“I would like to fight for a bit more than just points!”

As one of two reigning Junior World Champions, 18-year-old Vid Vrhovnik put Slovenia back into Nordic Combined headlines again. For FIS Nordic Combined, he recapped his big triumph, gave insights into his current training processes and looked towards future goals.

We read something about a first competition of the new season on social media! What have you and your team been up to in the past weeks?

Vid Vrhovnik: We started with trainings in May and this weekend we were having our first competitions of the Slovenian cup. I showed a nice level of jumping and solid roller-skiing.  On Saturday I won the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined competitions and on Sunday, I was second in Ski Jumping, behind Aljaž Osterc.

How is training going in general. What did you want to improve going into the new season?

Vrhovnik: My training is going well so far. I am happy that there were no sickness or any injuries and I was able to do everything as planned. At the moment, we are working more on the technique on the jumping hill.

You won the title of Junior World Champion in Kandersteg last winter. What did the success mean to you and how important is it for Slovenia as one of the smaller nations in Nordic Combined to have this title?

Vrhovnik: For me, the title of Junior World Champion only means that I am on the right track to improve myself and develop further to the highest level one day. I hope that I maybe also inspired some young guys that they will try Nordic Combined in Slovenia, but as I know there are more and more young athletes also working in Nordic Combined, so the situation is getting better.

With a start right by name for the World Cup, what are your goals going into the 2018/19 winter?

Vrhovnik: I hope that next season I be able to take another step in the jumping part and also in the cross-country part. I would like to be able to fight for a bit more than just points.

Looking at the calendar of next winter, what are you looking forward to most?

Vrhovnik: I am looking forward to try the mass start competition for the first time in Lillehammer! And also there are still Junior World Championships for me where I will hopefully be able to fight for medals again.

Do you plan to start in the Summer Grand Prix 2018?

Vrhovnik: I will probably start only in Planica.