The regular Snow Network Meeting took place in Salzburg on 1 October 2026, with three representatives of the Pokljuka Organising Committee and the Triglav Pokljuka Sports Centre also attending. The meeting brought together approximately 60 participants, including representatives of around 20 biathlon event organisers from different venues.
The programme focused primarily on the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices in snow production and storage. Participants reviewed the past season, discussed the main challenges faced by organising committees and shared solutions and lessons learned along the way.
An important part of the meeting was dedicated to reports from race directors and course referees, who presented their experiences and observations regarding course preparation and quality at individual venues during the previous season. The meeting also showcased new developments in snow management, technological solutions and modern approaches to ensuring optimal conditions for competitions.
Attention was also given to cooperation with partners in the field of snow technology through the so-called Snow Tech Partnerships, and to ways in which these partners can provide even greater support to organising committees. Participants were also introduced to EU funding opportunities, new Erasmus projects and other possibilities for further development.
Representatives of the organising committees presented their venues and exchanged a wide range of best practices. OC Pokljuka was represented by Branko Gomilar, Tomaž Stare and Janez Ožbolt, who serves as Chief of Competition for the World Cup in Pokljuka. Discussions covered snow production and storage, the use of modern technologies, course preparation and maintenance, salting, fuel and numerous other aspects that are essential for ensuring high-quality venue preparation.
Meetings of this kind provide an important opportunity for education, the exchange of experience and the development of new ideas through direct interaction with organisers from different venues.
For Pokljuka, this exchange of knowledge is particularly important ahead of a season in which the venue will host four major international competitions. Preparations for all four events are already well underway at Pokljuka, with sufficient quantities of high-quality snow and timely, high-standard course preparation among the key requirements for their successful delivery. The experience and best practices gained at the meeting in Salzburg will therefore make an important contribution to the continued preparations and work of OC Pokljuka.
