksandar Marković, Photo by Milan Melka

Children from Norway, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia & Montenegro took part in the 11^th Bambi Cup at the Duboka ski pist in the slalom and giant slalom disciplines.

The best among 12-year-old competitors were Ana Bucik from Slovenia and Marek Martinček from Slovakia. The host’s honour was defended with Marija Humo’s victory in the competition for 14-year-old competitors while Alexander Berg from Norway took the title in the men’s category. In the 1990s the Bambi Cup, along with children’s skiing competitions in Topollino (Italy) and Pokal Loka (Slovenia), was one of the most significant championships in Europe. In organizing this year’s Cup, held from February 27 – 28, the Skiing Association of Serbia did its best to return glory to this championship.

The seniors’ competition for the Trophy of Serbia, held under the auspices of the World Ski Federation (FIS), gathered major skiing powers such as France, Slovenia and Croatia , as well as Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia on the 2^nd and 3^rd of March.

In an exciting and tough slalom competition on Mt. Kopaonik, skiers Jelena Lolović, Marija Trmčić and Želimir Vuković, who represented Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, also participated.

Grega Brajovič (Slovenia) was the best in the men’s competition, topping Stefan Georgijev and Dean Todorov from Bulgaria.

Jelena Lolović triumphed in the women’s competition, topping Marija Trmčić and Ingrid Bot from France. On the Duboka ski course Jelena glided down the hill eight seconds faster than she did at the Olympic competition in Turin.