Thursday, 11th November 2010, Velenje, Slovenia
New Nordic Ski season is under way
.jpg)
On November 10th 2010, the Slovenian Nordic Ski Team held a press conference at Gorenje's Velenje Showroom. Ski jumping and Nordic Combined teams were presented to over 25 sports reporters.
The teams were welcomed by Mr. Aleksander Uranc, Head of Marketing at Gorenje, who was pleased about the success so far: "In the previous season, Gorenje was pleased and proud to see the success of the Nordic Ski teams. A solid roster of the teams present today evokes confidence among the supporters that new success is under way in the upcoming season. Gorenje's appearance in the media in the role of a sponsor is an excellent building block of its reputation and distinction in Europe and beyond; therefore, we have signed a new four-year general sponsorship agreement at the end of the last season."
Mr. Franci Petek, Sports Director of ski jumping and Nordic Combined team, said the teams were in top form, ready and eager to win places from 6th upwards in the World Cup.
Before the launch of the new World Cup season in Kuusamo, Finland, end of November, the ski jumpers and Nordic Combined contestants will have their last practice sessions on snowfields and snow-covered jumping hills in Austria and Germany. "Tests and most recent practices have shown everything to be in order; however, the matches will be the ultimate indicator of the team's current strength," adds Mr. Franci Petek who is looking forward to the new season. Our best ski jumper in the last season, Robert Kranjec, says: "During our summer practice, there were no swings in performance and therefore I have a good feeling about the coming winter. I am looking forward to the practices on snow and the approaching matches."
The key goals of the ski jumpers this season include the World Championships, the Four Hills Tournament, and the season finale in Planica. "We wish to finish among the top three at least three times, and among the top six at least four times in the World Cup. Given the team's motivation and current and form, I am convinced we can take a step further than last year," said chief ski jumping coach Mr. Matjaž Zupan.
Gorenje's partnership with the Nordic teams will have "turned legal age" in the coming season as it reaches the 18th year. The new four-year general sponsorship agreement was signed in June this year. Mr. Drago Bahun, Gorenje Management Board member, said at the signing of the agreement, that Gorenje has been a proud sponsor of the Slovenian Nordic Teams, in good times and bad, and that the tradition of sponsorship would continue in the future.