The region of Kranjska was part of the Austria-Hungary Empire and it was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918, when the Austria-Hungary Empire was divided as part of the post war peace settlement.

After that both the region and the town of Kranjska Gora became part of the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which later became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (also known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Since 1991 the region has been a part of an independent Slovenia.

Geographically the town is positioned near Slovenia’s border with both Italy and Austria in the north-west of Slovenia, covering an area of 256.3 square km. The town is situated in the Julian Alps and is one of the most famous winter sports resorts in Eastern Europe. One of the other major venues, Planica, where the FIS ski jumping World Cup stops off, is not far away.

Tarvisio, a venue for the Ladies World Cup, is also close by Kranjska Gora has been a venue for the FIS alpine skiing World Cup since 1968. The first race was held on the 1st of March 1968. The event is also known as the Vitranc Cup, and includes two disciplines, the slalom and giant slalom descents. The 2009 edition will see the 68th and 69th races in Kranjska Gora.

In the 2009 season the event will be held at the end of February and start of March.  The two descents will be held on the 28th of February and the 1st of March. On this occasion the event will be a part of the men’s World Cup, although Kranjska Gora has just as often been host to the ladies World Cup.

Austria and Switzerland tend to dominate the competition, with 19 skiers from each nation having triumphed in Kranjska. The next most successful nation is Italy with nine wins, followed by Sweden on eight and then what was once Yugoslavia, who picked up seven wins in their home venue. The USA has, to date, picked up five wins.

Alberto Tomba is the most successful individual having won five events: four slaloms and one giant slalom. Next is Benjamin Raich who has so far won on four occasions, each time in the giant slalom discipline. Tied on third are Marc Girardelli and Joel Gaspoz both with three victories.
After Raich the most successful still active skiers are Giorgio Rocca and Bode Miller, having won two races each. The American triumphed twice in the giant slalom, his last success on the 28th of February 2004, whilst the Italian has won twice in the slalom discipline, his last success in Kranjska on the 22nd of December 2005.

Although Raich has not won as many times as Tomba, he has been on the podium in Kranjska on more occasions. The Austrian has finished in the top three on nine occasions whilst the Italian has only managed it eight times. Austrian Thomas Stangassinger, Swedish Ingemar Stenmark and Luxembourg's Marc Girardelli have all finished on the podium on six occasion.

In 2008 American Ted Ligety and Italian Manfred Moelgg triumphed at the Slovenian venue. The former won the giant slalom discipline, with the later winning the slalom. Not only did Moelgg win the slalom, but he also came second in the giant slalom, making him the overall winner of the weekend.