Slovenia's Tina Maze has won gold medals and trophies around the world but Maribor, where the women's World Cup resumes this weekend, was what made her a rock star.
The 31-year-old -- returning from this month's World Ski Championships in Vail, USA with an impressive medal haul: two golds and one silver, matched only by Austria's Anna Fenninger -- has become a national hero in small Slovenia, bringing a rare ray of light to a country ravaged by the economic crisis.
A double Olympic champion, four-time world champion and current leader in the overall World Cup rankings, she has established herself as one of the world's top skiers and as Slovenia's most successful female athlete of all time.
But it all began in Maribor, Slovenia's second city, near the Austrian border.
This is where Maze first started in a World Cup race in 1999, and where she landed her first podium in 2002.
Since then, she has won three races here and made it three more times onto the podium, making the resort one of her most successful competition venues, alongside Soelden, Austria and St. Moritz, Switzerland.
At the last Maribor event in 2013, she finished first in the slalom and second in the giant slalom.
"After winning the slalom I felt like a rock star. Such feelings are not easily describable and definitely unforgettable," Maze said ahead of this weekend's Golden Fox races.
Backed by her "Team to aMaze" coaches and technicians, all-rounder Maze is one of only six women to have won World Cup races in all five disciplines, and only one of three to have done so in a single season.
Beyond the slopes, the hard-working brunette -- who speaks English, German and Italian on top of her native Slovenian -- has also tried her hand at singing, recording "My Way is my Decision" in 2012, and has created her own jewellery collection.   
Performing in front of a home crowd this weekend -- organisers are already forecasting between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators per day -- Maze will once again have a chance to shine.
"Of course I wish to reward (the fans) with a success, like two years ago. I will do everything that is in my power to make a top result in my favorite World Cup venue," said the skier.
"After arriving in Europe I feel light as I'm coming from height preparations at over 3,000 metres (9,840 feet) altitude to much lower venues.
"I have some problems with the time difference, but I am an experienced athlete, so those should pass before the race."
With 985 points, ahead of Fenninger's 801 points, Maze is on course to win a second overall World Cup trophy after her 2012-2013 season, when she won a record-breaking 2,414 points.  
"Of course my thoughts sometimes escape to the fight for the overall globe in the World Cup. At the last two venues in Cortina d'Ampezzo and St. Moritz, Anna Fenninger came closer."
But the ever-confident Slovenian is certain of what she can achieve in Maribor and for the rest of the season.
"I believe that with my good skiing 184 points should be enough," she said.
Source: AFP