Nika Prevc’s record-breaking ski flight immortalised in Slovenia

One of the defining moments in women's ski flying has been immortalised in Slovenia's Planica, where a sculpture honouring Nika Prevc's record-breaking flight in March now stands alongside one commemorating the world record set by her brother Domen Prevc last year.

"The sculpture is beautiful, but the memory of that long jump is even more beautiful," the 21-year-old champion said as she unveiled the life-size wooden statue depicting her at the moment she landed at a record 242.5 metres at Slovenia's iconic ski flying hill.

Franci Petek, a former ski jumper who heads the organisation managing the Planica Nordic Centre, said the sculpture celebrates the magnitude of what happened in March, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"It gave meaning to all the passion, vision, dedication, and expertise of Slovenian ski jumping staff and jumpers."

He pointed out that Planica is a sacred place for Slovenian ski jumpers. Jumpers and fans had been dreaming of seeing women fly in Planica one day and Nika's record represented the realisation of that ambition, he said.

Place where ski-flying history is made

Planica holds a unique place in the history of ski flying. It was here that the first human jumps beyond 100 and 200 metres were achieved, and it is now home to both the men's and women's world-record flights, thanks to the Prevc siblings.

"There are not many areas where Slovenians are world leaders but in ski flying we are. Today's generation proves that we are capable of matching the greatest," Petek said.

The wooden sculpture was carved with a chainsaw by sculptor Tadej Brgles, who also created Domen's statue last year. Like Domen's, it will stand on the landing slope from April to November but will be moved next to the hill in winter so it will not get in the way of training.

Story of perseverance and courage

For the Slovenian Ski Association, Nika Prevc's statue represents something bigger than an individual record.

"We are celebrating the history of women's ski jumping in Slovenia - a story of perseverance, breakthroughs, and the courage of the women who have pushed the boundaries of this sport," the association's head Uroš Zupan said.

That story is now being told through a new exhibition at the Planica Nordic Centre, which opened alongside the statue unveiling.

The exhibition traces the development of women's ski jumping from its earliest international competitions through world championships, Olympic Games, Crystal Globes, ski flying and world records.

Meanwhile, the Planica flying hill is set for a major renovation ahead of the 2028 World Ski Flying Championships. The plans include shortening the take-off table by around two meters, reshaping the flight curve, deepening the landing hill, and modifying the outrun. The redesigned profile is intended to make longer jumps safer while increasing the hill's potential by an estimated 10 to 15 metres.

Photo Instagram/nikaprevc