Vitranc Cup Explained

bgcolor=#BCD4E6 colspan=2 align="center" Vitranc Cup

From the first Vitranc Cup (1961)
bgcolor=#b0c4de colspan=2 align="center" Information
Slovenian: Pokal Vitranc
Debut: 4–5 March 1961
Disciplines: slalom, giant slalom
Member: Club5+
Editions: 61
bgcolor=#b0c4de colspan=2 align="center" Most wins
Total: Marcel Hirscher (6x)
Giant slalom: Ted Ligety (5x)
Slalom: Benjamin Raich (4x)
bgcolor=#b0c4de colspan=2 align="center" World Cup events
Total: 80
Men: 79
Women: 1
bgcolor=#b0c4de colspan=2 align="center" Current course
Name: "Podkoren 3"
Opened: 1 December 1983
Max. incline: 30.5° degrees (59%)
Min. incline: 10.2° degrees (18%)
Architect: Peter Lakota
bgcolor=#b0c4de colspan=2 align="center" Full cancelation
5–times: 1974, 1976, 1981, 2000, 2020

Vitranc Cup (Slovenian: Pokal Vitranc) is an annual FIS Alpine Ski World Cup competition, held since 1961 in Kranjska Gora, Upper Carniola, Slovenia.

For Giant slalom, Kranjska Gora is considered one of the three most prestigious and challenging locations in the world, along with Adelboden and Alta Badia.

This competition is the successor of the "Bukovniški smuk" (Bukovnik Downhill), "kamikaze dowhnill" race first held in Kranjska Gora in 1949.[1]

History

1961: First edition

On 4 March 1961, the first ever Vitranc Cup event was held on an extremely demanding and steep giant slalom course from the top of the Vitranc mountain. The event was also known as "hara-kiri with acceleration".[2] [3] [4]

1962: Event not scheduled at all

In 1962, for the only time in history, the competition did not meet the schedule at all, because the Yugoslavian Ski Federation office in Belgrade simply forgot to send the application to the International Ski Federation (FIS).[5]

1968: World Cup debut

On 10 March 1968, the Vitranc Cup (Kranjska Gora) hosted the first ever World Cup alpine ski event in Slovenia (also Yugoslavia at the same time). The Slalom was won by the French skier Patrick Russel.[6]

1982: Record attendance

On 20 March 1982, Bojan Križaj was the first Slovenian to win the World Cup at the home ground in front of a record crowd of 32,000 people. This record hasn't been broken yet at alpine skiing events in Slovenia, and it beat the record set at Ingemar Stenmark's event.[7] [8]

1983: New permanent course opened

On 29–30 January 1983, the Vitranc Cup competition was, for the last time, held on an old steep course above the old gas station, before moving to a new and now permanent course in nearby Podkoren, still in use today.

On 1–2 December 1983, the competition was, for the first time, held and permanently moved to the new "Podkoren 3" course nearby, constructed and designed by ex Slovenian skier Peter Lakota. The women's competition was held first, the next day was the men's race. It was the first and only time in history when Slovenia hosted the World Cup opening race for both men and women. This was also the first and only time when women competed for the Vitranc Cup.[9] [10] [11]

1985: Petrovič won infront of a home crowd

On 21 December 1985, Rok Petrovič celebrated the 2nd of his five World Cup career wins in his career, dominating the season, in front of a home crowd of 30,000 people.[12] [13]

1986: Double Slovenian win

On 20 December 1986, then Slovenian sports icons Bojan Križaj and Petrovič achieved a double Slovenian win, beating 3rd placed Ingemar Stenmark.[14]

Vitranc Cup Top 3 results

Men

width=53Editionwidth=40Yearwidth=105Datewidth=40Eventwidth=200Winnerwidth=200Second width=200Third
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS World Cup
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px"62nd2023align=right style="border-top-width:2px"12 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"GS    Marco Odermatt Alexis Pinturault Henrik Kristoffersen
11 March   GS    Marco Odermatt Henrik Kristoffersen Alexis Pinturault
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C061st2022align=right style="border-top-width:2px"13 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"GS Stefan Brennsteiner
12 March   GS
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C060th2021align=right style="border-top-width:2px"14 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Victor Muffat-Jeandet   Ramon Zenhäusern
13 March   GS Stefan Brennsteiner
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#FDBCB459th2020align=right style="border-top-width:2px"15 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
14 March   GS
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C058th2019align=right style="border-top-width:2px"10 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL    Ramon Zenhäusern Henrik Kristoffersen Marcel Hirscher
9 March   GS Henrik Kristoffersen Rasmus Windingstad   Marco Odermatt
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C057th2018align=right style="border-top-width:2px"4 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen   Ramon Zenhäusern
3 March   GS Alexis Pinturault
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C056th2017align=right style="border-top-width:2px"5 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Stefano Gross Felix Neureuther
4 March   GS Leif Kristian Haugen Matts Olsson
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C055th2016align=right style="border-top-width:2px"6 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen Stefano Gross
5 March   GS Marcel Hirscher Alexis Pinturault Henrik Kristoffersen
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C054th2015align=right style="border-top-width:2px"15 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Giuliano Razzoli Mattias Hargin
14 March   GS Thomas Fanara
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C053rd2014align=right style="border-top-width:2px"9 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Fritz Dopfer Henrik Kristoffersen
8 March   GS Henrik Kristoffersen
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C052nd2013align=right style="border-top-width:2px"10 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Marcel Hirscher Mario Matt
9 March   GS Alexis Pinturault
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C051st201211 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL André Myhrer Cristian Deville Alexis Pinturault
10 March   GS Marcel Hirscher
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C050th2011align=right style="border-top-width:2px"6 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Nolan Kasper
Axel Bäck
5 March   GS Beat Feuz Michael Walchhofer
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C049th2010align=right style="border-top-width:2px"31 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Reinfried Herbst Marcel Hirscher Julien Lizeroux
30 January   GS Marcel Hirscher Ted Ligety
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C048th2009align=right style="border-top-width:2px"1 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Julien Lizeroux Giuliano Razzoli Felix Neureuther
28 February   GS Massimiliano Blardone
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C047th2008align=right style="border-top-width:2px"9 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Ivica Kostelić Marcel Hirscher
8 March   GS Massimiliano Blardone
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C046th2007align=right style="border-top-width:2px"4 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Benjamin Raich Manfred Mölgg
3 March   GS François Bourque Massimiliano Blardone
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C045th2005align=right style="border-top-width:2px"22 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Giorgio Rocca Thomas Grandi Ted Ligety
21 December   GS Massimiliano Blardone Thomas Grandi
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C044th2005align=right style="border-top-width:2px"27 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Giorgio Rocca André Myhrer Benjamin Raich
26 February   GS Benjamin Raich Hermann Maier Kalle Palander
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C043rd2004align=right style="border-top-width:2px"29 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Truls Ove Karlsen Tom Stiansen Mario Matt
28 February   GS Bode Miller Alberto Schieppati Alexander Ploner
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C042nd2003align=right style="border-top-width:2px"5 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Rainer Schönfelder Jean-Pierre Vidal
4 January   GS Christian Mayer Sami Uotila
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C041st2001align=right style="border-top-width:2px"22 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Jean-Pierre Vidal Mario Matt Ivica Kostelić
21 December   GS Didier Cuche
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#FDBCB440th2000align=right style="border-top-width:2px"21 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL lack of snow; replaced in Madonna di Campiglio (19 December)
20 December   GS lack of snow; replaced in Bormio (21 December)
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C039th1999align=right style="border-top-width:2px"21 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL    Didier Plaschy Benjamin Raich
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C038th1999align=right style="border-top-width:2px"6 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Benjamin Raich
5 January   GS Patrick Holzer Christian Mayer Hans Knauß
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C037th1998align=right style="border-top-width:2px"4 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Thomas Sykora Pierrick Bourgeat Thomas Stangassinger
3 January   GS Christian Mayer   Michael von Grünigen
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C036th1997align=right style="border-top-width:2px"6 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Thomas Sykora Sébastien Amiez Thomas Stangassinger
5 January   GS    Michael von Grünigen Siegfried Voglreiter Kjetil André Aamodt
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C035th1995align=right style="border-top-width:2px"22 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Alberto Tomba Jure Košir Sébastien Amiez
21 December   GS   Michael von Grünigen Mario Reiter
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C034th1995align=right style="border-top-width:2px"6 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"GS Alberto Tomba Mitja Kunc
Harald Strand Nilsen
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C033rd1994align=right style="border-top-width:2px"9 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Thomas Fogdö
8 January   GS
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C032nd1992align=right style="border-top-width:2px"20 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"GS Lasse Kjus Fredrik Nyberg
19 December   SL Thomas Fogdö Peter Roth
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C031st1992align=right style="border-top-width:2px"5 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Armin Bittner Finn Christian Jagge
4 January   GS Alberto Tomba
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C030th1990align=right style="border-top-width:2px"22 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Thomas Fogdö Thomas Stangassinger
21 December   GS
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C029th1990align=right style="border-top-width:2px"7 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Bernhard Gstrein
6 January   GS cancelled and replaced at La Villa (14 January)
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C028th1988align=right style="border-top-width:2px"17 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Armin Bittner Alberto Tomba
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C027th1987align=right style="border-top-width:2px"20 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Günther Mader
19 December   GS Helmut Mayer
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C026th1986align=right style="border-top-width:2px"20 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Rok Petrović Ingemar Stenmark
19 December   GS Richard Pramotton
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C025th1985align=right style="border-top-width:2px"21 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Jonas Nilsson Thomas Stangassinger
20 December   GS Hubert Strolz
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C024th1985align=right style="border-top-width:2px"16 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Ingemar Stenmark Paul Frommelt
Jonas Nilsson
15 February   GS Marc Girardelli
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C023rd1983align=right style="border-top-width:2px"2 December   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Petar Popangelov Paul Frommelt
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C022nd1983align=right style="border-top-width:2px"30 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Stig Strand Michel Canac
29 January   GS Ingemar Stenmark
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C021st1982align=right style="border-top-width:2px"20 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Ingemar Stenmark Franz Gruber
19 March   GS Marc Girardelli
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#FDBCB420th1981align=right style="border-top-width:2px"28 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"GS lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced the same day at Laax
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS International
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C019th197915 December   SL Bojan Križaj Bruno Nockler
14 December   GS Bruno Nockler Boris Strel
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS World Cup
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C018th197822 December   GS
21 December   SL Paul Frommelt Leonardo David
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS International
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C017th197722 December   SL Mauro Bernardi Manfred Brunner
21 December   GS Mauro Bernardi Bojan Križaj
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS World Cup
align=center bgcolor=#FDBCB416th197621 December   SL high temperatures; replaced at Laax (3 January 1977)
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS Europa Cup
align=center bgcolor=#D0F0C015th197611 January   SL Andreas Arnold Jorge García
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS International
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C014th197514 April   SL Mauro Bernardi Johann Kniewasser
13 April   GS F. Fernández Ochoa Herbert Plank
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS World Cup
width=40px align=center bgcolor=#D6CADD  197420 December   GS lack of snow; rescheduled to 13–14 April 1975 (see 14th edition)
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS Europa Cup
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#FDBCB413th197411 January   SL cancelled due to lack of snow
10 January   GS
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C012th1973align=right style="border-top-width:2px"7 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Alfred Matt
6 January   GS Gustav Thöni
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C011th1972align=right style="border-top-width:2px"5 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Rick Chaffee
4 January   GS Werner Mattle
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS International
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C010th197121 February   SL N. P. Pouteil Hubert Berchtold
20 February   GS Sergio Filippo Jean Louis Ambroise
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C09th21970align=right style="border-top-width:2px"22 January   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Hans Bjorge   Dumeng Giovanoli
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"FIS World Cup
align=center bgcolor=#D0F0C09th1197021 January   GS Georges Mauduit
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C08th1969align=right style="border-top-width:2px"17 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Alain Penz Herbert Huber
16 February   GS Franz Digruber
align=center style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C07th21968align=right style="border-top-width:2px"10 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Franz Digruber Stefan Kälin
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5pxFIS International
align=center bgcolor=#D0F0C07th119689 March   GS Stefan Sodat Enrico Demetz
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6 style="border-top-width:5px"↓ FIS 1A International ↓
align=center rowspan=2 bgcolor=#D0F0C06th196712 March   SL Andrzej Bachleda Patrick Russel
11 March   GS Ernst Scherzer Harald Stüfer
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C05th1966align=right style="border-top-width:2px"20 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Guy Périllat Karl Schranz Ludwig Leitner
19 February   GS Guy Périllat Karl Schranz
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C04th1965align=right style="border-top-width:2px"28 February   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Franz Digruber E. Maudit
27 February   GS Felice De Nicolo Michel Arpin
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C01964align=right style="border-top-width:2px"1 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Franz Digruber Ernst Scherzer
29 February   GS Willy Favre Beat von Allmen
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C01963align=right style="border-top-width:2px"3 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL
2 March   GS Robert Grunenfelder Jean-Claude Killy
align=center rowspan=2 style="border-top-width:2px" bgcolor=#D0F0C01961align=right style="border-top-width:2px"5 March   align=center style="border-top-width:2px"SL Josef Stiegler Helmut Schranz
4 March   GS Josef Stiegler Joseph Behr Helmut Gartner

Women

At the start of the season, women for the first and only time in the history of this competition, raced for the "Vitranc Cup".[15]

width=53Editionwidth=40Yearwidth=105Datewidth=40Eventwidth=200Winnerwidth=200Secondwidth=200Third
align=center colspan=7 bgcolor=#F0EAD6FIS World Cup
align=center bgcolor=#D0F0C023rd19831 December   SL

Substitute events

Kranjska Gora replaced 6 cancelled men's events from other countries, which aren't considered Vitranc Cup events:

Multiple winners

With at least two wins or more.

width=45Totalwidth=205Skierwidth=40SLwidth=40GS
62 4
bgcolor=#E3DAC9 align=center rowspan=250
3 2
bgcolor=#E3DAC9 rowspan="3" align=center44 0
1
3 1
bgcolor=#E3DAC9 rowspan="1" align=center32 1
bgcolor=#E3DAC9 rowspan="10" align=center2 Josef Stiegler1 1
Michel Arpin2 0
Francisco Fernández Ochoa1 1
1 1
Thomas Sykora2 0
0 2
Giorgio Rocca2 0
2 0
2 0
0

Club5+

In 1986, the elite Club5 was originally established by 5 prestigious and classic downhill organizers: Kitzbühel, Wengen, Garmisch, Val d’Isère and Val Gardena/Gröden, with the goal to bring alpine ski sports to the highest levels possible.[23]

Later, over the years, other classic long-term organizers joined the now renamed Club5+: Alta Badia, Cortina, Kranjska Gora, Maribor, Lake Louise, Schladming, Adelboden, Kvitfjell, St.Moritz and Åre.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 23 February 2011. sl. Delo. Vitranc memories.
  2. Web site: 4 March 1961. sl. pokal-vitranc.com. Official results from first ever Vitranc Cup event (GS 1961).
  3. Web site: 5 March 1961. sl. Delo. Prvi zmagovalec avtrijec Stiegler (page 15).
  4. Web site: 5 March 1961. sl. Delo. Fotografski utrinki iz veleslaloma (page 11).
  5. Web site: Od morilskega smuka do poligona. Dnevnik. 23 October 2012. sl.
  6. Web site: Slalom Russelu. Delo. 11 March 1968. sl.
  7. Web site: V finišu svetovnega pokala Križaj zmagal na Vitrancu. Delo. 11 March 1968. sl.
  8. Web site: V panju Vitranca se je tudi Stenmark počutil kot Slovenec. MMC RTV Slovenija. 2 March 2011. sl.
  9. Web site: Osemnajsti svetovni pokal začenjajo danes tekmovalke (page 6). Delo. 1 December 1983. sl.
  10. Web site: Erika Hess nenadkriljiva v strmini.... (page 9). Delo. 2 December 1983. sl.
  11. Web site: Ponovil se je nesrečni januar 1983... (page 5). Delo. 3 December 1983. sl.
  12. Web site: 23 December 1985. sl. Delo. Nepozaben smučarski praznik v Kranjski Gori (stran 1).
  13. Web site: 23 December 1985. sl. Delo. Petrovič junak tudi v domači Kranjski Gori(stran 9).
  14. Web site: 22 December 1986. sl. Delo. Naša nepozabna slalomska dneva (page 9).
  15. Web site: 28 November 1986. sl. Delo. Smer: Kranjska Gora (page 9).
  16. Web site: 4 March 2016. sl. ekipa.svet24.si. Žan Kranjec v finale s 16. časom, vodi Francoz Pinturault.
  17. Web site: 29 January 2010. sl. Dnevnik. Ted Ligety je zmagal v Kranjski Gori, Slovenci so razočarali.
  18. Web site: 18 December 2001. sl. Gorenjski glas. Za 41. Pokal Vitranc vse pripravljeno (page 12).
  19. Web site: 7 March 2000. sl. Gorenjski glas. Kranjskogorčani željni dokazovanja (page 6).
  20. Web site: 10 March 2000. sl. Gorenjski glas. Rada imava slovenski sneg (page 23).
  21. Web site: 8 January 1990. sl. Delo. Sobotna tekma je bila povsem naša, z Madonno pa jo je povezal zmagovalec.
  22. Web site: 3 January 1986. sl. Delo. Bela karavana se je sešla, kjer se je decembra razšla (page 6).
  23. Web site: Srečko Medven predsednik elitnega združenje (page 9). Naše novice. June 2010. sl.
  24. Web site: Club5+ workshop in Adelboden. saslong.org. 23 October 2021.