Rogla hosting penultimate Snowboard World Cup event
Rogla, 15 March - Slovenia's Rogla will host on Wednesday the penultimate event of the Snowboard World Cup and the last parallel giant slalom both for women and men. It will be an opportunity for Slovenian competitors for a good showing in what was a mediocre season following a very good start.
Rogla
Snowboarding in the Slovenian ski resort of Rogla.
Photo: Jure Makovec/STA
File photo
Following the second place for Tim Mastnak in the men's parallel slalom and Gloria Kotnik's victory in the women's parallel slalom at the start of the season last December, Slovenians have had sub-par results in the remainder of the World Cup.
They are not happy with their showing at the recent Snowboarding World Championships, so they will try to give their best in another highlight of their season, the home World Cup event at Rogla, where they train regularly.
Judging by the current form, Mastnak, the silver medallist in the parallel giant slalom from the Beijing Olympics, is Slovenia's main favourite, but he is careful about predictions.
"We would definitely like to see as many spectators as possible, as the fans give you an extra incentive. It is however difficult to promise anything in our sport, especially on the home piste," he said.
Rok Marguč, who has one podium finish at Rogla, noted that Slovenians had trained with the strongest team in the Snowboard World Cup - Austria, adding that the results inspired optimism.
"We had fierce and competitive duels with the Austrians. We all took it as a race, so I think it was very useful," said Marguč, while Kotnik, who is making a return after a knee injury and surgery, is also satisfied with the trainings.
Slovenians have no chances of making it among the top three overall at the end of the season, neither in the men's, nor the women's standings. Mastnak is currently 15th and Kotnik 16th.