The first day of the Ski Jumping World Cup finals in Planica this year was really something special. The first of four competitions was held on Thursday in the Planica Valley, to which the Triglav Insurance Company brought more than 3,500 children and their chaperones in around 70 buses. Kids from all over Slovenia created an amazing atmosphere around the Gorišek brothers’ ski jump, and the world’s best ski jumpers with Peter Prevc at the fore rewarded them with new record. At the end of the week, the Triglav Insurance Company, which has been involved with the Planica ski flying events for nearly half a century, will offer shoppers at the Citypark shopping centre in Ljubljana the opportunity to try out the giant ski jump using virtual-reality technology. And people in the centre of the capital city will be able to view the ski-flying spectacle outdoors.
Elementary schoolchildren from Murska Sobota to Koper – more than 3,500 together with their chaperones, and 12 large families and groups of children with special needs – boarded around 70 buses in the early morning and headed off for new adventures on the first day of competition in Planica. This was a day of youthful adrenaline, gathering in unspoiled nature and a day without alcohol, which in addition to the best ski jumpers in the world also featured the rapper Trkaj and Triglav’s popular mascot, Willy Watchdog.
Peter Prevc on the Triglav generations at Planica
As a long-time partner of the Ski Association of Slovenia and the main sponsor of Planica 2016, the Triglav Insurance Company has been supporting Slovenian sporting heroes for many years. Many of them, including Peter Prevc, have become ambassadors for the company and its socially responsible projects. In these projects they encourage children to participate in sports and show them how sports bring people together, create positive energy and leave lasting memories. Therefore the Triglav generation – undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the Planica ski flying competitions – cheer on our ski jumpers, who finish the season every year in the Planica Valley. “Planica is a challenge for us jumpers every year. It is an amazing feeling to finish the season on home snow. This year I am really enjoying the finals in the Planica Valley,” said this year’s top ski jumper Peter Prevc in the finish area. “Jumping in front of a crowd of thousands of children today was fantastic. Their excitement was really contagious. After the competitions, we love taking some time and hanging out with them. It’s great that the Triglav Insurance Company can make it possible for them to enjoy a day like this.”
A spectacle for a crowd of thousands of young fans
“We are very proud to have made children happy for more than three decades. We give the kids the chance to visit Planica, watch the ski jumping and enjoy each other’s company outdoors. The interest among the schools is huge. Every year we bring as many children as possible from all over Slovenia – this year we brought a record number, and the total number over the years is almost 90,000. This Thursday they will be able to see the spectacle live. They will have the opportunity to meet top-level competitors, other sports fans and children. In this way we are promoting their interest in sports and in healthy lifestyles. This is one of the many contributions that we at Triglav can make within the framework of corporate social responsibility,” said member of the Triglav management board Tadej Čoroli about the campaign, which has become one of the best-established annual projects in Slovenia. In order to raise awareness of the negative societal consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, Triglav, via its Everything’s Going To Be All Right foundation, supported the 40 days Without Alcohol campaign. The preventative campaign will continue at this year’s Ski Jumping World Cup finals. Visitors to Planica will be able to participate voluntarily and take alcohol tests.
Virtual ski jumping and screening on special Citylight digital billboard
The Triglav Insurance Company will once again this year bring the Planica classic into new dimensions using Oculus Rift software. The use of virtual technology gives the general public the opportunity to experience ski jumping on the Planica giant hill for themselves. The virtual 3D goggle experience currently provides by far the best ski jumping simulation at the legendary Planica venue. The virtual reality technology has also been tested by past and present Slovenian ski jumping champions (Peter Prevc, Jurij Tepeš and Franci Petek) who were thrilled by the virtual ski jumps.
Visitors to the Citypark shopping centre at the BTC shopping complex in Ljubljana will have the chance to experience a record-setting ski jump using Oculus Rift goggles on Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 March.
In the centre of Ljubljana (at Pošta Slovenije near the bus station), Triglav will be screening the Ski Jumping World Cup finals on the special Citylight digital billboard all the way through Sunday. Passers-by will be able to see all of the competitions in Planica outdoors on the big screen.
Care for the Planica Valley
The Triglav Insurance Company also cares about the environment in the Planica Valley. In the desire to preserve the mountain environment for future generations to enjoy, biodegradable trash bags will be available to visitors throughout the Ski Jumping World Cup finals. With the bags Triglav is also announcing the seventh annual Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains campaign, through which every year it invites visitors to the hills and mountains to keep the environment clean, enjoy the outdoors and be responsible hikers.
