Carpathian Ski Club holds annual races in upstate New York (04/08/01)

Carpathian Ski Club holds annual races in upstate New York

WINDHAM, N.Y. - Since it held its first ski races in the United States in 1954, the Carpathian Ski Club (KLK) - the second oldest ski club in the world (the first being a club in Austria) - has continued this annual tradition. The 2001 races were organized under the leadership of KLK President Severin Palydowycz, Natalie Kachala, Orest Fedash and Peter Kurylas. Held at Ski Windham in upstate New York on March 10, the races attracted 110 registrants, of whom 79 completed the race.

The race consisted of two runs down a NASTAR-sanctioned course; the fastest of the two runs was recorded. A pacesetter who is registered with NASTAR determines the course handicap, which takes into consideration the snow conditions, outside temperature, course difficulty, and each participant's gender and age. A computer program takes the determining factors, plus the participant's actual time, and determines the winners of gold, silver and bronze NASTAR medals.

In addition to NASTAR awards, there were KLK awards to be won. The racing divisions this year were made up of nine male and seven female brackets, with one special recognition category for each gender.

There is also KLK's coveted fastest skier award, a traveling trophy that is passed on each year to the skier with the best time. This year's winner was Andrij "Snake" Sonevytsky with a time of 27.89 seconds. Jurij Kobziar, a Hunter Mountain legend, achieved a time of 25.49 seconds but his name already appears on the cup and the club rules stipulate that a skier can win this trophy only once in a lifetime.

In addition to the official awards of the 2001 ski races, there were friendly rivalries, as family records were set and oftentimes kids beat their parents' times. The latter in some cases appeared to be more rewarding than the actual medals or trophies, which were presented during an awards dinner held at Hunter Mountain.

This year's KLK races brought skiers from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts and Illinois, as well as Ontario.

Organizers expressed special thanks to the Ski Windham staff for preparing the NASTAR course, and to Karl Plattner for holding a ski clinic in January for the senior men in preparation for this years KLK races.

(On the right are the results of the ski races, listing the top three skiers in each bracket.)

Results of ski races

MALE

Age 7-8

1. Severin A. Palydowycz - 36.35
2. Nick Siokalo - 43.29
3. Thomas Mandicz - 45.60

Age 9-10

1. Mark Kochan - 38.34
2. Paul Hadzewycz - 40.01
3. Andrew Melnyk - 49.51

Age 12-14

1. Adrian Rybak - 31.18
2. Daniel Paslawsky - 33.08
3. Alexander Mandicz - 36.10

Age 15-16

1. Markian Hadzewycz - 31.16
2. Adrian Kochan - 32.20
3. Peter Krup - 38.63

Age 17-19

1. Roman Hankewycz - 28.65
2. Dan Krup - 29.53
3. Darian Fedash - 31.56

Age 20-34

1. Taras Filewych - 28.71
2. Marco Shmerykowsky - 30.53
3. Taras Ferencevych - 30.82

Age 35-39

1. Severin Palydowycz - 27.04
2. Andrij Sonevytsky - 27.89
3. Peter Strutynsky - 30.15
3. Ihor Sydoryak - 30.15

Age 40-49

1. Petro Lenchur - 28.78
2. Yuri Kucher - 29.26
3. Alexander Salewycz - 29.64

Special recognition

Peter Iwasiwka, age 6 - 1.10.03

FEMALES

Age 6-7

1. Natalia Hryhorowych - 41.72
2. Katja Palydowycz - 45.56
3. Sofiya Sydoryak - 47.59

Age 9-11

1. Tania Hryhorowych - 35.51
2. Melanie Siokalo - 36.84
3. Larissa Kobziar - 43.75

Age 12-14

1. Roxanna Kobziar - 30.70
2. Kristyna Melnyk - 35.60
3. Lida Doll - 35.97

Age 15-17

1. Katya Gaynor - 31.07
2. Laryssa Rybak - 31.09
3. Melasia Doll - 32.36

Age 20-34

1. Ksenia Salewycz - 36.10
2. Natalka Bonacorsa - 36.52
3. Orysia Lutiewych - 38.96

Age 35-44

1. Natalia Fedun-Wojcicky - 32.88
2. Zoriana Siokalo - 34.70
3. Volodymyra Hankewycz - 35.08

Age 45 and over

1. Christine Gaynor - 37.58
2. Christine Kochan - 37.64
3. Roma Hadzewycz - 38.73

Special Recognition

Olenka Kubiw, age 6 - 2.28.23

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