STA, 8 February 2019 - Three events will be held in the Slovenian town of Ljubno ob Savinji as part of the Ski Jumping World Cup for women, starting on Friday with the first of the two individual events. A total of 62 competitors from a record 18 countries are expected.
The Savina Ski Jumping Centre will see all top competitors this season bar Austrian Daniela Iraschko-Stolz (illness) and Slovenia's Ema Klinec (injury).
In-between Friday's and Sunday's individual events, a team event will be held on Saturday, featuring nine teams, including the Slovenian team headlined by Nika Križnar, the best Slovenian this World Cup season.
Križnar, who is currently 8th in the World Cup standings, will be joined by another five Slovenian women ski jumpers at the 94-metre hill, at which Iraschko-Stolz holds the record with a 96.5-metre jump in 2017.
"I'm really happy that we'll be able to welcome the world elite also this year," Rajko Pintar, the head of the organising committee, said of the event, hosted by the town in northern Slovenia for the eight time.
"We are ready and the interest is great," he said, adding that the weather was expected to be nice and that between four and five thousand spectators were expected to show up.
Much is expected from the Slovenian team, which is missing its best member Ema Klinec, who had two podium finishes at the start of the season before suffering an injury in December.
Križnar will now be the main favourite for Slovenia and the new head coach Zoran Zupančič admits that "there is some nervousness ahead of the competition at home". "We've been in a competitive rhythm since the New Year's and we're stepping up our form nicely."
Križnar said that the main favourites would be Maren Lundby of Norway, Sara Takanashi of Japan and Katharina Althaus of Germany. "But I hope I'll be able to compete for the medals myself," added the 18-year-old.
Starting time Feb. 8th (NH): 14.00
Starting time Feb. 9th (Team): 14.00
Starting time Feb. 10th (NH): 14.00
