Under the mentorship of former top-level athlete and cross-country skier Petra Majdič, the well established Pupils on Skis programme was officially launched on 13 January 2026 in Planica. Interest in the programme continues to grow from year to year.
This season, around 10,000 children will be able to enjoy their first lessons in alpine skiing, cross country skiing and ski jumping free of charge. At present, approximately 6,500 children are already registered.
The programme, organised by the Ski Association of Slovenia in cooperation with the Police, the Planica Sports Institute of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Education, aims to promote ski sports, raise awareness of the international FIS Code of Conduct for Skiers and Snowboarders, highlight the importance of safe and enjoyable skiing, and encourage physical activity for the healthy development of children.
In the 2026 season, the programme will take place at 21 locations across Slovenia. In addition, it has been further expanded and, for the first time, systematically includes ski jumping as well as designated snow play areas, offering children additional safe opportunities for snow-related activities in urban environments.
Jan Blažič, a police officer assigned to ensuring ski-slope safety from the Kranjska Gora Police Station, and Alojz Sladič from the General Police Directorate participated in the event.
The programme was presented in more detail at the Planica Nordic Centre. The media presentation was also attended by Alojz Sladič from the General Police Division of the General Police Directorate, who outlined current statistics on accidents on ski slopes, explained the powers of police officers on ski slopes, and shared a number of useful safety tips and recommendations.
The programme goes beyond simply allowing children to spend a single day in the snow. An important element of Pupils on Skis is learning the rules of conduct on ski slopes and cross-country trails, with the police playing a key role each year by providing educational content on snow safety.
Through these activities, children develop awareness of their own safety, consideration for other users of the slopes and respect for the natural environment in which the activities take place.
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Foto: Sloski