Countdown: 100 days remaining until Kranjska Gora 2026

Interview with Tomaž Šušteršič, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee Kranjska Gora 2026

1. Which key preparations are currently taking place at the Podkoren venue, and have the FIS representatives already inspected the site?
The venue of the Alpine Ski World Cup competitions in Kranjska Gora, specifically the Podkoren slope, will once again this year undergo upgrades and improvements to the snowmaking system. We know that snow preparation in the early and late winter periods is crucial for hosting both World Cup events, for women as well as for men, which is why we already engaged last year the company Technoalpin, one of the world leaders in complex snowmaking systems. This year, 10 additional state-of-the-art snow cannons will be installed along the racecourse, and the cooling system for water intake, which is needed for the most efficient operation, will be improved. Both World Cup directors at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) were informed about this already at the beginning of September, visited the venue in person, and supported the proactivity of the organizers.

2. What organizational challenges does planning such a large event less than half a year before the race bring?
The organization of such a major international sporting event always requires coordinated action of the entire organizational structure, and activities begin with planning immediately after the conclusion of the previous competition. At the moment, our greatest concern is the global climate change, of which we, as organizers of winter events, are also victims, as well as challenges related to securing financial resources for the organization and the relationships among stakeholders, which are crucial for the correct execution of the competition. Of course, we always want coordinated cooperation with the local community and the tourism sector. On the other hand, we can be reassured, as the competition is considered to be excellently organized and achieves some of the highest television ratings of the entire World Cup circuit. Since the relocation of the event from Maribor, we have also recorded growth in the number of fans coming to Kranjska Gora and increased interest from international sponsors. Both facts convince us that we approached the renewal of the event’s concept correctly, one that places female competitors, former competitors, and the entertainment program at the center.

3. How do you coordinate during the summer months with the local community, tourism providers, and volunteers?
Every coordination among stakeholders requires a certain amount of time and energy. Especially when working with the local community, we believe we have set ourselves on the right path, but we still have considerable opportunities to better utilize the synergistic effects of the competition, which are especially important for the international visibility of the destination and the long-term multiplicative effects on tourism. With the growth of the event, the value of services and all other contributions to the project also increases. It is simply a matter of long-term cooperation and a synchronized understanding of the opportunities and obligations arising from it. We believe that the balance is always in favor of the destination hosting such events. Volunteers, many of whom come directly from the local environment, always represent the most precious core of sporting events, which makes working with them a pure joy. I would also emphasize that most sporting events would no longer exist at all without volunteers.

4. What improvements can we expect for the 2026 competition that will encourage visitors to come to Kranjska Gora even more to support the best female Alpine skiers in the world?
In 2026 we are placing the main emphasis on the accompanying program, which will be based on an unforgettable skiing party, similar to the well-known après-ski. For this purpose, we are introducing a special animation platform and an additional event tent for spectators. We also wish that visitors would recognize the true value of women’s Alpine skiing, since in Kranjska Gora the women race practically on the same competition course as their male colleagues two months later. This is also a special "uniqueness" in the World Cup circuit, as elsewhere the venues for men and women are usually separate.

The Podkoren venue will thus, also in the coming season, be the center of sporting events that traditionally attract more than ten thousand of spectators and millions of television viewers.

Uroš Zupan, director of SAS and Tomaž Šušteršič, Secretary General of OC Kranjska Gora at last years FIS Ski World Cup Women Kranjska Gora 2025. Photo: Zavod Sloski / Mediaspeed.

Entertainment and Competition Program:

Friday, January 2, 2026

• Entertainment program, Alpine Village, Kranjska Gora – 19:30

Saturday, January 3, 2026

• Giant Slalom – 1st run 10:00 / 2nd run 13:00

• Public award ceremony for the best competitors in the Giant Slalom race and public draw of start numbers for Sunday’s Slalom – Medal Plaza, Kranjska Gora – 19:00

• Coldplay Tribute Concert – Medal Plaza, Kranjska Gora

Sunday, January 4, 2026

• Slalom – 1st run 9:30 / 2nd run 12:15

• Award ceremony for the best competitors in the Slalom after the race – Finish Arena