One of the biggest and most important sports events in Croatia, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup “Vip Snow Queen Trophy”, will take place on 3rd and 5th January 2012.
For the eighth consecutive time Sljeme will become the centre of the skiing world hosting best skiers in the world. The organisers, Croatian Ski Association, expect large number of spectators and representatives of both Croatian and foreign media.
The best female skiers will compete today, 3rd January, while the best male skiers, including Croatian and world champion Ivica Kostelic, will race on 5th January. Like last year, both slalom races will be night races. The start of the first women’s run will be around 3pm, while the second race will start around 6pm. The men’s race is expected to start around 2.30pm, and the second run around 5.30pm.
Tickets for Vip Snow Queen Trophy are on sale at selected Vip centres and Generalturist’s offices and online at www.ulaznice.hr. Prices start from HRK 25 to HRK 120. In addition to the attractive slalom races, the price includes transport, Croatian singers’ performances at Krumpiriste, sponsors’ raffle entry and games, and free refreshments. The general sponsor of the event is Vipnet.
Yesterday, Croatian translation of the book "Ultimate skiing", one of the most valuable works which deals with all aspects of skiing as a human activity, was presented within Vip Snow Queen Trophy 2012. Author of the book, Ron LeMaster, is one of the leading American experts on ski technique, while the editor of the Croatian edition is the best Croatian ski coach Ante Kostelic, father of Janica and Ivica Kostelic.
The Snow Queen race was named after Croatia’s and world skiing champion Janica Kostelic, who was nicknamed “Snow Queen” by fans in honour of her victories. Janica Kostelic was the World Cup Champion in 2001, 2003 and 2006, and is considered to be one of the best female alpine skiers of all time.
Originally, the event only consisted of the ladies' slalom, and the men's race followed in 2008. In 2009, the organising committee of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Vip Snow Queen Trophy Zagreb-Sljeme was included into the organisation of the next 4-year-agenda of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup.