Compared to Kleveland, Krivec was once just one step away from the Olympics. Last year, he secured Slovenia’s only qualification spot for the slopestyle event at the Sochi Winter Olympics, but unfortunately suffered a serious arm injury during pre-competition training and was ultimately unable to compete. “If I had to choose between Beijing, Zhangjiakou, and Almaty, I would definitely vote for Beijing,” Krivec said with a smile. “Because I’ve already adapted to the competition environment here in advance, I know this place better than the other competitors. If Beijing and Zhangjiakou win the bid, I hope that in seven years, I can come here without any regrets.”
Also joining the team in Chongli was Red Bull Nanshan Open judge Sumatic. The slopestyle event made its Olympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and Sumatic was part of the judging panel. At the time, the snowboarding venue sparked some controversy, but in Sumatic’s view, similar issues could be avoided in Chongli. “Sochi had relatively high temperatures and soft snow, which made it difficult for some athletes to adapt. But China has much more preparation time for the Olympics, and the climate here is dry with just the right temperature—it’s entirely possible to build a perfect course.”
Sumatic, who has served as a judge at the Red Bull Nanshan Open for four consecutive years, also spoke highly of the improvement in snowboarding standards among Chinese athletes. “Snowboarding is a lifestyle, and now more and more young Chinese are getting into these sports. From the Red Bull Nanshan Open, I’ve also seen their skills gradually improving. I hope the event can continue, giving them more room to grow.” Finally, Sumatic expressed his eagerness to return to Chongli in seven years as a judge, and he also hopes to see Chinese snowboarders competing there.