The 2024 Slovenian national Snow Volleyball championships were held this past Sunday at Krvavec Ski Resort. In the men`s competition, the defending champions, Tadej Boženk, Danijel Pokeršnik, and Denis Robida, joined this year by Matej Rapnik, successfully retained their title. Meanwhile, Špela Marušič, Polona Marušič, and Anja Mazej celebrated their first championship victory in the women`s category.
The fourth edition of the national championships, organized by the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia (OZS) and RTC Krvavec, attracted significant interest, with a record 27 teams participating. Matches were played on four specially prepared courts on the snow.
The men`s grand final saw the experienced reigning champions (Boženk, Pokeršnik, Robida, and Rapnik) face off against the younger team of Klemen Mohar, Urban-Urh Jakše, and Benjamin Gašpar. After a tough battle and three exciting sets, the more seasoned side prevailed with a 2-1 victory (15-12, 16-18, 15-12).
The competition was very strong, and our strategy was based on our determination. We fought for every ball as if it was the last one, and that is how we managed to reach the final where we, unfortunately, lost due to a few minor mistakes.
Urban-Urh Jakše, Men`s Runner-up
The bronze medal in the men`s event went to the youngest team in the championship, Miha Kosanec, Lan Juvan, and Benjamin Mugerli. They impressed throughout and secured third place by defeating the more experienced team of Gregor Felkar, Jernej Borlinić, and Nejc Berčič 15-13, 15-9 in the bronze medal match.
In the women`s category, Špela Marušič, Polona Marušič, and Anja Mazej, making her debut in Snow Volleyball, claimed the gold medal.
Last year`s women`s champions, Sara Valenčič, Anastazija Žnidar, and Teja Kolbl, finished in second place after losing the final 8-15, 9-15. Valenčič commented on the competition:
Congratulations to the winners. The teams are much stronger than last year, and the quality is improving every year, which is excellent. We will move on, and next year there will be another opportunity, and we will be aiming for gold again. A medal is a medal, and we are happy with the second place.
Sara Valenčič, Women`s Runner-up
The women`s bronze medal was secured by Maša Margon, Maša Knific, and Ana Marija Grabec, who edged out Eva Pavlič, Kaja Gimpelj, and Anja Mitrovič 15-8, 15-9 in the match for third place.
The Volleyball Federation of Slovenia expressed great satisfaction with their collaboration with RTC Krvavec, which hosted the best Slovenian Snow Volleyball players for the third year running. According to RTC Krvavec director Janez Janša, high-level matches at “Krvavec Beach” are planned to return next year.
#SnowVolleyball
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood