The 2024 Slovenian National Snow Volleyball Championships recently took place at the picturesque Krvavec Ski Resort. In the men`s category, the reigning champions, Tadej Boženk, Danijel Pokeršnik, and Denis Robida, alongside new team member Matej Rapnik, successfully defended their title, securing another gold medal. Meanwhile, the women`s competition saw a new trio emerge victorious, with Špela Marušič, Polona Marušič, and Anja Mazej earning their inaugural championship title.
The fourth national Snow Volleyball championships, co-organized by the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia (OZS) and RTC Krvavec, drew unprecedented interest this year. A record 27 teams registered to compete, with matches unfolding simultaneously across four snow-covered courts.
The men`s grand final pitted the experienced defending champions – Tadej Boženk, Danijel Pokeršnik, and Denis Robida (now with Matej Rapnik replacing Alan Košenina for 2024) – against the promising young team of Klemen Mohar, Urban-Urh Jakše, and Benjamin Gašpar. After a fiercely contested three-set battle, the veteran squad ultimately triumphed with a 2-1 victory (15-12, 16-18, 15-12).
“The competition was incredibly strong, and our strategy revolved around pure determination. We battled for every point as if it were our last, which enabled us to reach the final, where unfortunately, a few minor errors cost us the win.”
— Urban-Urh Jakše (Men`s Runner-Up)
The bronze medals were awarded to the championship`s youngest team – Miha Kosanec, Lan Juvan, and Benjamin Mugerli. Their impressive play led them to defeat the more seasoned trio of Gregor Felkar, Jernej Borlinić, and Nejc Berčič in the third-place match, with scores of 15-13 and 15-9.
In the women`s division, the gold medal went to Špela Marušič, Polona Marušič, and Anja Mazej, with Mazej making a successful debut in Snow Volleyball.
“Congratulations to the winners. The level of competition has significantly risen since last year, which is fantastic for the sport. We’ll learn from this and aim for gold again next year. A medal is still a medal, and we`re pleased with our second-place finish.”
— Sara Valenčič (Women`s Runner-Up)
Last year`s champions, Sara Valenčič, Anastazija Žnidar, and Teja Kolbl, finished as runners-up, losing the final 8-15, 9-15. The bronze medal match saw Maša Margon, Maša Knific, and Ana Marija Grabec claim victory over Eva Pavlič, Kaja Gimpelj, and Anja Mitrovič with scores of 15-8, 15-9.
The Volleyball Federation of Slovenia expressed immense satisfaction with its ongoing partnership with RTC Krvavec, which has now successfully hosted Slovenia`s top Snow Volleyball players for three consecutive years. Janez Janša, Director of RTC Krvavec, confirmed that high-level matches are expected to return to Krvavec Beach next year.
