In December I attended International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup in Engelberg, a mountain village in Central Switzerland, with my husband, brother and friends. It was not my first time attending the ski jumping, but was definitely the best one up to date.
Supporting Slovenian athletes
First of all a short explanation of ski jumping for all of you, who are not familiar with this sport: ski jumping is a sport in which athletes descent a from a specially constructed take-off ramp, jump and and attempt to fly as far as possible down the hill below. Male version of this sport has been a part of the Winter Olympic since the very first games in 1924, while females were included to compete at the 2014 Olympics for the first time.
Engelberg hosts Ski Jumping World Cup event every year on its ski jumping venue Gross-Titlis. This ski jump named after the local Titlis mountain, is the biggest ski jumping facility in Switzerland.
Swiss cheering for their ski jumpers
I must admit I’m a big fan of ski jumping. I’m following this sport since I remember. Attending the Engelberg Ski Jumping event in person was an amazing experience. I highly enjoyed observing world’s best ski jumpers competing in a beautiful setting of Engelberg on a warm winter day in a great company. A great day that ended perfectly. We witnessed the historical result of Slovenian athletes. Brothers Peter and Domen Prevc finished first and the second and acieved first-ever victory of brothers in the FIS Ski Jumping World cup. How amazing is that?
The youngest athlete 16-years old Domen Prevc finished second
To top up, this amazing result, the athlete who finished as the third was one of my favourite athletes in the ski jumping competition: 43-years old Japanese veteran Noriaki Kasai. Result-wise, we couldn’t chose better event.
Perfect result for Slovenian team
My highlight of the day was not the result, but me meeting the winner Peter Prevc and the head coach of Slovenian team Goran Janus. Both of them walked the fan area and were very kind when my brother and I approached them and talked to them.
The podium ceremony
The event was well organised, as it is common at sports events in Switzerland. There were some fun activities entertaining visitors during the breaks, and there was a large tent where we warmed ourselves with mulled wine and filled our bellies with some food.
Beautiful Engelberg setting
All in all, the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup in Engelberg was great experience. I’m already looking forward to attend it again in next season.
Slovenian Girl Abroad 
Nice post and interesting (dreadful really but good now) to hear women have been able to compete since 2014.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Actually, women were allowed to compete prior to 2014. In 2014, female ski jumping was included in the programme of the Winter Olympic Games for the very first time. But yeah, development of the top level ladies ski jumping competitions was a slow process and is still not on the same level as the men’s. Luckily, it got better in recent years and hopefully the woman’s ski jumping will will have a bright future. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the clarification Urska. Much appreciated. I hope women’s ski jumping will have a great future too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the Slovine win. So where do the brothers practice? I don’t remember seeing jumps or many ski resorts when we toured.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, we were thrilled after such an amazing result. 🙂
Slovenia has a long tradition of ski jumping and ski jumping facilities can be found in many places, mostly in Gorenjska region. Most of those are not very big, but we have one of the largest ski ramps in the world where many records in ski jumping were set. This best know Slovenian ski jumping facility is in Planica where the final event of the World Cup is traditionally held. Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another ski resort, Kranjska Gora (where one of the Alpine Ski World Cup races is held). 🙂
LikeLike
Bravo naši! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a good day and place to be a Slovenian. Excellent that you were able to attend and meet him. Planica is waiting? 🙂 Even my amore, who is from Roma, was watching a competition or two on TV right now when we were visiting Slovenia and was quite impressed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it was a good day to be Slovenian. 🙂
Hehehe, its hard to avoid the Prevc euphoria when in Slovenia. I hope it will last. 🙂
I’m afraid I won’t be able to go to Planica as I am attending my friend’s wedding in Scotland on that weekend. Perhaps next year. Are you going?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t believe we will make it. Most other Slovenians will, I’m sure. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ski jumping is amazing to watch. When we were in Slovenia we actually started cycling near a new ski jump that was being built.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! I admire those guys and girls. It must take a lot of courage and practice to be able to jump like they do 🙂 It was recently in the news that new nordic centre, you’ve been to, is already completed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll have to come back home in March and visit Planica – the attendance will be huge!!!
LikeLike
I know! I would go, if I wouldn’t have a wedding to attend. 🙂
LikeLike
Looks fun! I’d love to watch ski jumping in person some day, have only seen on tv (that is, of the professionals..)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks fun and very exciting…as long as I am not the one having to jump! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha, I wouldn’t try to jump either. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no idea women couldn’t compete in the Olympics in jumping until 2014, that’s crazy! Definitely not a sport I’d try, although it looks really fun to watch! #FarawayFiles
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, For each Olympics IOC adds some sports and ladies ski jumping only made the cut for the 2014 Olympics. They also left it in the programme for the 2018 Olympics. 🙂
LikeLike
Re-reading for #farawayfiles and am actually a bit shocked that women weren’t let into the Olympics until 2014?! That’s crazy. I’m so in awe of ski jumpers!
LikeLike
You couldn’t have wished for a better result – what a fantastic day!
I’d love to watch a ski jumping event. The nearest I’ve come is a visit to Holmenkollen, a ski jump near Oslo. We visited in the summer and it was amazing to stand at the top and look down. Some people were zip-lining down the jump itself but I didn’t have the nerve.
#arawayfiles
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, couldn’t wish for a better result. 🙂
I didn’t know they have zipline in Hollmenkolm. Awesome. They have one in Planica in Slovenia. There you can “fly” over one of the largest ski jumps in the world. I did it and was awesome. After that I have even bigger respect for the ski jumpers.
LikeLike
A perfect #FarawayFiles post this week! Love seeing the Winter Olympics sports up close and personal! I’ve never attended a Ski-Jump competition, but we’ve seen some downhill racing and snowboard half-pipe, small local competitions. In Denmark, they call this even the “ski-hop” which is amusing to me as it seems MUCH bigger than a hop implies! Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin #FarawayFiles
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, fits perfectly with the Olympic theme. 🙂 I saw the downhill competition in Wengen, Switzerland, but have never been to any snowboard competitions. Free-style events, like half-pipe seem quite spectacular. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the showmanship of the freestyle and halfpipe events!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How exciting to meet the winners in person, Urska, particularly as it’s a sport you’ve followed for so long! #FarawayFiles
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that was definitely one of the highlights of this day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person