Bojan Križaj
Encyclopedia
Bojan Križaj (born January 3, 1957) is a Slovenian former alpine skier.
, was a member of a well known Tržič
ski family so he started skiing at the age of 3. In the season 1976/77 he received the first World Cup point, qualified among the 15 best slalom
runners and later during that season in Madonna di Campiglio
he hit his first top 3 podium. On January 20, 1980 he achieved the first Slovenian World Cup victory in Wengen
, Switzerland
and later he won seven more times, thus still being Slovenia's most successful alpine skier ever.
At 1980 Winter Olympics
in Lake Placid, New York
, U.S.
, he reached the fourth place in giant slalom, missing the bronze medal by only two hundredths of second. Four years later he took the athlete's oath
at the opening ceremony for Sarajevo
's 1984 Winter Olympics
. He caused a stir when he spoke the oath not in Croatian or Serbian but in Slovene. Despite great expectations of the Slovenian audience he finished ninth in giant slalom, much less than expected. Križaj should also have competed at 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
, Canada
, but he got injured a few days before the event.
His most successful World Championship was in 1982 in Schladming
, Austria
where he received the silver medal in slalom
.
His most successful World Cup season was 1986/87 when he received the small crystal globe for the season's best slalom runner (that was the only men's crystal globe of that season not won by Pirmin Zurbriggen
). Beside that he was the second in World Cup slalom standings in the 1979/80 and 1985/86 seasons and third in the 1980/81 season. His best position in overall World Cup standings was the 4th place in 1979/80.
He concluded his career in 1988 at the race in Saalbach, Austria
where he stepped off the skis right at the end of the track and walked into the finish area.
Since his skiing retirement he worked in many fields, including as importer of Austrian brand beer and adviser for ski products in Elan company.
In March 2006 he became Head of Slovenian Ski Pool.
Career
Križaj, born in KranjKranj
' is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 . It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana...
, was a member of a well known Tržič
Tržic
Tržič is a town and municipality in northern Slovenia near the Austrian border . The first settlement was founded near the road that connected Roman city of Emona with Virunum in present-day Carinthia...
ski family so he started skiing at the age of 3. In the season 1976/77 he received the first World Cup point, qualified among the 15 best slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
runners and later during that season in Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is a village and a ski resort in northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Pinzolo. The village lies in the Val Rendena at an altitude of 1,522 m...
he hit his first top 3 podium. On January 20, 1980 he achieved the first Slovenian World Cup victory in Wengen
Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen is a village in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern, located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1274 m above sea level, and is part of the Jungfrauregion. Wengen has approximately 1,300 year-round residents...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and later he won seven more times, thus still being Slovenia's most successful alpine skier ever.
At 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he reached the fourth place in giant slalom, missing the bronze medal by only two hundredths of second. Four years later he took the athlete's oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
at the opening ceremony for Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
's 1984 Winter Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
. He caused a stir when he spoke the oath not in Croatian or Serbian but in Slovene. Despite great expectations of the Slovenian audience he finished ninth in giant slalom, much less than expected. Križaj should also have competed at 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but he got injured a few days before the event.
His most successful World Championship was in 1982 in Schladming
Schladming
Schladming is a small mining town in the Austrian state of Styria, that is now very popular with tourists. It has become a large ski resort and has held various skiing competitions recently. The shopping area has lots of cafes, restaurant and a variety of shops and caters well for tourists.As of...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
where he received the silver medal in slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
.
His most successful World Cup season was 1986/87 when he received the small crystal globe for the season's best slalom runner (that was the only men's crystal globe of that season not won by Pirmin Zurbriggen
Pirmin Zurbriggen
Pirmin Zurbriggen is a former champion alpine ski racer. He won the overall World Cup title four times, an Olympic gold medal in 1988 in Downhill, and 9 World Championships medals ....
). Beside that he was the second in World Cup slalom standings in the 1979/80 and 1985/86 seasons and third in the 1980/81 season. His best position in overall World Cup standings was the 4th place in 1979/80.
He concluded his career in 1988 at the race in Saalbach, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
where he stepped off the skis right at the end of the track and walked into the finish area.
Since his skiing retirement he worked in many fields, including as importer of Austrian brand beer and adviser for ski products in Elan company.
In March 2006 he became Head of Slovenian Ski Pool.
Overall victories
| Season | Discipline |
|---|---|
| 1987 | slalom |
| Date | Location | Race |
|---|---|---|
| January 20, 1980 |  WengenWengen, Switzerland Wengen is a village in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern, located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1274 m above sea level, and is part of the Jungfrauregion. Wengen has approximately 1,300 year-round residents... |
Slalom |
| January 25, 1981 | Wengen Wengen, Switzerland Wengen is a village in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern, located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1274 m above sea level, and is part of the Jungfrauregion. Wengen has approximately 1,300 year-round residents... |
Slalom |
| March 20, 1982 |  Kranjska GoraKranjska Gora Kranjska Gora is a town and a municipality on the Sava Dolinka River in the Upper Carniola region of northwest Slovenia, close to the Austrian and Italian borders.Kranjska Gora is best known as a winter sports town, being situated in the Julian Alps... |
Slalom |
| February 12, 1983 |  Markstein |
Slalom |
| December 16, 1984 |  Madonna di CampiglioMadonna di Campiglio Madonna di Campiglio is a village and a ski resort in northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Pinzolo. The village lies in the Val Rendena at an altitude of 1,522 m... |
Slalom |
| March 21, 1986 |  BromontBromont Bromont may mean:* The municipality of Bromont, Quebec* The ski resort of Ski Bromont* The mountain, Mont Brome* The lake, Lac Bromont... |
Slalom |
| December 20, 1986 | Kranjska Gora Kranjska Gora Kranjska Gora is a town and a municipality on the Sava Dolinka River in the Upper Carniola region of northwest Slovenia, close to the Austrian and Italian borders.Kranjska Gora is best known as a winter sports town, being situated in the Julian Alps... |
Slalom |
| January 25, 1987 |  KitzbühelKitzbühel -Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer... |
Slalom |
External links
- Ski-DB.com - Results - Bojan Krizaj