New Feel Slovenia the Podcast Episode – Slovenia’s Winter Sports Culture

Snow in Slovenia is never just scenery – it’s a rhythm of life, a shared ritual, and a gateway into the country’s winter soul. The latest episode of Feel Slovenia the Podcast dives deep into this lived relationship with winter, inviting listeners to experience Slovenia not only as visitors, but as active participants.

Listen to the episode

From the vibrant slopes of Kranjska Gora and Krvavec to the calm, expansive cross-country trails of Pokljuka and the quiet alpine beauty of Jezersko, the episode explores some of the most accessible and rewarding ways to ski, glide, sled and enjoy winter – all without the crowds. It paints a portrait of a country where weekends follow the weather forecast and winter sports are passed down through generations.

Guiding the journey are two elite athletes with roots in Gorenjska, a region named among the Best Places to Go in Europe in 2026 by Condé Nast Traveler, speaking from opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Hockey legend Anže Kopitar reflects on what he recommends to friends visiting Slovenia for the first time: staying in Bled or Ljubljana, taking easy day trips across Gorenjska, and balancing crisp mountain mornings with relaxed riverside coffee and Michelin-starred dining. He recalls the emotional moment of bringing the Stanley Cup to Lake Bled and explains why Slovenia’s compact size is one of its greatest strengths – where the Alps, the sea and the capital city are all within easy reach.

The episode also takes listeners to Planica, Slovenia’s iconic ski-flying valley. Visitors can walk beneath the legendary hill, tour the Nordic Museum, experience indoor skydiving or zipline across the valley for a ski jumper’s-eye view of this world-famous venue. (*Did you know that the story of world-class ski jumping in Planica began back in 1934? It was then, when the first international competition was held on a snow jump designed by Stanko Bloudek. Even bad weather couldn’t stop it – organisers famously invented “snow cement” to make the event possible, and a 55-metre jump set an early milestone in ski jumping history.)

Slalom racer Lila Lapanja offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at elite alpine skiing. Raised in Lake Tahoe and now competing for Slovenia, she speaks openly about returning to her roots and joining the Slovenian national ski team. She shares her strong USA–Slovenia connection and the realities of running an independent “Team Lila” – from coaching and ski preparation to logistics and mental focus. The episode dives into race-day details, from breathing cues at the start gate to trusting feel as light and ruts shift, where hundredths of a second can define an entire season.

For anyone planning a winter holiday, the message is simple: think Slovenia. Come for the snow, stay for the culture, and leave with a deeper respect for mountains that shape everyday life.

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