Tina Maze, a Slovenian athlete is the first Slovenian to win an Alpine skiing world championship during the women’s giant slalom held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. She won the gold model as she defeated Federica Brignone from Italy by nine-hundredths of a second finishing at 2 minutes and 20.54 seconds.

The first few days of 2001 were victorious for Slovenia as two of their female athletes won in their winter sports. Petra Majdič, Slovenian cross-country star garnered gold during the women’s sprint final in the Tour de Ski series in Oberstdorf last Sunday. On the other hand, Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland got the second place and Astrid Jacobsen from Norway got the third place.

On the same day, Tina Maze, Slovenia’s best woman skier garnered second place in Sunday’s World Cup parallel slalom race held in Munich, Germany. She finished 47 hundredths of a second behind Maria Pietila-Holmner of Sweden who won the competition.

Tina Maze is a 26 years old athlete who is one of Slovenia’s best skiers and is one of the most triumphant Slovenian participants in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. She arrived home with a warm welcome from her countrymen after she garnered two silver medals. Her arrival was welcomed by her family, supporters as well as journalists. She had her press conference at the Ljubljana airport wherein she shared her wonderful experience in the Vancouver Winter Olympics and how she won the two silver medals for the super G and giant slalom events.

She claims that she’s extremely happy with the two silver medals she got and admits that she could have done better with the super combined competition. Maze ranked 9^th in the slalom and as well ranked 5^th in the super combined event. Currently, the famous skier is busy with her practice for the next season since she wants to get the title of the Overall World Cup Winner.

Before reaching Crna na Koroskem, Tina’s hometown, she stopped over at the Ljubljana Preseren Square. She was congratulated by the president of the Slovenian Olympic Committee (OKS) Janez Kocijancic, Education and Sport Minister Igor Luksic and Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Jankovic and was greeted by a lot of Slovenian people. On Tuesday, she will be proceeding to the Crans Montana World Cup meet wherein she won’t be able to join the other Slovenian athletes as they celebrate the reception ceremony for the participants of the Vancouver Olympics which will be held Preseren Square.

Experience and take part in the unforgettable atmosphere that comes with the annual Golden Fox event, this January 16 to 17, 2010 at Maribor, Snežni stadion (Snow Stadium, Mariborsko Pohorje). The Golden Fox event is a classical women’s competition wherein the best women skiers around the globe will compete in the slalom and giant slalom races. Branik, a skiing club had organized the Golden Fox competitions since 1963.

This year, 25,000 expected spectators will gather and witness this event at Mariborsko Pohorje, which produces the largest number of skiers in Slovenia, the longest downhill run in Europe, plus the best Slovenian ski center who received the Golden Snowflake Award. In the recent report, Slovenia maintained its top marks in the Freedom according to the Freedom House. A total of 133 women skiers are expected to join the 46^th Golden Fox meet from 28 countries around the globe with Slovenia having 8 representatives. The World Cup giant slalom will take place on January 16 followed by the slalom race on January 17. The first run is planned to start at 11 AM, while thee second run at 2 PM. Sunday’s slalom runs are scheduled for 9.15 AM as well as 12.15 PM.

The said event will feature Slovenia’s best skiers including Tina Maze, the champion in the giant slalom at the Golden Fox last year. She will join together with Ana Drev, Marusa Ferk, Sara Globocnik, Katja Jazbec, Ilka Stuhec, Katarina Lavtar and Ula Hafner. An estimated amount of EUR 1.2 million is the budget of this event has which has been constant for the last four years, and the prices of tickets will remain unchanged: EUR 4 for adults and EUR 2 for children. Approximately 300 Slovenian and foreign reporters as well as 3 TV stations will also be covering the said event.