The president of the Alpine division, Iztok Klančnik, said there were only two candidates for the position. "This week we will know more about the future. We received seven applications and we have now shortlisted only two candidates. In the last 14 days the Alpine ski assembly has been very active in search of the best possible solution. We discuss things on a daily basis. We look at new models and ways on how to implement them. Perhaps the new head of the branch of Alpine skiing will also be in charge of other things. I don't want to talk about names because it's not the right time yet. We do realize though that things need to be settled as soon as possible and name a professional leadership," is what Klančnik told MMC. At the beginning of the month he became the president of the Alpine division and the Alpine committee within the Slovenian Ski Association.
Our talks with Massi were very correct
Klančnik, who is a 50-year-old businessman and also the general director of Hewlet-Packard in Slovenia, also responded to whether Andrea Massi, whose philosophy is revolutionary, would be given a position or collaborate with the Slovenian Ski Association: "We've met many times with Massi and there is readiness for cooperation on both sides. Our talks were very correct. Massi is always professional and says what he would need to carry out certain programs. Massi hasn't demanded anything we can't offer. He has proven himself in the past and I do see a possibility of us cooperating." The director of the Slovenian Ski Association, Jurij Žurej, has also left a very positive impression on Klančnik: "We speak over the phone several times a the day. I have strong support from him, as well as from the Alpine committee."
In the short period he has been with the Slovenian Ski Association, Iztok Klančnik has already talked to all the skiers and believes that Slovenian skiing has a future, even without Tina Maze. Skiers will need good training conditions and top coaches. However it will be difficult to find good coaches for low pay. It's not surprising that the assistant coach for the men's Apline ski team, Andrej Jerman, sees his future in Norway, while Mitja Grašič is looking at Russia.
Klančnik believes in all of Slovenia's skiers, even in those who have not been performing well in recent years. What did he tell Matic Skube and Miha Kürner when he talked to them? "I honestly told them to keep training. I believe that with a few changes they can still achieve things. We, of course, have to provide them with the best conditions for training so that all they think about is skiing."
