BIG INTERVIEW WITH CSWC INSTRUCTOR DINO TOMIC
- expertcigar
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Dino Tomic became one of the most important people in CSWC world. As the CSWC main instructor, CSWC marketing director, member of CSWC organisation team, and leader of CSWC slow smoking school, his view on CSWC as a whole is deep and profound.
Dear Dino, we entered the New 2026 year and with that, a new CSWC season. What feeling do you have in your guts regarding this season?
It’s hard to explain the feeling I have in my gut regarding the upcoming season. What I can say is that in past seasons, I may have had 30% of this feeling. This time it’s different. It’s sharper, calmer, more certain. It’s exciting, but not chaotic. Not only because we are breaking records in the number of participants and countries, but because everything around CSWC has matured. The structure, the people, the partners, the audience. You feel that this season carries weight. This doesn’t feel like growth for the sake of numbers. It feels like a turning point. Like a season where CSWC stops being something that’s building and starts being something that’s expected. And when something becomes expected at this level, the responsibility rises. That’s exactly why this season feels special. We know what we’re carrying and we’re ready for it.
This year, as CSWC official trainer/instructor,, you will visit some of the national qualifiers - your experience from last year and what you expect this year at those competitions where you will be?
Last year, while visiting many national qualifiers, I noticed a clear pattern. Most competitors were trying to slow down their usual smoking style. That approach gives you minutes, not results. What was missing was methodology. Once competitors understood that slow smoking for CSWC is a different discipline entirely, their performance changed. It’s not about smoking less, it’s about smoking differently. The competitors who applied this approach didn’t just improve slightly. They moved into the TOP 20 of the season. That confirmed something important: when the process is understood, the ceiling moves. This year, I expect to do the same in countries I haven’t yet visited, raising the baseline and, with it, the global level of competition. With the launch of the Slow Smoking School, this knowledge is no longer limited by geography. Anyone willing to learn can now train properly and that’s when competitors stop hoping to win and start believing they actually can.
That experience from last year created the idea of a new project - slow smoking school - can you tell us more about the project and when it will be active?
That experience last year exposed a clear gap. Out of more than 3,000 competitors, the same ten names were consistently at the top. That’s not because others lack talent, but because most were never shown how slow smoking for CSWC actually works as a discipline. Slow Smoking School was created to correct that. It’s about structure, technique, and mindset, not tricks. When competitors understand the process, results change. So far, I’ve personally worked with a limited group of competitors, including national champions from Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, and Italy. Their results confirmed the same pattern: once the method is applied, performance rises immediately. One example that stands out is Ivan Kristo. We met on the day of the Bosnian national qualifier. He had never planned to compete and even said slow smoking wasn’t for him. After a short session and a shift in approach, he finished 15th in the TOP 20 of the season and even surpassed my own best official time that year. The school is currently in production and will go live once a solid foundation of lessons is in place. From there, it will continue to grow. The objective is simple: raise the global standard and bring new names to the top. When knowledge is shared properly, the competition becomes stronger, more open, and far more interesting.
Are you satisfied as CSWC instructor with Oliva Competition cigar - what do you think is it's good sides are, and what is it's minuses?
I’m more than satisfied with the Oliva Competition cigar, both as a competition cigar and as an everyday cigar. The blend itself is excellent and was chosen very deliberately by you, myself, and Ivan Žižić as Vice President of Club Mareva. The later recognition by Cigar Journal, ranking it 11th in the TOP 25 cigars worldwide, confirmed that decision. Its main strength is balance. It’s pleasant to smoke, stable in flavor, and allows competitors to apply even the most demanding slow-smoking techniques without the risk of nicotine overload. That’s essential in a fair competition environment. From an instructor’s perspective, the limitation is technical. In my experience, the cigar consistently required burn corrections. Those corrections directly affect total smoking time, sometimes significantly. This is not about the blend, but about aging and combustion behavior under extreme slow-smoking conditions. With additional aging, this characteristic improves. We’ll see how this season’s cigars perform, but the blend itself is absolutely the right one for CSWC.
This year CSWC is coming back to Dubrovnik, Rixos hotel. You are one of the key members of organisation board of Grand Final - how is your feelings regarding coming back to Dubrovnik, to Rixos?
I’m very excited to be back at Rixos Dubrovnik. It’s the venue that comes closest to delivering the true CSWC experience. In 2024, the combination of stunning Adriatic views, exceptional food, and world-class service created something unforgettable. From an organizational perspective, having everything within one hotel makes logistics much smoother. No worries about summer traffic, multiple venues, or timing conflicts, this saves us a lot of time and lets us focus on the experience itself. Rixos guarantees quality in every aspect, entertainment, cuisine, and service. With 2024 experience behind us, and the GM now a Club Mareva member, we’re confident this year’s Grand Final will be even more polished, seamless, and memorable.
As a CSWC expert, what do you expect - will we see some new surprises, or maybe some legends will mark this year again with their dominance?
As a CSWC expert, I expect both. Every season brings new faces who are ready to challenge the established names, especially now that knowledge and training, like through the Slow Smoking School, are more widely available. That means we’ll likely see some fresh competitors making their mark. At the same time, the legends of CSWC never disappear. Their experience, discipline, and understanding of the competition give them a natural edge, so they will continue to set the bar high and show their dominance. This mix, rising talents and proven champions creates the tension, excitement, and unpredictability that makes CSWC truly unique. For me, that’s what makes this season feel different and incredibly promising.
We heard that you take new position within Mareva - you became General Manager of Mareva Split - we congratulations to you - how you feel regarding that?
Thank you. I’m very honored to take on the role of General Manager of Mareva Split. It’s not just a title, it’s a responsibility to maintain the level of exclusivity, service, and experience that Mareva is known for. For me, this position is exciting because it allows me to shape the experience on the ground, work closely with our members, and ensure that every detail reflects the club’s standards. It’s about leadership, consistency, and pushing the club to new heights. I feel motivated and ready. The goal is simple: continue building Mareva Split into a space where excellence is expected, and every visit leaves a lasting impression.
