Miranova proga A

full slope in snow (right sleeve from top to valley)
Place: Slovenia Maribor, Slovenia
Mountain: Pohorje
Member: Club5+
Opened: January 1978
Competition: Golden Fox
Giant slalom
Start: 740 m (2,428 ft) (AA)
Finish: 340 m (1,115 ft)
Vertical drop: 400 m (1,312 ft)
Most wins: Sweden Anja Pärson (2x)
Germany Martina Ertl (2x)
Slovenia Tina Maze (2x)
 Switzerland  Sonja Nef (2x)
Slalom
Start: 540 m (1,772 ft) (AA)
Finish: 340 m (1,115 ft)
Vertical drop: 200 m (656 ft)
Most wins:  Switzerland  Vreni Schneider (6x)

Miranova proga A is a women's World Cup technical ski course in Slovenia, on Pohorje mountain in Radvanje District, Maribor hostin Golden Fox (Zlata lisica) competition since 1978.[1]

Maribor Pohorje is located in Slovenia
Maribor Pohorje
Maribor Pohorje
Maribor Pohorje is located in Alps
Maribor Pohorje
Maribor Pohorje
Location in the Alps

Part of Mariborsko Pohorje Ski Resort, the largest ski course in Slovenia, the slope is divided on upper part (GS start – Trikotna jasa) and lower part (SL start – Snow stadium finish).

Not counting ski slopes in Scandinavia with very cold winters, this is the course with lowest finish elevation on the World Cup circuit, at 325 metres (1,066 ft) above sea level.

World Cup

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History

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In 1978, competition moved from the upper "Old F.I.S" ("stara F.I.S"), incredibly steep and even too demanding slope at the top station next to Bellevue Hotel to the new slope in valley, direct into the city.[2]

The Old slope was narrow with difficult access for a live audience, which had difficulty watching and standing on dangerous and icy steep inclines, with a small finish area.

For the next five years (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) competition was again, and for the last time, moved to the upper old FIS slope, due to lack of snow and warm weather.

In 1984, competition returned on this slope permanently, often with replacements in Kranjska Gora (1988, 1991, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021) due to snow.

In 1987, the "Snow Stadium" (finish area) was bulldozed and completely redone; the terrain was lifted and flattened for easier access and more comfortable standing.

In 1994, Urška Hrovat won Saturday's replaced slalom in front of home crowd of 30,000, with a total attendance of 50,000 over three days. Real Fox fur trophy was awarded for the last time, due to animal rights controversy.[3][4]

In 1995, Vreni Schneider won the record 6th Golden Fox trophy award and record 7th individual win. Slalom as first WC event ever, was split in two days due to rain, with 1st run on Sunday and 2nd on Monday.[5]

In 1996, two giants slaloms (first replaced Lake Louise) and slalom visited 40,000 people in three days. Saturday's GS set women's World Cup TV ratings record with 17.6 million viewers in total.[6]

In 1997, a new Arena hotel opened in the finish area and Urška Hrovat took Golden Fox Trophy. Juan Antonio Samaranch, the president of International Olympic Committee was among the spectators.[7]

For the first time, the OC put the Golden Fox on the internet, something new for the World Cup. In two days, the Golden Fox page had over 1500 contacts from all over the world.

In 1998, Golden Fox was cancelled – the only time in its history without being replaced (in Kranjska Gora or any other venue).

In 1999, Slovenia hosted speed disciplines for the first and only time in history of World Cup, which should be on schedule on New Year's Day, but rescheduled on the next day.[8]

In 2005, Tina Maze won first giant slalom in history of this competition, with a total attendance of 20,000 for two days. In 2009, Maze won her second giant slalom in Maribor, with an attendance of 15,000 over two days. By the analysis of INFRONT media group, Golden Fox had over 200 million TV viewers in total, the most watched World Cup broadcast of the season, both men and women, beating even Kitzbühel. 187 million in footages (69 stations and 77 hours). Live broadcast was seen by a total of 21 million people (6 million have seen giant slalom and 15 million slalom).[9]

In 2013, Maze took her third win here by taking slalom in front of 19,000 people. She also won the Golden Fox trophy as the third Slovenian after Mateja Svet and Urška Hrovat. And over 40,000 people attended in two days.[10][11]

In 2021, they decided to prepare and build additional slope on higher altitude on crossing, combined and widened with existing upper part of the slope, due to unstable weather conditions and lack of snow in the valley. The new reserve start will be at the top of famous ex Habakuk lift, continued by right side bypassing Luka cabin, then going lower to Špelca log, then joining existing upper GS slope, widening lower part cutting the forest, ending with finish area at Trikotna jasa (traditional slalom start).[12]

Golden Fox

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All but yellow labeled counted for traditional Zlata Lisica (Golden Fox) fur trophy, the best combined time of SL and GS.

 
Vreni Schneider (SUI) won record
6 Golden Fox real fur trophies in total;
and record 7 World Cup wins in total
 
Slalom slope (lower part in summer)
 
Slalom slope (lower part in winter)
No. Type Season Winner Second Third Golden Fox Note
262 SL 1977/78   Hanni Wenzel   Maria Epple   Lea Sölkner   Hanni Wenzel premiere; replaced "Old F.I.S." slope
SL 1978/79 lack of snow and high temperatures; moved to the upper "Old F.I.S." slope under Bellevue Hotel (Top gondola station)
SL 1979/80
GS 1980/81
SL
SL 1981/82
SL 1982/83
421 SL 1983/84   Erika Hess   Tamara McKinney   Christin Cooper   Erika Hess permanent move to "Miranova proga A"
464 GS 1984/85   Michela Figini   Vreni Schneider   Blanca Fernández Ochoa   Erika Hess
465 SL   Tamara McKinney   Olga Charvátová   Brigitte Gadient
494 SL 1985/86   Roswitha Steiner   Erika Hess   Ida Ladstätter   Vreni Schneider
495 GS   Vreni Schneider   Michela Figini   Marina Kiehl
496 KB   Michela Figini   Maria Walliser   Marina Kiehl this was not Golden Fox race GS combined with Val d'Isère (DH)
GS 1986/87 not held due to rain
536 SL   Camilla Nilsson   Vreni Schneider   Corinne Schmidhauser   Camilla Nilsson
GS 1987/88 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
GS 1988/89 lack of snow
592 SL   Vreni Schneider   Monika Maierhofer   Tamara McKinney   Vreni Schneider
629 GS 1989/90   Mateja Svet   Anita Wachter   Maria Walliser   Mateja Svet
630 SL   Vreni Schneider   Ida Ladstätter   Patricia Chauvet
GS 1990/91 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
GS 1991/92 lack of snow; replaced in Piancavallo on 20 January 1992
687 SL   Vreni Schneider   Deborah Compagnoni   Pernilla Wiberg   Vreni Schneider
712 GS 1992/93   Carole Merle   Anita Wachter   Vreni Schneider   Vreni Schneider
713 SL   Vreni Schneider   Annelise Coberger   Deborah Compagnoni
755 GS 1993/94   Ulrike Maier   Vreni Schneider   Katja Seizinger   Vreni Schneider (GS + SL 2) Golden Fox (GS combined with SL 2)
756 SL   Urška Hrovat   Vreni Schneider   Marianne Kjørstad this was not Golden Fox race SL 1 replaced the event in Germany
(it did not count for Golden Fox)
757 SL   Vreni Schneider   Pernilla Wiberg   Urška Hrovat   Vreni Schneider (SL 2 + GS) Golden Fox (SL 2 combined with GS)
791 GS 1994/95   Martina Ertl   Špela Pretnar   Deborah Compagnoni   Vreni Schneider
792 SL   Vreni Schneider   Katja Koren   Trude Gimle 1st run (26 January); 2nd off (rain);
second run replaced (27 January)
816 GS 1995/96   Martina Ertl   Deborah Compagnoni   Katja Seizinger this was not Golden Fox race GS 1 replaced the Lake Louise
(it did not count for Golden Fox)
817 GS   Katja Seizinger     Sonja Nef   Martina Ertl   Martina Ertl
818 SL   Kristina Andersson   Elfi Eder   Claudia Riegler
847 GS 1996/97   Sabina Panzanini   Deborah Compagnoni
  Anita Wachter
  Urška Hrovat
848 SL   Pernilla Wiberg   Urška Hrovat   Lara Magoni
GS 1997/98 lack of snow and high temperatures; both events replaced in Bormio
SL
SG 1998/99 Super-G cancelled due to fog on 1 January 1999; replaced on the next day with double schedule (first SG, then GS)
917 SG   Hilde Gerg   Martina Ertl   Michaela Dorfmeister this was not Golden Fox race the only World Cup SG ever in Slovenia
918 GS   Anita Wachter     Sonja Nef   Alexandra Meissnitzer   Anita Wachter
919 SL   Pernilla Wiberg   Hilde Gerg   Ylva Nowén
952 GS 1999/00   Michaela Dorfmeister     Sonja Nef   Anita Wachter   Sonja Nef
953 SL   Trine Bakke   Špela Pretnar   Sabine Egger
994 GS 2000/01   Sonja Nef   Karen Putzer   Renate Götschl   Sonja Nef
SL cancelled due to high temperatures and rain
1024 GS 2001/02   Sonja Nef   Tina Maze   Stina Hofgård Nilsen   Sonja Nef (GS + SL 2) Golden Fox (GS combined with SL 2)
1025 SL   Anja Pärson   Kristina Koznick   Laure Pequegnot this was not Golden Fox race SL 1 replaced the Megève
(it did not count for Golden Fox)
1026 SL   Anja Pärson   Laure Pequegnot   Sonja Nef   Sonja Nef (SL 2 + GS) Golden Fox (SL 2 combined with GS)
1067 GS 2002/03   Anja Pärson   Nicole Hosp   Martina Ertl   Anja Pärson
1068 SL   Anja Pärson   Janica Kostelić   Nicole Hosp
1098 GS 2003/04   Anja Pärson   Michaela Dorfmeister   M. J. Rienda Contreras   Anja Pärson
1099 SL   Anja Pärson   Marlies Schild   Nicole Hosp
1135 GS 2004/05   Tina Maze   Karen Putzer   Martina Ertl   Anja Pärson
1136 SL   Anja Pärson   Janica Kostelić   Tanja Poutiainen
GS 2005/06 cancelled due to snow, rain and fog; replaced in Ofterschwang on 3 February 2006
1160 SL   Marlies Schild   Janica Kostelić   Therese Borssén   Marlies Schild
GS 2006/07 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
1233 GS 2007/08   Elisabeth Görgl   Manuela Mölgg   Denise Karbon   Nicole Hosp
1234 SL   Nicole Hosp   Veronika Zuzulová   Marlies Schild
1265 GS 2008/09   Tina Maze   Denise Karbon   Kathrin Hölzl   Maria Höfl-Riesch
1266 SL   Maria Höfl-Riesch   Kathrin Zettel   Tanja Poutiainen
1304 GS 2009/10   Kathrin Zettel   Maria Riesch   Anja Pärson   Kathrin Zettel
1305 SL   Kathrin Zettel   Tina Maze   Maria Riesch
GS 2010/11 interrupted and cancelled during first run after 25 skiers due to high temperatures
SL cancelled due to high temperatures
GS 2011/12 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
1411 GS 2012/13   Lindsey Vonn   Tina Maze   Anna Fenninger   Tina Maze
1412 SL   Tina Maze   Frida Hansdotter   Kathrin Zettel
GS 2013/14 lack of snow; moved to Kranjska Gora and cancelled due to heavy snowfall; then finally replaced in Åre
SL lack of snow; replaced in Kranjska Gora on originally scheduled calendar date
1475 GS 2014/15   Anna Fenninger   Viktoria Rebensburg   Tina Weirather   Mikaela Shiffrin
1476 SL   Mikaela Shiffrin   Veronika Velez-Zuzulová   Šárka Strachová
1509 GS 2015/16   Viktoria Rebensburg   Ana Drev   Tina Weirather   Viktoria Rebensburg
SL warm temperatures and poor track conditions; replaced in Crans-Montana in 15 February 2016
1543 GS 2016/17   Tessa Worley   Sofia Goggia     Lara Gut   Mikaela Shiffrin
1544 SL   Mikaela Shiffrin     Wendy Holdener   Frida Hansdotter
GS 2017/18 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
1626 GS 2018/19   Petra Vlhová
  Mikaela Shiffrin
  Ragnhild Mowinckel   Mikaela Shiffrin
1627 SL   Mikaela Shiffrin   Anna Swenn-Larsson     Wendy Holdener
GS 2019/20 lack of snow and high temperatures; replaced in Kranjska Gora
SL
GS 2020/21
SL
GS 2021/22
SL

 Not part of classic Golden Fox competition. 

Course name confusion

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Many terms (lifts and slopes have different names) appears for this course which is a bit misleading:

  • "Miranova proga A" – is a 2200 metres long WC slope, beginning at top of old Habakuk lift, passing upper GS part and lower SL part and to the finish area (Snow Stadium).[1]
  • "Radvanje" – is the name of the Maribor dictrict with 8,000 inhabitants below the finish area (Snow Stadium) and also the old 2-seated same name chairlift parallel to World Cup Slalom slope.
  • "Snow Stadium" – Snežni stadion is the flat World Cup finish area surrounded with two hotels, restaurant and multi purpose event den. It is popular gathering place with bottom Radvanje 2-seated chairlift.
  • "Pohorje 2" – is a non existing term in the vocabular and official ski resort map legend. It appears only on FIS official result lists site as the name for giant slalom slope, as mentioned, you can't find it anywhere else.[1]
  • "Habakuk" – is the first resort lift opened in 1951 (at first 1-seated chairlift, then surface, now removed), named after Bugbear that "lives" in Pohorje and nearby farm. Also the same named hotel in the valley opened in 1974.[13]

Club5+

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In 1986, elite Club5 was originally founded by prestigious classic downhill organizers: Kitzbühel, Wengen, Garmisch, Val d’Isère and Val Gardena/Gröden, with goal to bring alpine ski sport on the highest levels possible.[14]

Later, over the years, other classic long-term organizers joined the now named Club5+: Alta Badia, Cortina, Kranjska Gora, Maribor, Lake Louise, Schladming, Adelboden, Kvitfjell, St.Moritz and Åre.[15]

Course sections

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  • Habakuk, Luka Cabin, Trikotna jasa, Snežni stadion, Arena

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mariborsko Pohorje: official ski resort map". bergfex.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Pohorje - pripravlljeno (page 7)". Delo. 21 January 1978.
  3. ^ "Smučarsko slavje presežnikov (page 1)". Delo. 24 January 1994.
  4. ^ "Zakaj ne podelijo več lisice?". žurnal24.si. 7 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Dež odplaknil drugi slalom v ponedeljek (page 19)". Delo. 27 January 1995.
  6. ^ "History: 33rd Golden Fox 1996". goldenfox.org. 6 November 2021.
  7. ^ "History: 33rd Golden Fox 1997". goldenfox.org. 6 November 2021.
  8. ^ "History: 35th Golden Fox 1999". goldenfox.org. 6 November 2021.
  9. ^ "History: 45th Golden Fox 2009" (in Slovenian). goldenfox.org. 6 November 2021.
  10. ^ "History: 49th Golden Fox 2013". goldenfox.org. 6 November 2021.
  11. ^ "History: 49th Golden Fox 2013" (in Slovenian). MMC RTV Slovenia. 27 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Na Pohorju pripravljajo rezervno varianto trase za Zlato lisico" (in Slovenian). sport-tv.si. 9 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Danes praznuje visok jubilej sedežnica Habakuk..." (in Slovenian). maribor24.si. 16 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Srečko Medven predsednik elitnega združenje (page 9)" (in Slovenian). Naše novice. June 2010.
  15. ^ "Club5+ workshop in Adelboden". saslong.org. 23 October 2021.
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46°31′56″N 15°36′10″E / 46.5322222°N 15.6027778°E / 46.5322222; 15.6027778