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The Svizci of Gorje.

We have a whole family of Svizci, just like the club: a coach and a woman coach, children of every age, parents and grandparents. Each one has a name, a nickname and a sport.

The legend

  • Where they live

    High above Gorje, below Pokljuka, they have a big burrow with a view of Triglav. Real marmots in the Triglav National Park also live in families, in burrows under the ground.

  • Why they don't sleep in winter

    Real marmots sleep through the whole winter, almost half a year. The Svizci of Gorje don't. When snow falls on Pokljuka, they climb out of the burrow and step onto their skis. In summer they are on roller skis, on the water and in the hills.

  • Where they came from

    The first Svizec was drawn by Matjaž Poklukar, a biathlete of our club, who gave it to the club. A whole family grew from his Svizec: every new Svizec is drawn after his. His drawing has the best place in the burrow.

    Matjaž and the first Svizec

  • The whistle and the pine cones

    Real marmots whistle when they see danger. Our coach whistles when training starts. For trainings and races the Svizci collect pine cones (storži), just like the children in the club.

    What storži are

  • How they grow

    The youngest are round and fluffy, the older ones taller and stronger. Each one always wears the same clothes, so you know them at once. They only get a rifle from the second group on.

The coach and the woman coach

  • Svizec the coach in a dark blue club top and a red bobble hat, with the number 1 and a rifle on his back

    Cross-country and biathlon coach

    Jaka »Žvižgač« (the Whistler)

    The main Svizec, the club's mascot. When training starts, he whistles like a real marmot. He is always first on the trail, and you can see his red hat from far away.

  • Svizec the woman coach in a teal club top and a dark blue bobble hat, with a ponytail, the number 1 and a rifle on her back

    Coach

    Vesna »Štoparica« (the Stopwatch)

    She knows everyone's time to a tenth of a second. She teaches technique with patience and always has a flask of tea for the youngest in her backpack.

Children

Six cross-country and biathlon groups, from the youngest to the biathlon squad.

  • The smallest Svizec in a light green jumper and a yellow hat, with skis and poles

    The youngest boys, 7–8

    Lan »Kepec« (Little Snowball)

    The smallest and roundest. He loves falling into the snow and getting up again. In summer he rides roller skates.

  • The smallest girl Svizec in a turquoise jumper and a pink hat, with skis and poles

    The youngest girls, 7–8

    Pia »Snežinka« (Snowflake)

    She is the first to notice it's snowing. At every training she asks when the next race is.

  • Svizec in an orange jumper and a dark blue hat, with a rifle on his back

    Younger boys, about 10

    Gal »Storžek« (Little Cone)

    He collects pine cones and always knows how many he has in his pocket. He has just tried roller skis for the first time.

  • Girl Svizec in a purple jumper and a light blue hat, with a rifle on her back

    Younger girls, about 10

    Zala »Iskrica« (Little Spark)

    Always in a good mood, she makes the whole group laugh. She held a rifle for the first time and wasn't scared.

  • Svizec in a sky blue fleece and a red hat, with skis and poles

    Older boys, 11–12

    Bor »Turbo« (Turbo)

    The fastest downhill, a bit slower uphill. He's working on it.

  • Girl Svizec in a raspberry fleece and a white hat, with skis and poles

    Older girls, 11–12

    Neža »Strela« (Lightning)

    The best start in the group. While the others are still fixing their poles, she is already round the bend.

  • Svizec in a dark green ski jacket and a grey hat, with a rifle on his back

    Under-15 boys, 13–14

    Jure »Petica« (Five)

    There are five targets at the range and he wants to hit all five. In Slovenian schools a five is also the top mark.

  • Girl Svizec in a teal ski jacket and a yellow hat, with a rifle on her back

    Under-15 girls, 13–14

    Ajda »Ritem« (Rhythm)

    She skis with music in her head. Her skating stride looks like a dance.

  • Svizec in a blue and orange race top and a black hat, with skis and poles

    Juniors, 15–16

    Tine »Klanc« (Uphill)

    He loves long climbs: the steeper, the better. He helps the younger ones carry their skis.

  • Girl Svizec in a purple and turquoise race top and a turquoise hat, with skis and poles

    Junior girls, 15–16

    Brina »Veter« (Wind)

    The one with the most stamina in the group. After training she does one more lap, just because.

  • Svizec in a dark and light blue biathlon top, with a rifle on his back

    Biathlon squad, 16–18

    Žan »Pokljukec« (the Pokljuka Kid)

    He dreams of the World Cup on Pokljuka, right next to home. Every morning he first checks whether there is snow up there.

  • Girl Svizec in a red and blue biathlon top, with a rifle on her back

    Biathlon squad, 16–18

    Lara »Zlatka« (Goldie)

    The oldest in the group. She shows the younger ones how to lie down at the range. She wants gold, for herself and for the club.

Parents and grandparents

The grown-up Svizci are in the club's other sections.

  • Grown-up Svizec in a forest green sports T-shirt with the G/ mark

    Dad, football

    Marko »Golgeter« (Goal Scorer)

    In winter he drives the children to Pokljuka, in the evening he plays football with friends from the club.

  • Grown-up woman Svizec in a coral T-shirt with the G/ mark and a ponytail

    Mum, volleyball

    Špela »Mreža« (Net)

    She plays volleyball, and at the children's races she cheers the loudest.

  • Grandpa Svizec with glasses, a grey muzzle and a burgundy polo shirt with the G/ mark

    Grandpa, bocce

    Janez »Bulin« (the Jack)

    At bocce he rolls his ball right up to the jack. He still remembers skiing on wooden skis in the club.

  • Grandma Svizec with glasses, a grey bun and a light blue zip fleece with the G/ mark

    Grandma, recreation

    Micka »Triglavka« (the Triglav Lady)

    She has been up Triglav more times than everyone else put together. She knits bobble hats for the whole family.

Tomaž Žemva drawn as Svizec, in a blue club top with the G/ mark

Real people as Svizci

The characters above are made up. But some Svizci are real people from the club. Svizec, the AI helper in the corner of the site, has Tomaž's face: it is Tomaž Žemva from the club's board, drawn as a marmot. Soon the coaches will get their own Svizci too.