PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS

In addition to his position as Director of the Science and Research Centre, he is a member of several ski and sport related institutions: Board of IVSSA – The International Association for Skiing in Schools and Universities; Secretariat of the Association of Teachers and Ski Coaches in the Slovenian Ski Federation (SITAS); Head of the Notranjska and Primorska Region of SITAS since 2004; International Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Slovenia; Expert Council of the Olympic Expert Centre in the Olympic Committee of Slovenia. He is also a member of other associations: HEPA (Health Enhancing Physical Activity) at the Ministry of Health, CINDI, European University of Sport Science, SUSA (Slovenian University Sports Association), Commission for Physical Education.

Saša Pišot works as an assistant professor and research fellow at the Institute for Kinesiology Research at SRC Koper. She received her PhD from the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) at the Faculty of Social Sciences – Studies of everyday life (2018). Her research work focuses more specific on social factors for shaping lifestyles and their influence on the physical efficiency of the studied populations as well as to other social phenomena in the connection with kinesiology.

Her other work experience includes senior positions as Head of the Euro Info Centre at the Science and Research Centre (1999 – 2003) and Head of the Human Resources Department at the University of Primorska (2003 -2007). From 2011 to 2016 she worked as a lecturer in the Applied Kinesiology course and in the Faculty of Education at the University of Primorska.

As a Yugoslavian member of the national alpine skiing youth team (1982-1988) she achieved many international awards (trophy “Pokal LOKA and “Pinocchio”). She has almost 30 years of experience as a ski instructor, since 1992 as an ISIA holder in Ski club Capris at Koper and with students at the University of Primorska.

Uroš Marušič is currently employed at Science and Research centre Koper as Senior Research Associate. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, from the department of Cybernetics in medicine – biomedical engineering (2011) and acquired a Ph.D. in Applied kinesiology at the University of Primorska (2015). Uroš Marušič also works as associate professor at AMEU-ECM in courses of Biomechanics and Human Movement Analysis. Uroš Marušič is a prospective young researcher with a biography of over 40 original and review scientific articles. He is currently leading the HORIZON 2020, WIDESPREAD-05-2020 project TwinBrain – TWINning the BRAIN with machine learning for neuro-muscular efficiency. He is also skiing instructor (2nd level).

She is an experienced sectoral adviser with a history of working in the field of education, international collaboration, and research. After her studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering of the University of Ljubljana and the Faculty of Management of the University of Primorska, she is completing a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree focused on Economy and Finance. Experienced in intercultural communication, event planning, and with skills in data analysis, her focus is strategic planning. In the last few years, she has been assisting in monitoring and financial planning of national and international activities of the projects under different programs: HORIZON 2020, Interreg ITA-SLO, 2014-2020, EEA and Norway Grants, Interreg ADRION, ESPR and ESRR 2017, ERA-NET and at numerous tenders procured by the European Commission.

Prof. Kovač participated in all autumn seminars of the International Ski Federation and congresses in Zurich from 2001 to 2008. He was an organizer and lecturer at the “International Seminar for Alpine Skiing Coaches in Southeastern Europe in 2004 and 2009 and has been certified as an international ski instructor by the ISIA since 1987. Prof. Kovač was also a coach and selector of the alpine ski team B&H “A” from 1997 to 2004. He has participated as a coach in the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, the World Cup and the 1999, 2001 and 2003 World Championships.

Professor Kovač was a Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the scientific conference SPE Balkan Ski in Jahorina Ski Center on March 2018.

Mirjana has over 15 years of work in training of ski instructors. She was a member of the Organization Committee for the 2nd SPE BALKAN SKI conference. Participant of INTERSKI conference in Bulgaria 2019 as a member of the Demo team Bosnia and Herzegovina.  She was a Venue Manager for all alpine skiing competitions at the Winter EYOF 2019 in Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. She is as well a “Sport” hotel manager at Jahorina mountain and successful fashion designer.

Velibor is an expert in organization and management in sport. He was deputy director of Sports EYOF Sarajevo and East Sarajevo 2019, a coach of the B&H ski team 2003-2006 and National coordinator of the European Sports Week in B&H.

Now he is a Head of Department in the field of sports, Ministry of Civil Affairs B&H.

At the age of 18 he started the education to become a ski teacher and from that time onwards regularly participates in the education of young ski competitors, recreational level skiers, and ski instructors. At Faculty of Kinesiology he is involved in creating the winter sports syllabus for future physical education teachers and trainers. His main area of interest includes defining the best teaching methods for ski beginners, creating a safe skiing environment and ways to prepare recreational level skiers for skiing. In this context he published many scientific and professional papers and two University text books (Carving ski technique and Snow sports) and was an author of chapter Physical activity, Diabetes and Cold in University text book Diabetes and Physical activity: from A to Z, bringing close participation in winter sports (skiing) for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Vjekoslav is also a member of HZUTS (Croatian ski and snow sports instructor association).

During childhood, she participated in competitive skiing and after that, started working part time as a ski teacher. On national level, at HZUTS (Croatian ski and snow sports instructor association) she is a member of the Educational board and she lectures on topics regarding special considerations in young and teenage skiers; skiing with chronic diseases, altitude physiology etc.  She is also a member of Croatian medical chamber. In her scientific work, she published many journal papers and conference articles in the field of sports medicine and skiing and its relation to health as well as the book Physical activity in diabetes mellitus and the chapter on medical considerations in skiing in book Alpine skiing published by HZUTS.

He is external associate at Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb for course Skiing. His interest in popularization of skiing is specifically directed to people with disabilities, and he is involved in teaching alpine skiing to blind and visually impaired persons.

His hobby is sport photography and audio-visual media, which he successfully combines with skiing. He is a coauthor of text and the author of photography in textbooks Carving ski technique and Snow sports, published by Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb.

Additional references: Professional Employment

He was former Vice-Rector of the University of Salzburg. He holds Full Professorship in Sport Science (Biomechanics –Training Theory) since 1993;

Head of the Department Sport Science at the University of Salzburg 1994 – 2011

Professional Activities

President Elect of the European College of Sport Science 2017 – 2019

Member of the Executive board of the European College of Sport Science 2015 –

President of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS): 2005 – 2007

Member of the World Council of Biomechanics 2006 – 2018

Director of the Christian Doppler Laboratory “Biomechanics in Skiing” in Salzburg

2004 – 2012

Chair of the 1st, 2nd , 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th World Congresses on Science and Skiing in 1996, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 in St. Christoph a. A., Austria

Chair of the 8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science 2003, Salzburg

Chair of the Steering Group „Science in Skiing“ of the World Commission of Sport Science 1996 – 2017

President of the Austrian Society of Sport Sciences 1995 – 1998

Section Editor of the European Journal of Sport Science (2001-1005)

Member of the editorial board of the following peer review journals: Journal of Sport and Health Science; European Journal of Sport Science; Journal of Sports Science and Medicine; Kinesiology; Leistungssport; Spectrum der Sportwissenschaft

Member of many national and international sports science and sports medicine associations, many keynote and invited speeches on international congresses and director of more than 10 long term research projects funded by research foundations like FWF, FFF, ÖNB, CDG, etc.

Scientific Consultant of the International Skiing Federation (F.I.S.)

Scientific Consultant of the International Skiing Industry Association (SRS)

Scientific Awards:

• International Prize for Science and Research of the City of Salzburg 2005
• Prize for Science and Research of the City of Innsbruck 1990

He is also member of the training team Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich (department alpine ski and snowboard education for teachers).

Further references:

• President of the Austrian Association of Snowsports at Schools and Universities
• Board member of INTERSKI-AUSTRIA
• Board member of IVSS

He is also member of the training team Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol (department alpine ski and climbing education for teachers). Additionally, he is a member of the mountainguide training team SAAC (Snow and alpine awareness camps) and a member of the mountainguide training team Bergrettung Tirol (mountain rescue Tirol).

Besides being an associate professor, Ljuba holds an active position in several ski and sport related institutions such as:  General Secretary of Scientific Conference “SPE BALKAN SKI”, Project leader of “Free ski school” for the best students at the University of Nis, as well as a member of Professional Ski Seminars for Teachers and Ski Coaches organised by Ski Association of Serbia.

He worked for more than two years in China as a head of scientific and research department. He received “the best scientific research article award” from Slovenian Research Agency in 2020. In addition, he got Basileus V and Sunbeam scholarships, founded by European Commission (Erasmus Mundus Action), for doctoral and postdoctoral specialization. He has reputable scientific and research background as author (published more than 80 papers in impact factor journals) and reviewer (performed review for more than 30 impact factor journals).

His field of expertise is Methodology of Scientific Research in Sport and Physical Education. He finished postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Kinesiology (University of Zagreb). He is engaged as scientific researcher in a several national and international scientific projects. He is lecturer at the UEFA B license courses for football coaches and also lecturer at the license courses for skiing coaches and skiing teachers. He has published over 30 scientific articles in the international scientific journals.

He is active in skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and wind surfing.

Dieter is a member of the scientific staff at the Dep. of Sport- and Exercise Science with expertise in exercise physiology and outdoor education. He was a former member of the professional ski teacher team of the German Ski Instructor Association (DSLV) and a member of ISIA. As a former decathlete he is a passionate training expert. Besides skiing, telemarking and cross country skiing in winter, he is a passionate mountainbiker.

Dieter’s primary role in the project is the scientific evaluation and certification process.

More Information:

• President of IVSS
• Vice-president of Interski Germany
• Vice-president of ASH

Pete is Associate Professor at College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University. He was a leader or member of several Experiential Learning Expeditions (Oman¸ Ladakh, Kashmir, Lhasa to Kathmandu¸ Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, The Himalayas, Greenland)

More Information:

• IVSS Vice President Presidium: International Association Snowsports at Schools and Universities (IVSS).
• Director: Kurt Hahn Consortium for Values and Experiential Learning
• Fellow – Rock Ethics Institute.
• Affiliate – Penn State Center for the Study of Sports and Society.
• Global Fellow – The Academy of Sport, The University of Edinburgh.
• Honorary Fellow, The University of Edinburgh.

Vanessa is a member of the scientific staff at the Department of Sport Science at the University of Giessen with the focus of exercise science and teacher training. She is a certified ski instructor and team member of the sport student’s educational program in alpine skiing.

As a passionate skiier and athlete she can be found in the great outdoors, frisbee fields or the Crossfit Gym. Vanessa’s primary role in the project is the scientific evaluation and certification process. She also hold the position as Secretary IVSS

Åsa is a Senior lecturer in outdoor education and learning. Her research is ethnographic from a student perspective. It explains the learning processes that take shape in school programmes in “friluftsliv” education in Swedish high schools.

She is a passionate skier, mountaineer, mountain biker and canoeist.

Asa’s primary role in the project is the scientific evaluation and certification process.

• Board member IVSS

Blaž is a Full Professor at Faculty of Sport, Department of alpine skiing. He is a President and Director of Ski Instructors and Trainers Association of Slovenia. He is professional ski teacher of SITAS and a member of ISIA. He is a former Head of the education and training of trainers and ski instructors of alpine skiing and active member of SLO ALPINE SKI DEMO TEAM. He was also leader in research group on scientific project and motor dimensions variations in young athletes in alpine skiing.

Tomaž is a Chairman of Slovenian Alpine Ski DEMO TEAM Alpine Skiing. He was Demo instructor for technique training for national Alpine teams of Slovenia for more than 10 years and participated at two student books. He is lecturer of techniques and methods of Alpine skiing. He was also Trainer for Alpine skiing technique for Ilka Štuhec and Co-author of training and education programs of Alpine skiing and ISIA license holder.

Matija is Assistant Manager of Ski Instructors and Trainers Association of Slovenia, Ski association of Slovenia. He attended post-graduate program at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences – specialized in Organization and Management of Information Systems. He is Co-author of training and education programs of (Alpine) skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, Nordic walking, Nordic rollerblading and ISIA license holder.

• Member of SITAS Executive Board
• Alpine ski instructor
• Ski jumping Board member
• President of Ski Jumping Club Tržič FMG
• FIS Technical Delegate of Ski jumping, and Nordic combined
• Trainer APRO of ski jumping

Vid has been a member of the Slovenian Demo Team since September 2007.and is ski trainer PRO

As a member of the demo team, he was an active participant of three Interski congresses (2009, 2015, 2019).

He works as a trainer in many ski racing clubs. Since 2003 he has been a staff member in student ski courses at the University of Primorska.

In summer he practises windsurfing, mountain biking and is passionate about windsurfing. In the off-season weeks he works as a ski tester and developer of ski prototypes.

More information:

– President of Slovenian ski club Snowpack.

– Trainer in the racing ski club Mladina

– Ski tester

Ana is working as a ski instructor for 12 years and has been a member of the Slovenian Demo Team since September 2017. As a member of the demo team, she was working in all the national courses, she was an active participant in InterSki congresses in 2019 in Bulgaria, SPE Balkan ski congresses in Kopaonik and Jahorina. As a member of Women Studio Elan team, she is in a team for development new ski prototypes, testing new ski series, doing photo shootings for Elan sports department.

In summertime she is a member of Quicksilver windsurf school teaching windsurfing.

Current work:

– Graphic designer in Elan

– Member of Slovenian national ski team

– Member of W studio

– Graphic designer on SportArta projects

• Head of the Department of Snow Sports at National Sport University
• Member of the Presidium of the IVSS
• Member of the Presidium of INTERSKI INTERNATIONAL

• Ski and snowboard teachers in the “Snow sports department” in National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”
• Deputy dean Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Tourism in National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”
• Coach of the Bulgarian Demo Ski Team from year 2006y.
• Teacher and examiner of qualification and re-qualification courses for ski and snowboard teachers at “Bulgarian Ski School”
• Senior coach of the national snowboard team (1995 – 2003)

• National demonstrator at the Bulgarian Ski School Association.
• Member of the Bulgarian Demo Team.
• Lecturer and demonstrator in the courses for ski teachers in Bulgaria.
• Participant in the project as teacher and researcher.

Marco is a lawyer in his own law firm based in Pordenone. He carries out judicial and extrajudicial consultancy in the area of civil and criminal law with prevalence in the area of civil and criminal liability and ski accidents.

Federiga Bindi received her PhD from the European University Institute, Department of Political Science, Florence, Italy (2004) and has been Professor of Political Science for 15 years at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy (2006 – present). She also held the Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Politics and was the founding Director of the EU Centre of Excellence (2003-2012). She has several experiences in senior positions at the Italian Cultural Institute (ICI) in Brussels, at the Italian National School of Public Administration (SSPA/SNA) in Rome, Italy (2010-2012) and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy (2008-2011).

Among the various tasks he also deals with the tourism professions including the training of alpine ski, snowboard and cross-country ski instructors who work in the promotion and development of winter tourism.

He is also a Mayor of the Municipality of Flaibano (Friuli Venezia Giulia).

Languages: Italian and English

She works in the municipality of Flaibano as a Consultant for finance.

Her specialties are alpine skiing, Nordic walking, telemark

Qualification: School director. Alpine ski instructor, Telemark instructor, 2nd level alpine ski coach and Nordic walking instructor.

Spoken languages: Italian, English and French

Active since 1983 in this area and specialized in teaching skiing to people with disabilities in 1998, over the years De Infanti has held numerous positions – National Coach for Alpine Skiing, National Technical Referent for Alpine Skiing for the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP) – in addition to various international positions that have seen him as technical director for alpine skiing in numerous world championships (Sestriere, Italy 2009 – Passo del Tonale, Italy 2010 – Lans en Vercos, France 2011 and 2019 – Erzurum, Turkey 2012 and 2013 – Klosjo, Sweden 2015 – Zacopane, Poland 2016 and 2018 – Gourette, France 2017).

We renew our congratulations for the goal achieved, wishing our vice president much more satisfaction for an activity that is so important to him (and not just for the world of skiing).

Languages: Italian and English