Ski & snow - Spectator Sports
Ski Jump
Competitions are advertised in Strbske Pleso and are usually free of charge to watch.
The High Tatras in Slovakia has a rich history in winter sport and the ski jump sites in Strbske Pleso are part of the sport's folklore.
There international reputation began in 1970 when the World championship in Nordic events was held here. Each year since that time the FIS ski resort has hosted at least one World cup competition or other international event. As a sign of the excellent quality of its ski slopes and ski resorts.
The High Tatras were one of the candidates to host the 2006 Winter Olympics. Strbske Pleso, which is part of the ski center Park Snow High Tatras, was proclaimed as one of the best TOP skiing resorts in Slovakia. This precious trophy was accepted with pride from the prestigious competition that took place on the 10th of June 2003, and it was awarded 5 golden stars.
The ski jumps in Strbske Pleso, 90 meters and 120 meters offer perfect winter spectator enjoyment.
Ice Hockey
Poprad tickets cost approx £1
Slovaks are among some of the best ice hockey players in the world. The best Ice hockey players belong in the NHL American leagues and you will find a lot of Slovaks applying there trade in this league. They do come home to play with the national team in tournaments and having won the world championships in 2002 being there greatest achievement and also placed third in 2003 and fourth in 2004. It is a rare joy and pride for this small country to achieve such a powerful position in a major worldwide sport.
The Poprad Ice Hockey team formed 80 years ago. During those 8 decades many excellent players born in Poprad play for there local team and many still play in the teams of the Slovak First Extra League, the highest European Competitions and the Canadian-American NHL leagues. Poprad have been the champions in the Championship of Slovakia 4 times as HC Poprad, once as HC Tatry, when under the influence of history in 1936 the two teams have joined together into one team.
At this present time the Poprad Ice hockey Team still play a very good standard of ice hockey in the Slovak Extra League and the young players especially are doing very well in the junior league. As there is a specialized school in Poprad, where boys start to play ice hockey from the very early age of five, there potential is seen very early on.
Poprad Ice Hockey team has won the title in the 1st Slovak National Ice Hockey League four times, they have finished second four times and third six times.
They are also very successful in the Slovak Extra League, where they were third twice.
Once a year Tatransky pohar – Tatra Cup takes place in Poprad, where the best Czech and Slovak Ice Hockey Teams meet and determine who is the best Ice Hockey Team. Poprad Ice Hockey Team has won this prestigious trophy 12 times between 1934 and 2001.
There are many world known ice hockey players, who have played ice hockey for their first time in the Poprad Ice Ring and have grown up in the junior team and later played for the A team. Their biggest success is playing the the very well known teams in America or Canada. Poprad is very proud of Peter Bondra. Apart of playing for Poprad he has played for the Washington Capitals and Detroit Vipers. He played in the NHL for 12 seasons. In 831 games scored 421 goals and collected 734 points. After all his success abroad he came back and plays in the HC Poprad shirt again.
Some other players, who started to play in Poprad and moved on to NHL are Gemov, Grandtner, Mrukvia, Sakac, Almassy, Peter Ihnacak, Miroslav Ihnacak, Juraj Bondra, Suchy, Bartecko.
Visit the Poprad Ice Hockey stadium and watch these fast and exhilarating players apply there trade whilst also looking for the potential up and coming Ice Hockey stars.
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