Free concerts in Zagreb's main square one day before the Sljeme race, starring Nile Rodgers and Chic with special guests aka Chicfest with guests the Village People, Thelma Houston, Anita Ward and Rose Royce // 14:58 | 20.12.2005.

A real surprise, kept a secret from the public for a long time, is coming up on 4 January 2006, following the official draw ceremony; the free-of-charge concert, featuring the world’s biggest disco stars, will start at 8 PM.

This year’s race features a novelty - a special donation of the Snow Queen to the Gornja Bistra special hospital for chronic child diseases amounting to HRK 100 000, the proceeds of the sale of VIP entrance tickets. The proceeds will be handed over to the representative of the hospital by the newly-declared winner of the race.

At today’s press conference held in Zagreb, the Croatian Ski Association (HSS) and the Snow Queen Trophy Organising Committee reported on the final preparations for the FIS World Cup women’s slalom race Snow Queen Trophy 2006, which is to be held on 5 January 2006 on the Sljeme peak. As the final preparations for the women’s slalom race are nearing their end, the Crveni Spust course has been completely prepared and is admitting skiers as of today. The general public therefore has an opportunity to try out the course before the arrival of the world-famous women skiers.

The speakers - Srećko Ferenčak, the president of the Croatian Ski Association (HSS), and Vedran Pavlek, the director of the Organising Committee, have presented the latest information regarding the transport of the spectators, guests and journalists, as well as the special traffic regulations during the race. That is, in order to avoid traffic jams because of all the people going to the race, the Zagreb Police Department will introduce a special traffic regulation in Zagreb on 4 January, the day before the race, and on 5 January, the day of the race.

Thus, on Wednesday, 4 January, from 8 AM until 4 PM Sljemenska Road from Bliznec to Šestinski Lagvić will be closed to all traffic. At the same time, the 2219 county road from Stubičke Toplice to the turning for Kraljev Vrh will also be closed. The same rules will be valid on Thursday, 5 January, as well, the only difference being the fact that from 7:30 AM until 12 PM Gračanska Road and Markuševačka Road — from Bliznec to Jazbina — will also be closed to all traffic. Only ZET (Zagreb Municipal Transit System) buses and accredited vehicles will be put into service. Furthermore, Ksaverska Road, from Jandrićeva Street to Mlinovi, will also be closed. Jandrićeva Street will be open to traffic, which means that any stopping or parking in that street will be strictly forbidden.
In order to ensure smooth bus transportation, Mihaljevac tram terminal will be used for temporary tram and bus stops. Mihaljevac will, moreover, be used as the gathering point for all the spectators seeing as all the buses will leave for Sljeme from there. All the tram passengers will get off the trams at the newly-built tram stop on Ksaverska Road, while the buses will leave from the eastern lane of the western roadway of Ksaverska Road, from Jandrićeva Road to the Ksaverska-Mlinovi-Gračanska crossroads. The buses will be lined according to the spectators’ ticket colours and will leave every hour on the hour from 9 AM until 1 PM, which is also clearly stated on the tickets. Tickets will be sold according to the three different zones where the spectators will get on their buses — A, B and C, depending on the locations the spectators will get on or off the buses at Sljeme.

Zone A: MIHALJEVAC — DOM ŽELJEZNIČARA — MIHALJEVAC
Zone B: MIHALJEVAC — ŽENSKO SEDLO (Pansion Medvednica) - MIHALJEVAC
Zone C: STUBIČKE TOPLICE — DOM IZVIĐAČA - STUBIČKE TOPLICE
(Intended mostly for spectators outside Zagreb.)

It was also stated that the total of 18,000 tickets had been put on sale. The tickets are still available for sale - at the price of HRK 100, just like last year, although gasoline expenses have gone up significantly in the meantime - in all Generalturist offices and online at www.snowqueentrophy.com, as well as at 01 4805 652. The ticket price covers the transportation to Sljeme and back, as well as attendance at the concerts and special program that will take place on stage at Krumpirište. Tickets will also be sold at the bus stops on the day of the race.
Last year’s FIS World Cup race, which took place at Sljeme peak, drew the attention of many outside the Croatian borders with its good-quality organization and live coverage in a dozen of European countries via Eurosport. It is precisely because of such an interest in the race among the foreign visitors and international sponsors that the Snow Queen Trophy will for the first time this year make the VIP tickets available for sale as well. Modelled after the organisation of the VIP stands in, for instance, Kitzbühel, or on the Formula 1 races, the organiser has decided to offer three categories of tickets for those who are prepared to dig deep into their pockets for a somewhat different experience of the Sljeme race. The prices of tickets titled Silver Club, Gold Club and Platinum Club amount to HRK 1,200, that is, HRK 1,500 and HRK 7,500 respectively (VAT included).

The speakers also announced a special donation of the Snow Queen to the Gornja Bistra special hospital for chronic child diseases amounting to HRK 100 000, the proceeds of the sale of VIP entrance tickets. The proceeds will be handed over to the representative of the hospital by the newly-declared winner of the race.

The speakers at the press conference paid special attention to the organisers’ wish to ensure a top-quality sports event with a rich and interesting accompanying program. Thus, from 4 January until 5 January there will be a huge video wall and stage in Zagreb’s main square, Bana Josipa Jelačića Square, along with a tent offering different race-related articles for sale. The entertainment in the square will start on 4 January, the day before the race, at 6 PM with a free-of-charge concert, followed by the public draw of the racers’ start numbers at 7 PM.

A real surprise, kept a secret from the public for a long time, is coming up after the official draw ceremony: the free-of-charge concert, featuring the world’s biggest disco stars - Nile Rodgers & Friends and All Star Guests aka CHICFEST with special guests the Village People, Thelma Houston, Anita Ward and Gloria Gaynor - will start at 8 PM .

There will also be a stage with tents offering food and beverage, as well as different race-related articles, for sale at popular prices at Sljeme’s Krumpirište and the finish area on the day of the race; the entertainment will start early in the morning and will last until late at night.