Aljaž Praznik

Junior (2016): Had eight top 20 finishes in nine races and qualified for the NCAA Championships, but amazingly for the second straight season ended up a late scratch due to an illness … four of his finishes were top 10s, including a season-best third place finish … finished on the podium at the Montana State Invitational, coming in third in the 20K classical …was UNM’s best classical skier, with four top 10s in the discipline … finished eighth at the CU Spencer Nelson Invitational in the 20K, and then ninth at both the 10K Jade Enterprises/UNM Invitational and the 20K RMISA Championships … best freestyle finish was 11th at the 15K at Montana State … finished 14th at the RMISA Championships in the freestyle.

Sophomore (2015): Had nine top 20 finishes in nine races and qualified for the NCAA Championships, but ended up a late scratch due to an illness … had three top-10 finishes as well … had his best meet at the Jade Enterprises/UNM Invitational, finishing second in the freestyle and eighth in the classical race … opened the season with a fourth place finish at the Utah Invitational in the classical … also finished 12th in the freestyle race in that event … had an 11th and 13th place finish in the classical and freestyle races respectively at the Colorado/Spencer Nelson Invitational.

Freshman (2014): Had a terrific first season with 11 top-20 finishes in 12 races … was one of the best in the freestyle for the Lobos with four top-10 finishes, including his final four freestyles of the season … was at his best at the RMISA/NCAA West Championships, finishing seventh in the classical, his best finish of the season in that discipline, and then third in the freestyle for his only podium finish of the year … parlayed that into a great NCAA Championship, earning Second Team All-America in the freestyle, finishing seventh … just missed All-America in the classical with a 12th place finish … had a sixth place finish at the Jade Enterprises/New Mexico Invitational and a ninth place finish at the 20K Colorado/Spencer Nelson Invitational … opened his career with top2-0 marks in the classical and freestyle at the Pat Miller Invitational.

Prior to UNM: A graduate of Solski Center Rudolfa Maistra in Kamnik, Slovenia…raced for TSK Jub Dol and the Slovenian Nordic Team…coached by Marko Gracer…in the European Youth Olympic Festival held in Liberec in 2011: placed sixth in sprint, ninth in 10K and 10th in skate…also played volleyball and soccer in secondary school.

Personal: Born July 31 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Katarina and Mitja Praznik…has two younger siblings: Ela and Liza…hobbies include music, guitar, volleyball and hanging out with friends…favorite athlete is Petra Majdic…favorite movie is Forrest Gump.

Point Totals
Races: 9
Counters: 8
2016 Points: 174
Career Points: 587