Asking the better questions that unlock new answers to the working world's most complex issues
AI insights
CFO agenda
EY Center for board matters
EY podcasts
EY webcasts
Operations leaders
Technology leaders
EY helps clients create long-term value for all stakeholders
our services and solutions provide trust through assurance and help clients transform
EY.ai - A unifying platform
Strategy, transaction and transformation consulting
Technology transformation
Tax function operations
Climate change and sustainability services
EY Ecosystems
EY Nexus: business transformation platform
Experienced professionals
EY-Parthenon careers
Student and entry level programs
Talent community
our purpose is building a better working world
The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients
Exploring scenarios for the world in five years reveals divergent paths for geopolitics
EY CEO confidence index assesses CEO sentiment across sector growth
Stakeholders are challenging businesses to go further
faster in their efforts to be more sustainable
Multidisciplinary professional services organization
TERA Tolmin - the Leban family's “third child”
TERA Tolmin can boast a wealth of experience in the sale of technical thermoplastics and plastics processing equipment
The family business has established partnerships in the automotive
The company is primarily engaged in the supply and resale of technical thermoplastics in their primary
they supply spare parts and provide servicing and engineering services to manufacturers of equipment for processing plastics
The company has a portfolio of 400 domestic customers
all of which are major Slovenian companies
their customer list contains over 100 firms
“We are in fact dealers,” explains Marijan Leban
adding that they are also providers of logistics
The company has 14 staff and achieved over €13 million of sales in 2017
The 2017 financial year was extremely important as it marked the completion of more than €1.2 million worth of investment in new premises
which now extend to an area of 3,000 square meters
80% is devoted to storage facilities and there are 600 square meters of administrative facilities
including a workshop for the company’s own servicing needs
offices and a chemistry and physics laboratory
Marijan and Nada Leban were considering starting a part-time craft business
All my ancestors were farmers who owned their land and as such were some sort of sole proprietors
I have certainly experienced what it is like to fight for one's survival,” explains Nada
in 1981 Nada got a teaching job at the Tolmin grammar school
we were determined to start our own business,” explains Nada
When they moved to their new house in 1987
they finally started their family business
“We offered tampo printing services and postage stamp printing,” adds Nada
they decided to register the company as TERA Tolmin
“We started our business in a family garage
our success is quite amazing,” proudly points out Marijan
who is primarily responsible for attracting new customers
when Nada registered it and arranged for all the necessary documentation during the school summer holidays and the work started in late autumn
“I like to tease my husband by reminding him that he started working in the garage where the only furniture was a writing desk we bought from the local primary school
a radio telephone and three bags that stood in a corner,” explains Nada
“Over the years our business progressed gradually
until in 2007 we set a record by achieving €13.2 million in turnover.”
When they moved to the new location in 2000
they drew up three business plans: optimistic
Following the establishment of the family business
After the birth of their children in 1977 and 1983
they began to focus more intensely on the future and how to make sure their two sons had secure jobs when they grew up
They ran out of garage space only 12 months after the start of their business
so they rented a warehouse only to run out of space again three years later
they purchased premises in the village of Volče
“My father taught me that first earnings should be reinvested,” explains Marijan
courage and knowledge that helped us to surpass the optimistic version of the plan by a factor of three.”
“Family understands your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else and is well aware of your needs.”
all inhabitants of nearby towns and villages
Nada works as a part-time teacher in the Tolmin grammar school and spends only some of her time working in the company
Although she prefers to monitor the family business from the viewpoint of an external observer
the couple make all business decisions together
“Family understands your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else and is well aware of your needs,” explains Nada
Their eldest son Vladimir also worked in the company for a while
but has since embarked on his own entrepreneurial path
While Vladimir remained in the same industry
he is involved in recycling materials and machines
the sale of which was abandoned by TERA Tolmin after the 2008 financial crisis
Vladimir is always ready to offer a helping hand when needed
helped his parents in the family business from an early age and worked during summer holidays throughout his student years
“Even security services call me when a deer wanders out of the nearby woods and sets off the alarm
Mine is not so much a job but a way of life,” explains Martin
“I do whatever is necessary to ensure the business progresses as it should
It is my duty to know every single thing about the business to ensure that everything is as it should be.”
They are also considering chemical regeneration of plastic to produce oil and petroleum products
The company's competitive advantage stems from its excellent organization
TERA Tolmin has implemented and maintains the ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management systems as means of achieving the required quality
objectives and efficient environmental management
“We were one of the first in our industry to implement the quality management system
A well-organized company works well and efficiently
which is noticed by both suppliers and customers.”
Automation is one of the challenges they plan to address in the future
we intend to gradually limit the amount of heavy
physically demanding work as part of the future business development and our care for employees,” says Martin
they aim to improve their waste management through increased recycling efforts
“We are currently collecting technological plastic waste from our customers for resale,” explains Martin
“While we are aware that we are not the cheapest on the market
our materials and support ultimately provide the winning solution for the end customer,” emphasizes Marijan
Marijan Leban retired in 2013 and left the company’s reins in the capable hands of his younger son
which Marijan believes is insufficient and for this reason he intends to divide the ownership in two halves to allow both he and his wife Nada to exit the company
the ownership transfer to the new generation is expected to be completed within four years
“I often tell people that whilst I have two sons
I look upon the family business as my ‘third child’
At times I spend more time dealing with the family business than in the company of my two sons
which makes the decision of how and when to transfer power to the new generation even more difficult,” explains Marijan
Marijan nurtured and kept alive his love for basketball
which he used to play in his younger years
I was a member of the Tolmin basketball team that won the Slovenian Young Champions Cup in Maribor
I was president of the Tolmin basketball club for 12 years,” says Marijan
TERA Tolmin is the main sponsor of the Tolmin basketball club
“They play in the third Slovenian league,” explains Marijan
who is more than happy to encourage children to take up sports
association for the study and preservation of the legacy of the First World War
which takes care of the Hungarian chapel located above the Pretovč mountain
“We are supporters of sports and culture and among others
who believes that one should “Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor”
“One should give the state what belongs to the state to fund infrastructure
education and other social activities,” concludes Marijan
of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited
The first FAI World Junior Paragliding Championships are taking place in Tolmin
Open to pilots born in 1998 or later with an IPPI 5 rating
64 male and 11 female pilots from 20 countries are taking part in the 10 day competition
Teams of three or more have been fielded by Spain
Organised by the aeronautical association of Slovenia and the Triglav flying club
the competition is taking place in the north west of the country at the southern end of the Julian Alps
After the first 46.4km task Spain’s Marcelo Sanchez Vilchez was leading the overall competition with France’s Capucine Deliot leading the women
Day 2 saw pilots head to Lijak where they “waited and waited” hoping for better weather
which unfortunately never arrived – the day was cancelled
Kobala is being used for 90% of the flying days
It’s a popular launch for long cross-country flights and a well-known competition site
with an elevation of 1,080m it’s also easily accessed by road
Slovenia is a well-known paragliding destination with the climate influenced by the Alps and the Adriatic Sea
The Soča Valley is known as an outdoor sports paradise
Steep mountain slopes and unforgettable panoramic views offer top flying opportunities and long cross-country flying above the Julian Alps
The Triglav National Park is one of the oldest European parks and the only national park in Slovenia
bordering Italy and Austria and home to Slovenia’s highest mountain
The FAI Juniors category is a new category in free flight and covers records and competitions and is designed to encourage younger pilots into the competitive side of the sport
Sixteen-year-old local pilot Mark Janaway (SLO) is the youngest competitor at the 1st FAI World Junior Paragliding Championships. He told CIVL he has been flying for 15 months
and that the Junior Worlds is his fourth competition to date
Additional event details and rankings can be found throughout the competition at civlcomps.org
The championships can be followed via Flymaster Live Tracking here
Get Pollstar News and more delivered right to your inbox with Pollstar Daily Pulse
By signing up, you agree to Pollstar’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
which grew into a household name among heavy metal fans over the last ten years
announced that it wouldn’t return for another edition
The organizers’ passion for the event could be felt from its inception in 2013
MetalDays was one of the early festivals to market itself as blending holidays with music
placing as much emphasis on the off-stage entertainment as it did on-stage
It also had sustainability at the heart of all considerations from the beginning
the biggest names in metal have graced the stage in Tolmin
where MetalDays had its home until 2022: Megadeth
From obvious setbacks caused by two years of lockdowns; a flooding in 2023
causing the cancellation of two festival days in the first year the festival had moved from Tolmin to a new location
Lake Velenje; the inflationary economy post-COVID; and what the organizers lay out to be cut-throat business practices by what they believed to be partners; as well as their own shortcomings
and some naiveté when making certain business decision – the reasons that have led to the end of MetalDays are manifold
They usually are, but what’s unique to this case is how openly the organizers around founder Boban Boban Milunovic have laid it all out on the table, for everybody to read, and judge, for themselves. These are just excerpts from what constitutes a five-page letter published on the MetalDays website
The first bad decision seems to have been not to save up in the early years
when the event first started to turn a profit
They first considered throwing in the towel at the end of 2021
but instead took a private loan “to survive as a company and to slowly return requested refunds.”
production costs had risen across the board
according to MetalDays’ promoters in some cases by 300%
but mostly on tickets bought for a price calculated before March 2020
“Without a ticket price increase and with all the unexpected price rises, we kept pushing back the refunds, creating a bad vibe going into an already sensitive festival edition [2022]”, the letter states
The original plan to move to a new location in 2022 couldn’t be realized in the COVID aftermath, and the letter details why
It also names a gastronomy partner that screwed the organizers over
if it all indeed occurred as laid out on by the MetalDays team
that they’re giving their “honest take on these matters
The gastronomy partner allegedly withheld funds from both the festival as well as visitors using the cashless payment system
also provided by the gastronomy partner – the company has since been taken to court
with two decision having already been made in MetalDays favor
This is followed by the story of another business partner sensing MetalDay’s weakness and using it to promote their own
even going as far as creating bad publicity for MetalDays in a local newspaper
the first at the new lakeside location offering a greater capacity
could have saved the day had it not been for the flooding
All of the above caused ticket refunds not to be paid out
causing some fans and artists to call out MetalDays’ promoters as scammers
we sold a portion of shares in the MetalDays promoting company
One shareholder also took an additional loan
which was likewise invested in MetalDays 2023
well over half a million [Euros] of private funds were invested by shareholders in MetalDays from 2021 until 2023
covering both production costs of 2023 and processed refunds
If any of the defamation aimed at discrediting us had been true
we would never have invested this money in MetalDays 2023
nor would we have refunded a single ticket
Every allegation that we are scammers who misappropriated visitors’ money for high-end tourism on a paradise island is false
and only a fool would believe it just because a wannabe Metal influencer said it on the internet
Anyone who thinks we would destroy the product of our hard work and dedication for the reasons stated in those false accusations is simply naive
The outstanding refunds amount to only about 30% of what shareholders personally invested in MetalDays 2023
it was offered up for sale to all major promoters
which was the only way to fulfil unpaid obligations that accumulated in the years 2020-2023
“it is just not economically feasible to continue.”
The five-page letter ends as it begins – with a statement of thanks to fans
“To all the bands that played at MetalDays: you are as crucial to MetalDays as our visitors
we have established ourselves as reliable promoters
enabling us to host so many incredible bands
Each of you contributes uniquely to MetalDays
enhancing the festival’s significance
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet such talented personalities and to host you for a day
To the bands we were unable to pay due to the financial loss caused by flooding
we can only say that we deeply regret this situation
Given that many of you have performed at MetalDays before
we trust you understand that this was never intentional
We have consistently been a dependable partner
honoring every contractual obligation and prioritizing the interests of every band that graced our stages
We truly hope to regain your trust and to become a reliable partner you can again count on in the future
we wish to thank you for your unwavering support of MetalDays until the very last day
Your dedication and enthusiasm have been invaluable to us
We look forward to hosting your bands at future events and continuing our collaboration for many years to come.”
Subscribe to Pollstar HERE
the festival was renamed Metal Days from 2013- 2022
After holding a truncated festival in 2023
citing catastrophic flooding canceling the last day
and blaming this years’ cancelation on fallout from the ill will of cheated fans
They had promised to refund tickets for several past festivals
but in a lengthy farewell statement only available on their website
they blamed another company for withholding refunds
Metal Days also faced local competition from Tolminator
a smaller yet still successful festival in Tolmin
the original location of Metal Days until 2023
The statement also claimed that they “reinvested the profits from MetalDays into our other festivals: Winter Days of Metal
and Punk Rock Holiday (2013-2016)” – all leading to losses weighing on the parent festival
The statement also states they tried to sell the festival in order to save it for fans to The statement includes details of the festival organizers’ attempts to sell the brand to major festival companies that included Live Nation
Metal Days has wiped its socials except for YouTube
where they notoriously used to delete negative fan comments
which is a bad look considering the money owed fans
and gaslighting those fans about the whereabouts of that money
including past headliners for the event include: Amon Amarth
it was a perfect combo of the great traditions of European-style open-air extreme metal music festivals
and romping in the great outdoors in gorgeous Slovenia
We will keep tracking this story to see if fans ever get refunded
https://www.youtube.com/@MetalDays_OFFICIAL
https://www.metaldays.net/
The 1st FAI World Paragliding Junior Championships will be held in Tolmin
The event is organized by Letalska zveza Slovenije and Klub letalcev Triglav
According to the decision of the CIVL Plenary Junior age will be considered up to 26 years old
Slovenia is a well-known paragliding destination The climate is influenced by the Alps and the Adriatic Sea
Soča Valley is an outdoor sport paradise
With its setting of high Julian Alps peaks
Stol near Kobarid is a paragliding pilot’s paradise
Kobala is popular paragliding and hang gliding take-off
as well as an excellent starting point for long cross-country flights on the southern crest of the Julian Alps and a well-known competition site
The competition area is in the North-Western part of the country
The highest point of the park is the summit of Triglav (2,864 m)
whilst the lowest point lies in the basins of the Tolminka river (180 m)
More info in the bid
FAI - Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Design by Penceo - LAB
"some music was meant to stay underground..."
We post metal news every day, throughout the day, covering thousands of metal bands including underground and unsigned bands
Below is the latest news, but check back often for updates. You can also browse our news archive or find news by band
Click a date below to read that day's news
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
Das TOLMINATOR METAL FEST in Slowenien geht in diesem Jahr in die zweite Runde
Mit Veranstalter Crt Batagelj diskutieren wir
was nach dem – trotz Unwetter – erfolgreichen Debüt in diesem Jahr noch besser werden kann
was die Absage der MetalDays für das TOLMINATOR bedeutet und welche Zukunft das Festival im Tolmin hat
Gewinne Tickets fürs Tolminator Metal Fest
Dieses Interview wurde per E-Mail geführt.Zur besseren Lesbarkeit wurden Smilies ersetzt
Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht
wenn jemand auf meinen Kommentar antwortet
Ich stimme der Metal1.info zu, Daten zu speichern, die ich über dieses Formular abschicke (Datenschutzerklärung) *
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"
© 2025 Metal1.info - Wir schreiben Musik
Essenzielle Cookies ermöglichen grundlegende Funktionen und sind für die einwandfreie Funktion der Website erforderlich
Statistik Cookies erfassen Informationen anonym
Diese Informationen helfen uns zu verstehen
Inhalte von Videoplattformen und Social-Media-Plattformen werden standardmäßig blockiert
Wenn Cookies von externen Medien akzeptiert werden
bedarf der Zugriff auf diese Inhalte keiner manuellen Einwilligung mehr
The Tolmin/Kobarid valley is the most famous flying arena in Slovenia
and encompasses a section of the world record route
The valley is one of the most scenic and memorable in Europe
with its gently flowing river down the centre and a good retrieve road either side
You can see the Dolomites to the west on a clear day
but the region is dominated by 3,000m Triglav to the north
[youtube id=”pCJq2JF_-aE” w=”602″]
Launches and landings are grassy and well maintained with good windsocks
clear noticeboards and local club members often on hand
site fees of €3 or €4 are applied on some sites
Three of the current world out-and-return records were set here (Arduino Persello’s 280km in June 2012; Nicole Fedele’s 259.7km women’s record and Brett Janaway’s tandem 205.7km
The record flights start from Sorica take-off
Just 10km to the west is the much more user-friendly Kobala launch (1,080m)
running the front ridge west towards Gemona or beyond
then drop onto the mountains behind for the return leg
The air in Slovenia is never that rough or rowdy and pleasant flights are enjoyed by most levels of pilot
Forty minutes further south pilots can enjoy thermalling all year round at a site called Lijak
It’s part of a 35km ridge where pilots regularly clock up 100km OLC flights in every month of the year
extend the flight from Kobala all the way to Gemona in Italy
then return but move into the big mountains
dropping over the main spine to land at the lakeside of Bohinj lake for a pleasant swim after an amazing 120km flight in some of the most breathtaking areas of the country
Only for those who understand mountain flying
For guiding, call on Brett Janaway of xTc Paragliding
He’s been there for a decade and can sort everything out for you
For more independent pilots, check in with part-time guide www.jelkin-hram.com
Lots of weather info on xtc-paragliding.com. Talking weather stations in English at www.sffa.org/en/index.php/weather-stations
• Got news? Send it to us at news@xccontent.local
Buy and sell gear on Skyads.aero
Die Metaldays sind aus Tolmin verschwunden – der Metal aber nicht: Mit dem TOLMINATOR wird vom 25
Juli 2023 ein neues Festival an altbewährter Location stattfinden – allerdings in deutlich kleinerem Rahmen
überhaupt ein neues Festival aus der Taufe zu heben
warum genau in Tolmin und warum Metalheads das TOLMINATOR bei ihrer Urlaubsplanung in Betracht ziehen sollten
verrät uns Festival-Mitbegründer und Booker Crt Batagelj im Interview
https://www.metal1.info/specials/gewinne-2-tickets-fuers-tolminator-metal-fest-2023/
Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker
The first ever FAI World Junior Paragliding Championships have ended in Tolmin
Slovenia with a win for Spain’s Marcelo Sanchez and France’s Constance Mettetal in the women’s category
“Flying in this spectacular landscape is a dream come true,” Marcelo
He dominated the standings early on with a win on the first 46.4km task
following up with a second and third place on the next two tasks
winning the final task to seal his victory
France’s Adrien Raisson came second and Dusan Surina Jr from Slovakia came third
Current European Women’s Paragliding Champion Constance Mettetal (FRA) won the women’s class with Celine Lorenz (GER) coming second and France’s Capucine Deliot in third
“We had really nice weather,” Igor Eržen
said: “We finished with seven tasks in two weeks and flew every day
even those days when we did not have a task it was flyable
“We had almost 80 pilots from 20 countries and they really surprised me with their quality of flying
the Spanish the Brits they came super strong and they showed what can be done in this valley.”
added: “It was very satisfying to see this group of young pilots who were so gracious and so sporting
We had no safety issues – we had two reserves but that happens
It was a huge success in terms of safety fairness and satisfaction.”
a popular cross-country area and it was open to pilots born in 1998 or later
All results
Tom Joly and Katelyn Steen took the men’s and women’s honours in the inaugural Ultra X World Championship after five days of racing in Slovenia
Britain’s Joly and USA’s Steen each triumphed by more than an hour in the five-stage ultra marathon event
which started in the Vipava valley before heading north towards the adventure capital of the country
a 42.5km course featuring 1,218m of elevation
Steen held almost double that advantage after her opening salvo
eventually finishing almost two hours clear at the end of stage five (44.1km; 2,000m).
Joly finished with an overall time of 26 hours 24 minutes 48 seconds and won each of the five stages
He told the organisers: “Such an Incredible week
I think you’ve totally nailed that race on the first go
and it will certainly attract more big names.”
Steen matched Joly’s 100% stage win record to clock 31:08:44
Britain’s Luke Hanson (27:38:31) was second man
with Taiwan’s Tommy Chen (28:17:25) third.
Hanson said: “My two weeks with Ultra X have been life-affirming.”
Australia’s Alice McGushin (33:02:02) was the second woman home
ahead of Britain’s Charlotte Kirk (34:42:06).
Full results are available here
Race Director and Ultra X co-founder Sam Heward said afterwards: “This event will certainly go down in history as the first multi-stage ultra World Championships and as always with a first edition event
there is a bit of learning to take forward
“Overall though we were incredibly pleased with how it went and there is very little that will change as we prepare for [the next edition in] 2024.”
Dying Scene
and one of the biggest European fests of the Summer is just around the corner
Punk Rock Holiday is an annual event held in Tolmin
a small but beautiful European country nestled between Italy and Croatia
contained on a site near The River Soča
attracts thousands each year for its unique blend of camping in natural beauty
a tight-knit community of regular attendees
and fantastic lineups that features some of the biggest names in punk rock
as well as a batch of some of the most exciting up-and-coming bands from around the world
featuring another behemoth lineup from August 7-11 in what will surely be another PRH for the ages.As a person who has been regularly attending punk and other music fests and shows for roughly a decade
I will finally be able to attend and take in the music
the community and hopefully provide the Dying Scene readers with coverage of some classic names
here are some bands I’m most looking forward to seeing
Pennywise is a veteran of the festival scene
but seeing them at Punk Rock Holiday seems like a completely different beast
One of the trademarks of the festival is that the stage features no barrier
instead opting for a connected mini stage where fans can stage dive off of and interact with the band
This feature comes into the spotlight whenever Pennywise plays as the crowd devolves into absolute bedlam
Just check out their last performance at PRH 2019
Even for those who have seen Pennywise many a time
a performance at Punk Rock Holiday is must-see
One of my most anticipated sets from a band that may be under the radar for some is the excellent band of Hastings, UK natives, Maid of Ace
which consists of sisters Alison Cara Elliott (Lead vocals/Guitar)
has been releasing ferocious music and putting on fantastic shows since 2014
Their most recent release, Live Fast or Die
was named the 6th best album of the year by Vive Le Rock in 2020
If you haven’t checked out this band
With the band releasing a few singles in recent years
hopefully we aren’t too far away from a full release
I’ll be checking them out on the beach stage at Punk Rock Holiday
Who doesn’t love a good skate-punk set? Cigar, one of the underappreciated acts of the 90s skate punk boom is hot off the release of their comeback album The Visitor in 2022 (read our review here) and has been hitting the road touring
Cigar is a band I’ve never had the chance to see live and I’m excited to see the band play a set of their trademark fast
Let us know in the comments if you’re into Cigar
if you’re happy they’re back and if you’ve checked out the latest release from the pioneering group
Check out one of their recent music videos to see if it’s up your alley
It has been a wild ride for a band that released their first set of material in just 2019
If it continues they may be more regular performers of mainstream festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza
It should be interesting checking them out at PRH to see if their hype will translate to a triumphant set in Slovenia
While this is just a short list of some of the bands I’m most looking forward to
there are of course a number of other exciting acts
Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for coverage of the event from yours truly
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value"
this 270km-long path traces one of the bloodiest frontlines of World War One and now stands as a celebration of peace
my father always took me with him to the mountains
my mother used to give me an invisible rope
which I tied around my waist so she could 'pull' me uphill," said our guide
as she passed my partner and I the same invisible rope
Unused to the slopes of north-western Slovenia, we were struggling to keep up with Rovšček's pace while marching to reach the Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca
As Rovšček led us on a winding gravel road above a stream trickling with alpine water and under leaves blushing autumnal reds
she told us about her relationship with the unconventional shrine
"For me it's more a person than a church
Tucked in a valley high above the Tolminka River and surrounded by the steep peaks of the Rdeči rob and Tolmin mountain chains
the solitary wooden church honours the 2,564 Austro-Hungarian soldiers who lost their lives in 1916 on the nearby Tolmin battlefield as part of the Isonzo Front in World War One
The 90km-long front ran from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea along the Isonzo River near the historical border that once separated Italy and Austria
It had been formed a year earlier when Italy joined the Allies and declared war on Austria-Hungary
Two and a half years of positional warfare followed
the Isonzo represented one of the bloodiest frontlines in WWI
with more than 1.5 million soldiers killed
wounded or captured in the 12 battles that took place here between 1915 and 1917
and the slopes around the church are overgrown with dense forest
the area was completely bare because locals used it as pasture for livestock
when the peaks were covered with up to 6m [of] thick snow
avalanches [killed] many soldiers on the Austro-Hungarian side
Desperate due to mass losses and an impossible situation they were in
the surviving soldiers decided to erect a monument to the fallen comrades-in-arms," explained Rovšček
The shrine was constructed by soldiers while resting after prolonged battles
we saw that the men had burnt the names of their 2,564 fallen brothers into oak panels – a poignant reminder of the horrors that took place in this now picture-perfect setting
Today, the lone church stands as a "memorial of reconciliation", and is one of 230 WWI monuments, trenches, caverns, cemeteries and forts in the Soča Valley that make up the Walk of Peace hiking trail: a living museum that reminds travellers of this valley's importance in the war
while also revealing how the unique rural culture of its residents has endured
The Walk of Peace was inaugurated in March 2015 and has since expanded to include an additional 230km of new routes branching off from the trail's main spine – one leading to Kranjska Gora, a popular winter sports destination, and the other to the town Bohinjska Bistrica. Both the original trail and the two new routes venture into Triglav
whose high-altitude summits and crystal-clear lakes are home to brown bears
• The Minochoku Coastal Trail: Japan's new 1,000km path
• A new hiking route between Europe and Asia
• The Sentiero dei Parchi: A hiking trail uniting Italy
I was born in Slovenia's northernmost region
it celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of first migrants from the Soča Valley region who had been displaced due to the war
many people I grew up with still feel a bond with the valley that was once their great-grandparents' home
I decided to lace up my shoes and learn more about the Great War – and my birth nation – by hiking a northern leg of the route
We started our exploration at the Italian army's open-air trenches at Kolovrat
a ridge with sweeping views into the Friuli lowlands in Italy
lined with a branched system of firing trenches and caverns where the last battle of the Isonzo Front took place
the trail shot down into vast pastures filled with cows
whose milk is turned into traditional Tolminc cheese and spicy albumin curd
In addition to teaching hikers about history, the Walk of Peace allows travellers to sample a highlight reel of Slovenian culinary specialties. After a long day of walking, I stayed overnight at the working farm Pri Kafolu near Tolmin and feasted on a pasture-to-plate selection of dried meat products
albumin curd and Tolminc cheese sourced from the cows just outside the window
explained that the cheese's consistent sweet
slightly spicy taste is the result of an 800-year-old local recipe
Had I continued south to the town of Nova Gorica
I would have walked through the hilly vineyards of Goriška brda and the Karst region
where the fertile red soil produces blood-red Teran Slovenian wine
while the gusty cold wind dries fresh salted pig thighs and turns them into one of the most recognisable Slovenian delicacies: Kraški pršut
The region isn't only an important culinary hub; it's also a popular recreational spot for locals
"Everyone here practices some kind of sport: hiking
endless wheat fields of Prekmurje in the opposite end of the country
But gazing down at the rushing Soča and up at the snowcapped mountains
it was easy to understand why everyone I talked to seemed to love the great outdoors
Although the trail was inspired by the memories of war
When we were standing outside the church in Javorca
Rovšček called us to look up above the three Austrian-Hungarian coats of arms and a solar clock towards an inscription
"The word 'PAX' [peace] is written on the very top
It's the most important thing of all," she said
Another goal of the trail is to promote harmony between the neighbouring nations that once fought against each other. "Since there are no living witnesses, passions and emotions have calmed down considerably. The legacy of WWI no longer separates people, but it really unites them," explained Maša Klavora, director of the Ustanova Fundacija Poti miru v Posočju
after our initial ascent to admire the views from atop Kolovrat
we were standing right on the border between Slovenia and Italy
We could see the Soča Valley on the Slovenian side and the Friuli lowlands and the Gulf of Trieste on the Italian side
Breathless hikers from both nations greeted us as they savoured the victory of a successful climb
Yugoslav soldiers guarded this area of rocks and underground ditches trying to prevent people from passing from one country to another
said Leon Četrtič who leads groups of tourists to Kolovrat
eat in restaurants or just go for a drink," he said
"The Italians do the same here in Slovenia
the border doesn't exist anymore."
Slowcomotion is a BBC Travel series that celebrates slow
self-propelled travel and invites readers to get outside and reconnect with the world in a safe and sustainable way
Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram
If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.
The secret WWII magazine ridiculing Hitler's motherHiding in an attic, Jewish man Curt Bloch found inspiration through crafting anti-Nazi parody.
Why we're still talking about Maud WagnerHow America's first professional female tattooist broke through into an art form historically dominated by men.
The insulting 'Vinegar Valentine' of Victorian EnglandValentine’s Day is thought to celebrate romance but rude cards soured the holiday for its recipients.
Richard III: The 'accidental' photo of a long-lost kingWhy a famous photograph of King Richard III's skeleton was a happy 'accident'.
The WW2 experiment to make pigeon-guided missilesAn unexpected WW2 experiment by behaviourist B F Skinner proved that pigeons could be used for missile guidance.
America's last Revolutionaries: Rare photos of US patriotsHow a dwindling group of veterans from the American War of Independence were featured in early photographic form.
Idris Elba on moment he learned about Mandela's deathThe actor recalls being at the Mandela film premiere when he heard the anti-apartheid politician had died.
Mary Mallon: 'The most dangerous woman in America'How Mary Mallon, an Irish cook for New York's elite, became known as the 'most dangerous woman in America'.
World War One relics live on in the fields of EuropeThe battlegrounds of World War One are still giving up their revealing evidence of bitter fighting.
The picture that tells a lesser-known chapter of US historyHow a 1892 photo from Rougeville, Michigan, became the most iconic image of the bison massacre in America.
The history of swing states in the USThe US Presidential elections did not always depend on just these seven states.
Why tonnes of mummified cats ended up in EnglandIn 1890 an estimated cargo of 180,000 ancient felines, weighing 19.5 tonnes, were auctioned off in Liverpool.
Inside the ancient royal tomb found by accidentThe Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak was accidentally discovered by Bulgarian soldiers digging up shelters in 1944.
Varna Necropolis: World's oldest gold treasureThe Varna treasure is considered the world's oldest human processed gold, dating back 6,500 years.
The giant 350-year-old model of St Paul's CathedralHiding in a London cathedral is an intricate wooden mock-up of Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece.
Uncovering the sunken relics of an ancient cityBettany Hughes goes underwater in search of ancient archaeological finds in historic Sozopol, Bulgaria.
Texas fever: The lesser-known history of the US borderIn 1911, a fence was constructed on the US-Mexico border. But its purpose was not to stop humans.
Century-old Olympics footage brought back to lifeA look through footage from the Paris 1924 Olympics gives viewers a chance to reflect on how much has changed.
The rare medieval street about to reveal its secretsOne of Europe's oldest residential streets hides in the heart of the English countryside.
Tutankhamun: The first ever view inside the tombOne month after the famous discovery, photographer Harry Burton recreated the first view of Tutankhamun's tomb.
On 12 June 1962, three men escaped from the notorious Alcatraz prison. While their fate remains unknown, the ingenuity of their escape continues to captivate.
In 1956, Commander "Buster" Crabb disappeared during a visit to the UK by Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev. In 2006, a BBC reporter read the files that detailed his secret mission.
The find could shed light on how Indians lived 1,000 years ago - but is without a museum because of red tape.
They flew missions behind enemy lines, dropping agents and supplies, says a historian.
All About The Rock
Metaldays is the Metalheads dream festival
because I’ve been there and I’ve been dreaming of it ever since
between postcard mountains and picturesque clear blue rivers
you will never want to leave its sandy shores
The sold out festival has been postponed for another year due to the pandemic and the new dates are 24-30th of July 2022
I caught up with Event and Project Manager for Metaldays
it’s also a favourite in our office and a personal favourite festival of mine
It is literally the best holiday for metalhead on the planet
How did it all begin for you and how did your journey in the music industry begin
began when I met my now my life partner Boban
I have really done lots of things in my life
mostly in Project Management business and IT
The closest I got to the music business was my work for Sony DADC where I was Senior Digital Supply chain manager
One of the most interesting projects I have worked on
in my life was when I was a Program Engineer for an Airbus A350 XWB airplane spoilers
at the end of May Boban and I moved to Tanzania in Africa
Besides having and running the most amazing metal festival in the world
If anyone is interested in our new movements are about
The ongoing pandemic has obviously massively affected your festival
with it being postponed for 2 years so far
It has been very frustrating to be in this unprecedented situation
without our jobs and also without our income
The first couple of months were seriously bad and there were some moments
There were some unprecedented events in our lives
that basically gave us that final nudge we needed
We decided it was time for us to change something and we had to change it fast
learning and finding time to do all the things I’ve wanted to do forever
Learning and experiencing yoga again was one of those things
2020 was to be the last festival at the same site
Whats happening with this and will the next festival (if we get through this hurdle) be at the same location
The highway plans were confirmed already a long time ago
But it is a hard fact that MetalDays in a shape and size as it is existing or was existing until now will not be possible to organise in the location anymore
we are keeping all the possibilities open and are looking into what time will bring
as scheduled today will be still held in Tolmin
Metaldays is known highly to be a green festival
as this is something we are very passionate about
We are known for having Garbage a deposit at our festival
where visitors are encouraged to separate their trash and bring it to our Garbage centre
We are using biodegradable cups and utensils only as well as supplying biodegradable tent pegs free of charge for our visitors
We have replaced a significant amount of chemical toilets at the festival area with toilets that are plugged into a sewage system that we built in some parts of the festival area together with the municipality of Tolmin
We are supplying free drinkable water around the festival area and the water is always available for refill and we have many plant-based food stands at the festival and more
I hope other festivals can be inspired by you
Have you had to take a job outside of the industry to get by during this time
From the government we have received some subsidy for our employees that were not allowed to work due to lockdown
support or anything was given to our company
packing merchandise and all the other things that needed to be done in the meantime
Music has always been an important part of my life
Do you think your work with the festival has had an influence on your musical tastes
Working at the festival has surely broadened my taste for live music
experiencing the discovery of many young and undiscovered bands at festivals through their live performance
Are there any emerging bands you’ve found that we should keep our ears and eyes on
here are some to name a few- SkyEye from Slovenia and Cold Snap from Croatia
So what is it that continues to drive you to work in the music industry
I love seeing all the smiling faces of our visitors that I meet during the festival
To see them having the time of their lives…it really makes it all worth it
I never actually thought about dream job in the industry
at the festival I pretty much do a bit of everything
I am mostly responsible for the whole Green MetalDays project
I think it is not so much about what you do
but how you do it that makes it special and a “dream job.”
What is the hardest thing about organising a festival
In Slovenia for the past 2 years and even today the hardest thing is dealing with the government
or even- dealing with the government not dealing with the festivals at all
There was no clear communication (even today)
This is frustrating and it makes it impossible to plan anything
We all know that the organisation of a festival the size of MetalDays takes a year in advance to organise
its so disapointing that you’ve received little to know communication or support
Fingers crossed we can hope for a better future
There are absolutely no crazy stories you will hear from me about artists at our festival
because I am really in awe of the artists and I really respect their privacy
We believe our festival’s backstage is their living room for the day
There are certain rules I am very strict about with our employees working with artists at the festival
privacy and trust are amongst the top level ones
This is also probably one of the reasons artists feel welcome at our festival and are always enjoying it
What advice do you have to any budding festival organisers who would like to start their journey
have the balls and don’t be afraid to stand out
Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to say to either- other crew workers in the music industry or to your festival fans about your position
Except we are all really eager to get back on the fields
We can’t wait to be back at our MetalDays festival
amongst the people we love and the bands we love to listen to
I would ofcourse like to invite you all to come and visit us next year
I cannot wait to get back on the shores of your beautiful festival and float down the river in a blow up Unicorn
You must be logged in to post a comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Paragliding and hang gliding is a head game
Peter Brinkeby (SWE) was first placed pilot in the 2001 PWC series until the final competition in Tolmin
First published in Cross Country magazine in 2001
My thoughts are totally focused on today’s task
“You are the champ!” says another friend
and I can’t help myself from mentally projecting an image of me on the podium
it’s been a very good year for me in the competition scene and all the flying has been easy and fun
Why should it be different this competition
My ego has gained a serious boost from all the support and success
and it continues to feed itself with thoughts that are somehow a bit alien to me
It’s the last PWC competition in Tolmin
Slovenia and after leading the pack for most of the year
I am now realising just how close I am to victory
In the beginning of the season I was convinced that it was all folly
who will remember which paragliding pilot won the World Cup 2001
Then I started to think about what actually matters in life
I couldn’t come up with any good answers
I suppose if we spread just a few positive vibes around this planet
that is a lot better then affecting our surroundings in a negative way
discarded the productivity and postponed the humanitarian bit for later
I believe if we commit ourself to any task
the only worthwhile challenge is to try to do it to our best ability
it is a lot more rewarding than when we do it badly
With this in mind at the beginning of the PWC season
I wrote down the words ‘Impeccable Intent’ on my vario case
as a reminder that I should try to use every little bit of my willpower to get as close to perfection as possible
I flew like a rocket and was enjoying the instant gratification in the form of prizes
But as soon as I start doing something well
you’re really good at doing this.’
And sometimes it continues with a quite annoying inner dialogue
always boosting itself and distracting my being from performing the actual task
For example the last task at PWC Castejon: I just won two of the tasks and I was more than 300 points ahead of the second placed pilot
I couldn’t believe what was happening when I found myself at least five minutes ahead of the gaggle only a glide or so to the goal line and my third task victory in the same competition
you’re the man!’ something inside of me said
I started to think about how good I was at flying and what I would say to the world’s press and thousands of groupies that surely were waiting with anticipation at the goal line
Only Bollinger has ever won three tasks in a PWC and I was about to repeat that feat
I was too busy thinking about myself that I completely forgot to think about flying… I made one mistake… two mistakes… three mistakes and landed 30 metres short of the goal line
There is a state of mind that I suppose is the seed of my attraction to adventure sports
It’s the moment when nothing else matters and all the attention is fully focused on the present moment
I think it is easiest reached in a life threatening situation
but also possible with meditation or plain focus
I call it ‘inner silence’ and I wrote it down on top of my GPS
It is the moment when we forget to worry about how we look
what others are thinking about us and what is expected from us
It is a moment where you don’t think but just act
It’s a state of mind when the body reacts to the sensory input without being processed through the self conscious awareness
It often happens to me when I’m paragliding
and especially in competition flying when there is hard core flying
sometimes in gnarly places and a lot of good pilots that push you further
I wish I could stop my inner dialogue at any given time and reach this state of mind
National press from Sweden wanted to speak to me
strangers wanted a photo with me and pilots and friends constantly reminded me of how close I was to the big title
so I ran down the mountain side to a quiet spot
trying hard to get a moment of inner silence
and then back up to the take-off to finish off the World Cup for this season
The flying in Tolmin is absolutely astonishing
Deep gorges with turquoise rivers cutting through lush
green mountainsides coupled with steep intimidating rock faces
As soon as I took off I felt the soothing effect of the beauty of the place
and I felt confident in my paraglider and focused in my mind
I stared at the sentences I wrote down earlier to avoid any further distractions of points
In the usual manner I booted down the ridges
trying to get to goal in the fastest and most efficient way
But in free flying it is hard to predict the best route and this time I was wrong
In three consecutive days I bombed out before the goal line and the effect was that I missed the podium
‘Does it matter?’ I ask myself
yes if you think about all the publicity you get and the advantages of that (some cash
it is really not any difference if you are first
To me it is the collection of experiences that matters
and this year’s World Cup was a great one
Subscribe to the world’s favourite hang gliding and paragliding magazine
Minister Zvone Černač met with mayor of Brda Franc Mužič and vice mayor Teja Jelina
Local officials presented the projects in the pipeline for the upcoming programming for which they wish to receive EU support or funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility
the minister visited a business zone construction site; the relevant utility infrastructure will be installed on the site
and access roads constructed thanks to the EU funding
The business zone will foster the development and operation of regional micro enterprises and SMEs
which will help boost economic activity in the region and create jobs
The EUR 1.1 million project will receive nearly EUR 851,000 from the European Regional Development Fund
Minister Zvone Černač joined Prime Minister Janez Janša to visit the municipality Vipava
They met with mayor of Vipava Goran Kodelja and member of parliament Eva Irgl
They discussed the recently approved EU-funded project designed to increase flood resilience and flood protection in the Vipava River basin
The EUR 7.8 million project which will be carried out by the Slovenian Water Agency will receive EUR 6.6 million from the Cohesion Fund
Minister Černač underlined the importance of EU funds: '' In the past year alone
over EUR 1.2 billion from the European Investment and Structural Funds have been mobilised to support the implementation of concrete projects
Construction sites are springing up like mushrooms across Slovenia
Construction projects are underway in literally all municipalities
nearly 200 different projects have been carried out or are underway – they have helped improve the quality of life of the residents
The project of flood protection in the Vipava River basin will improve the security of 201 residents in flood-prone areas of municipalities Vipava
Šempeter-Vrtojba and Renče-Vogrsko, with 40 buildings no longer at risk of flooding thanks to structural measures that will be put in place.'' According to the minister
local development is the key element supporting the overall development of the country
that is why the government will keep providing EU funding for quality local and regional projects
The minister also stopped at the Dr Franc Berganc General Hospital in Nova Gorica before attending a panel discussion featuring ministers
businessmen and other regional development players
State Secretary Kirbiš Rojs visited Tolmin and Idrija in the scope of the government visit to the Goriška region
She stopped in Tolmin to meet mayor of Tolmin Uroš Brežan
director of Posočje Development Center Simon Škvor and director of the Walk of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation Maša Klavora
They discussed the opportunities the upcoming programming period brings and visited the EU-funded projects carried out in the municipality
the State Secretary met with vice mayor Kristjan Brus
director of municipal administration Gregor Prezelj and director of Idrija-Cerkno Development Agency mag
Jožica Lazar to discuss the areas and planned projects for which the municipality is seeking EU support and the funding opportunities for local projects under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
Did you find the information you were looking for
Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution
Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website
ask for a reply
in particular the firefighters and civil protection and police officers
who have been actively involved over the past 24 hours," said Prime Minister Golob in his introduction
adding that it was thanks to the exceptional and timely response of the intervention teams that people’s lives were protected
we are increasingly confronted with extreme weather conditions," said the Prime Minister during his tour of the area
adding that this makes it all the more important to establish a well-thought-out and
expert-based systemic basis for responding to natural disasters
Dr Golob believes that experts must play the leading role in the measures taken: "It is up to politicians to implement the decisions of experts."
the draft Reconstruction and Development Act
was submitted for consideration to municipalities
The Prime Minister is confident that constructive comments will be collected over the next two weeks and that the Act will be approved by the National Assembly by the end of November
it will enable us to plan for the next five years how to get back on our feet after all the devastating natural disasters
thanked the Government for its rapid response
adding that he also believed that systemic solutions were needed
"We need preventive solutions in order to prevent these things from happening again
We know that we have pushed our planet to its limits and that these things will happen again in the future
So we need to be better prepared," he said
He considered that the discussion with the Prime Minister had been very constructive and that solutions had been found from which the municipality had high expectations
The mayor also agreed that systemic preventive solutions should be based on the opinions of experts: "If we are able to ensure this
it may be necessary to find certain compromises
both in terms of nature conservation and with residents
But all in the direction of keeping the beautiful countryside safe to live in," concluded Mayor Červ
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
ask for a reply
South Melbourne FC would like to announce the appointment of Nejc Kolman as the Coach of our Under 20 Men’s team for the 2019 NPL Season
Nejc started his footballing life at the age of six in the town of Tolmin
At the age of twelve he went to play in the first division juniors at ND Gorica where he won the league in the U16s and U18s
It was during his time at Gorica his talents were noticed and he received a call up to the Slovenian national youth team representing his country on 14 occasions
scoring once and participating in qualifiers for the European Championship
Kolman signed his first professional contract playing in the Slovenian First Football League
He first played for Nafta Lendava FC and then in his second year he transferred Primorje FC
At twenty Kolman moved from Slovenia to Spain where he linked up with Racing Club de Ferrol and then Sociedad Deportiva Compostela
Kolman experienced success at SD Compostela winning two championships including a promotion to the Segunda División B
Nejc spent a short six month stint in Bulgaria before returning to his native Slovenia for a season in the country’s top league with NK Celje and Tolmin
It was after this time he made the decision to travel to Australia
Kolman trialed with the Senior squad during the 2015 pre-season playing a number of friendlies however some injuries contributed him not being offered a position
He was picked up by Heidelberg United for the season helping them in finish third in the league and then transferred across to the Moreland Zebras for 2016 and 2017 before hanging up the boots
In 2018 Kolman turned his hand to coaching
joining South Melbourne FC for his first stint in the technical area
He was responsible for the Under 14 boy’s team and the Under 20s Men’s team
The Under 14s finished in 4th place and also traveled to the USA to participate in the Iber Cup
The Under 20s finished second in the league
six players had game time with the seniors and four made their senior debut for the club
Director of Youth Football Andrew Mesourouni saying “Nejc introduced a youthful
positive and engaging coaching style to the two squads he was managing in 2018
He was able to leverage his senior playing experience in Europe and in the NPL Victoria in a manner which translated well for his players
This reflected well for the teams with success on the pitch but also from a development perspective for individual players
A number of Under 20s trained regularly with the Senior squad and made their senior debut during the year”
The club wishes Nejc and the Under 20s success in the coming 2019 NPL Victoria season
4 x National Champs10 x Victorian Champs (Men)4 x Victorian Champs (Women)