HUNTER, N.Y. – A total of 53 skiers and snowboarders competed in the 66th annual races of the Carpathian Ski Club held on the slopes of Hunter Mountain on Leap Day, Saturday, February 29.
Known by its Ukrainian acronym as KLK, the ski club has been holding this family-friendly event since 1954, when its first races took place at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, N.Y.
In the evening, over 120 people – race participants, their families and KLK stalwarts – attended the awards dinner at Hunter Mountain’s Coppertree restaurant. Many came dressed in Ukrainian embroidered shirts and blouses as has become tradition at this KLK event.
The program was opened by Andrew Hadzewycz, president of the Carpathian Ski Club, who introduced other KLK officers, including Vice-President Eri Palydowych, past President Erko Palydowycz, and skiing directors Orest Fedash and Zenon Stakhiv. He also acknowledged the work of the registration committee: Adia Fedash (who is KLK treasurer), Christine Klufas and Roma Hadzewycz.
Trophies were awarded for first place in each age group, while second- and third-place finishers received medals. The youngest winners were 4-year-olds, while the oldest competitor, age 76, won trophies for both skiing and snowboarding.
Special traveling trophies were awarded to the fastest male and female skiers (no repeat winners are allowed): Rostyslav Stepanenko and Christina Silver.
At the conclusion of the program, Mr. Hadzewycz cited the financial support of three Ukrainian credit unions – Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union, Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union (based in Philadelphia) and Nova UA Federal Credit Union (Clifton, N.J.).
The 2021 KLK ski races are tentatively scheduled for March 6 at Hunter Mountain.
Racers in the boys age 9-11 group (from left): Marko Skoratko, Oleksa Kucher, Lev Ferencevych, Mykola Temnycky and Nazar Tehza.
2020 KLK race results
The youngest skiers of the 2020 races: Markian Buniak and Kaya Mykyta.
Boys under 4
1. Markian Buniak
Boys 4-5
1. Erik Sikorskyj
2. Julian Burachinsky
Boys 6-8
1. Zorian Mykyta
2. Gregory Buniak
Boys 9-11
1. Marko Skoratko
2. Oleksa Kucher
3. Lev Ferencevych
4. Mykola Temnycky
5. Nazar Tehza
Boys 12-15
1. Lucas Pawluk
2. Lukash Nynka
Winners in the age 41-49 group of men and women, respectively, Taras Ferencevych and Anya Nawrocky.
Boys 16-20
1. Marko Wojcickyj
2. Andrew Stelmach
Men 30-35
1. Vasyl Tehza
Men 36-40
1. Peter Buniak
2. Andrew Olesnycky
Men 41-49
1. Taras Ferencevych
Men 50-54
1. Ihor Pawluk
2. Gregory Demetropoulos
Rostyslav Stepanenko, the fastest male racer.
Men 55-60
1. Rostyslav Stepanenko
2. Eri Palydowycz
3. Peter Lenchur
4. Olexander
Lyaskivnytsky
5. Stefan Wojcickyj
Men 61-65
1. Andrew Kozak
2. Yuriy Kucher
3. Vlodko Temnycky
4. Walter Lomaga
Men 66-70
1. Roman Stelmach
2. Ihor Mykyta
Men 71 and over
1. Alexander Berest
Girls 4-6
1. Kaya Mykyta
Winners among girls age 7-8 (from left): Alexandra Pawluk, Renata Skoratko and Vera Burachinsky.
Girls 7-8
1. Alexandra Pawluk
2. Renata Skoratko
3. Vera Burachinsky
Girls 9-10
1. Kateryna Pawluk
2. Sophia Temnycky
Girls 11-15
1. Anna Kramarchuk
Christina Silver, the fastest female racer.
Girls 16-20
1. Christina Silver
Women 30-35
1. Nataliya
Zhyznomyrska
Women 36-40
1. Talia Pawluk
2. Stephanie
Burachinsky
3. Christina Buniak
Women 41-49
1. Anya Nawrocky
Women 50-60
1. Christa Kozak
Women 61 and over
1. Maria Silver
SNOWBOARD
Boys 15
1. Artur Mydlyk
Men 39
1. Dennis Burachinsky
Men 71 and over
1. Alexander Berest