Hi guys
Before I hit the road for next two World cup races in Zauchensee, Austria, here's few things from last few World Cups in Zagreb, Croatia, and Maribor, Slovenia. As with last 4 races in Alta Badia, Italy and Semmering, Austria, things weren't much better, weather wise, in Zagreb and Maribor either. Temperature was around -15c, so standing on slopes from 8am to 2pm with short 1 to 1.5h break in press center between the runs to send photos, was not to pleasant experience.
Next to that, races in Zagreb and Maribor are worse when it comes to locals. This year FIS made rules much more strict then they were before, and now there's really maximum 30 or 40 photographers (including TV crews) on course. Except in Maribor and Zagreb, where obviously anyone can get photo bib, and all of a sudden you have helluva lot of "Facebook photographers" all over the course. Normally I don't really have problems with them, but some of them have no idea how to behave. No crampons on 45 degree ice rink is more or less their problem not mine, but coming to spot 15mins before the race (which is against FIS rules anyway) and yelling to everyone else, who were standing there for hour already, to move since they want >MY< spot, which is obviously better then this what they would get, makes me push them down the hill 
Considering most of them are without crampons, or they at least don't know how to use them, just small touch with finger into middle of chest would suffice 
But anyway... photos I guess Here they are
Sixth placed after first run Tanja Poutiainen of Finland skiing in first run of Zagreb women slalom race of Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2008-09
Fourth placed after first run Sarka Zahrobska of Czech skiing in first run of Zagreb women slalom race
Leader after first run Lindsey Vonn of USA skiing in first run of Zagreb women slalom race
Winner Maria Riesch of Germany skiing in second run of Zagreb women slalom race
Men's slalom race in Zagreb was really crappy one. It was night race, with start of first run at 15:30. It was foggy all morning, but 10mins before start fog lifted and we were pretty happy about it. Unfortunately happiness disappeared 3 or 4 minutes before start, when fog, thicker then before, came back. For first 30 skiers, I moved from really great position shooting 3 gates above me with 300/2.8 to 70-200/2.8 shooting gate next to me. And when shooting to side, you can forget about cool photos, since you always have crappy red safety net as background. But...
Leader after first run Jean-Baptiste Grange of France skiing in first run of Zagreb men slalom race
Seventh after first run Giuliano Razzoli of Italy skiing in first run of Zagreb men slalom race
Second placed Ivica Kostelic of Croatia reacts in finish of second run of Zagreb men slalom race
Finish of second run of Zagreb men slalom race of Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2008-09
Ooops... 8 photos from two races in Zagreb means no more space for photos from Maribor races. But nothing to worry... they will come too
And as always... all sorts of comments are welcome, especially comments about this what you don't like, or what you would like to see it done different
Take care,
Primoz
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