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After the reconstruction, P. Vlhova again received the open “Snow Arena”.
The Slovak mountain skier used to come to Druskininkai for training before, but before the collection of 25-year-old athletes’ titles was even more modest.
In 2018, P. Vlhova became the first Slovak athlete to win the World Cup Grand Slalom, and then 70,000. Euro prize for beating Mikaela Shiffrin herself.
Last year, P. Vlhova shone with the prizes of the world championships: he won bronze in the slalom competition and gold in the grand slalom competition.
Photo by Scanpix / Alpine Ski Slalom World Champion Petra Vlhova.
“A very big and warm person, not like some champions,” Artūras Bikulč, head of sports groups at Druskininkai “Snow Arena”, said of the Slovak who started in both Olympics. “He is very happy to communicate and generously share autographs with the children.”
P.Vlhova arrived in Lithuania with his team of assistants, where well-known Italian coach Livio Magoni also works.
The world champion in Druskininkai has been training since August 2 and will be until the 12th, often in a closed stadium, doing two training sessions a day and testing skis.
Photo by Aleksandras Pustovitas / Petra Vlhova, world alpine ski champion, prepares for the season at Druskininkai.
Previously, Snow Arena had also hosted two Olympic champions, when the entire constellation of the Italian Alpine ski team arrived at Druskininkai in 2014-2016.
According to Aivaras Kadziauskas, director of “Snow arena”, P.Vlhova’s team has been offered slightly more favorable conditions, because closer relationships have been established with the champion; she is gratifying in advertising Druskininkai arena to other mountain skiers.
However, the main reason why the world champion chooses a camp in Druskininkai is different.
“Because the best closed track in the world is here,” said A. Bikulč. – One of the two tracks is designed exclusively for athletes.
With us, they like to test the skis here, because the ice rink is equipped according to the requirements of the World Cup, they can test their inventory. Because preparations on the mountain are more difficult to do, the wind, heat or cold interfere with the tests. And the terrain of our arena is acceptable to them. “
Photo by Aleksandras Pustovitas / Petra Vlhova, world alpine ski champion, prepares for the season at Druskininkai.
Although there are closed snow fields in Germany, France, Russia, the Netherlands, A. Bikulč is convinced that the advantage of Druskininkai is the Lithuanian resort environment surrounding sports.
Currently, the Polish alpine ski team, the athletes of the Italian club and the Finnish, Estonian and Latvian teams also train on the snow slope.
For professional athletes, the track is fenced off with safety nets from the main track, where tourists ski. They can also perform exercises for elite athletes from the spectators’ balcony.
Photo by Aleksandras Pustovitas / Petra Vlhova, world alpine ski champion, prepares for the season at Druskininkai.
According to A. Bikulč, the flow of alpine ski equipment would be even higher, but due to the pandemic, Russia, Sweden, Belarus and the Czech Republic have made their way, and Poland will soon follow in their footsteps.
Nine years ago for about 30 million. The stadium, built in euros, has been closed for reconstruction in the last six months.
According to A.Kadziauskas, it was possible to use the quarantine time productively for renovation work.
“It may not be visible, because everything was done under the snow, but we renewed the cooling circuit, we replaced about 9 km of pipes, we renewed the snow cannons,” said the director of “Snow Arena”. – Now we are building a part of the game for children: there will be ice castles, we will provide entertainment for children and adults who want to remember childhood. We also cool the snow. “
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