Tina Maze is without a doubt one of the best skiers of Slovenia has ever produced. With eight World Cup wins, she has more than any woman in Slovenian history and is tied with Bojan Krizaj Cup for the most victories of any racer - man or woman - from Slovenia.
Since learning to ski at the age of 3 near her home village Crna (just South East of Maribor), Maze has found ways to excel ... even though the last two years have been spent moving forward independently of her national team.
The 26-year-old was not feeling herself the last few races on the World Cup tour. She was plagued by a stomach flu throughout the speed races in Haus im Ennstal, and was still feeling sick during the night slalom in Flachau. Flachau night after the race, she was hoping to get healthy in time for this weekend's races in her home country.
Maribor hosts a giant slalom and slalom Saturday and Sunday for Maze, the races mean more than any other on the World Cup tour.
"Everybody there is cheering for me, so it's a little different," said Maze, who won the GS Maribor last year as well as in 2005 and took her first World Cup podium with a second place in Maribor in 2002.
"It's always a nice atmosphere," she said. "It's in my country and it's nice to be there. [There are] a lot of people coming and I know the hill really well. It's for sure my favorite."
Slovenian Maze is the only woman in history to win a downhill race (in St. Moritz, 2008 ... she was also second last season in Bansko), but finding places to learn the ropes of speed racing was a little challenging when she started out, as Slovenia's highest peak is around 2.800 meters. But downhill was actually the first discipline that Maze ever attempted ... grassroots style as a small child.
"My first race was downhill, but it was me and the other kids and we were making the races for ourselves," Maze said. "Later on we started to train with the team. We train a lot in Austria. You do not need long down hills for training. You can find some places to train speed around my place."
Two seasons ago Maze began racing independently of the Slovenian team. She says the decision was based on a lack of continuity in the federation.
"It was hard but I had to do that," she said. "It could be a good team, but the coaches and staff around did not do continuation. They change the coaches every year."
Thus, Maze now says that her relationship with the team is "not good" and that though the team is young and still gathering experience, none of its racers - even fellow all-around who are on their way up like Marusa Ferk - never come to her for guidance.
"They're still young. They're still learning. But sometimes they should learn more from people in front of them," Maze said. "Three years ago we had a really strong young team. But [given the lack of continuity of coaching staff] that makes it hard for them, too. They do not know how to react or behave. I do not blame the girls . It's hard. I can not help. I have to train for myself. "
Maze already has one shiny medal to her name - silver from last season's world championship GS. In addition to doing well again in front of her home crowd in Maribor this weekend, her goal this season is like that of many other top World Cup racers ... To win an Olympic medal. She named this as her New Year's resolution, but also likes to keep her goals in perspective.
"I'm looking forward to the Olympics. I hope to do well there. To win a medal is a goal, for sure," she said. "But also a goal for this year is to stay happy, healthy and enjoy the life."
by Shauna Farnell
