The love of skiing starts in Kruševice

The Nikšić Secretariat for Culture, Sports, Youth and Social Welfare has been organizing ski school for almost five decades, which has been attended by almost twenty thousand children so far...

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Great time, Photo: Svetlana Mandić
Great time, Photo: Svetlana Mandić
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Meka dola in Kruševice, about thirty kilometers from Nikšić and thirteen kilometers from Šavnik, has been a place for decades where the youngest learn their first steps in skiing. This was the case this year as well - boys and girls from Nikšić, Šavnik, but also from Podgorica and the coast, learned their first steps in skiing from certified instructors, long-time physical education teachers, among whom there are those who learned to ski right here in Kruševice.

The Nikšić Secretariat for Culture, Sports, Youth and Social Welfare has been organizing a ski school in Kruševice for almost five decades, which has been attended by almost twenty thousand Nikšić residents so far, and there are other schools where children learn basic and advanced skiing techniques.

Radenko Ćalasan, a physical education professor and long-time ski instructor, has been training students in Kruševice for a decade.

"When there is no snow around, there is in Kruševice. The place is ideal for beginners, and its proximity to the municipalities of Nikšić and Šavnik is of great importance because children from those municipalities come to Kruševice in an organized manner to learn to ski. There are many organized ski schools in Nikšić, where qualified ski instructors and physical education teachers work, who safely introduce children to all the secrets of skiing. During the learning of skiing technique, skiers go through three so-called ski schools - basic, advanced and competitive. In the process of learning basic skiing technique, the most sensitive part is the initial phase - the first contact with the snow. These initial steps take place on flat terrain, and the first descent should be performed on a gentle slope, with a flat end of the slope, and at a low speed. Well, Kruševice offers all of that," Ćalasan pointed out.

Skiing, he emphasized, is excellent for improving motor development and movement coordination, and therefore it is good to start with it at a very early age.

"Initial skiing techniques are applied on flat and easy slopes, where skiing is taught as a sport for all ages of skiers, even from the youngest who start at three years old. The initial techniques are the plow, stopping in the plow and plow turns. Basic skiing techniques are done on gentle or slightly steep slopes or ski slopes, where skiers learn to slowly exit the plow and move with parallel skiing techniques, such as the combined plow turn and basic parallel turns. On steep and semi-steep slopes, advanced skiing techniques are taught, such as combined carving turns, carving techniques and giant slalom turns. Skiing is now much more aggressive and faster, the turns are much more dynamic, requiring greater precision and strength. For advanced skiing techniques, you need to set aside many hours on the snow and practice continuously for a longer period of time," recommends the experienced ski instructor and adds that, together with the children, he looks forward to every new day, opportunities and meetings to learn and progress together.

Skiing is quick to learn
Skiing is quick to learnphoto: Svetlana Mandić

The seven-year-old also felt the joy of skiing Mirko from Nikšić who, after a seven-day training, decided to use another term for skiing.

"I liked the coaches, how well we learned to ski, so I decided to extend the term by another year. Kruševice is really beautiful," said Mirko.

A year older Janja from Belgrade decided to use her stay in Nikšić to learn her first steps in skiing. After successfully completing the training, she said that the skiing school was a good decision, that she had a great time in Kruševice, and that she will come again next year.

"I have a great time here. The teachers and the community are good, and skiing is a really nice sport. I like the plow turn the most and I'm really happy that I learned to ski so quickly," Janja said with a smile.

And her peer and friend from the ski slope Mina, as well as two years younger George, are delighted with the ski school, as well as the fact that they learned to plow, plow turns, and brake, and they add that it was fun even when they were falling.

Nine-year-old May Kruševice is well known - she learned to ski there last year, and this year she mastered more advanced skiing techniques.

"I like Kruševica because it's easy to take your first steps in skiing here. I've learned a lot in two years, and I quickly learned to ski thanks to the instructors," said Maja.

Katarina Vusovic, a long-time physical education teacher and ski instructor, has been teaching children in Kruševica for years not only to ski, but also, as she pointed out, to develop self-confidence and a love of nature. She also teaches them that it doesn't matter "how many times you fall, but how many times you get up", that a good team can overcome all obstacles and that a helping hand should never be lacking.

skiing Kruševica
photo: Svetlana Mandić

"We are proud of our work with children at the ski resort. The training allows children to master skiing techniques with safety and confidence, to develop a love for nature, and self-confidence," said Vušović.

According to her, Kruševice is an ideal place for beginners to take their first steps on the snow. Some of the participants will continue to improve their skiing techniques at the same place next year, and after that, as they said, Žabljak, Bjelasica, but also Kopaonik and Jahorina await them.

Four-year-old Kosta is the youngest participant

For many years, children from Šavnik have been learning their first steps in skiing in an organized manner in Meki Doli. The Municipality of Šavnik, in cooperation with the Public Institution Center for Culture, Sports and Media, organizes a free ski school for children of preschool and school age, up to and including the ninth grade, who attend kindergarten or school in the territory of the aforementioned municipality.

skiing Kruševica
photo: Svetlana Mandić

Four-year-old Kosta was the youngest ski school student the “Vijesti” team found in Kruševice. While the instructors showed him what to do, his mother watched his every step from the side.

"I'm fine here, my teachers are good, and so are my friends. I'm already skiing well," Kosta said confidently, but he also admitted that while he was learning to ski, there were some falls.

Helena, who is two years older, was also pleased with how she learned to ski, but also with how she met lots of new friends.

"I learned the plow turn the best and it wasn't difficult for me to learn. Here I am next year," said Helena.

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