Ukraine's only ski jump complex is undergoing repairs in Vorokhta
In Vorokhta, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, restoration work is underway on the famous ski jumps, which date back over a century. Part of the work is being funded by local businesspeople, and major international competitions are planned to be held here as early as September.
The complex remains the only one in Ukraine with five ski jumps in operation. Both leading Ukrainian athletes and nearly three hundred children who participate in winter sports train here.
In Vorokhta, restoration work continues on one of Ukraine’s most famous sports facilities—the ski jump complex, which was founded back in 1922. According to Ihor Hladysh, director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Comprehensive Children’s and Youth Sports School for Winter Sports, the main work is currently underway on the K90 ski jump. “We are working closely with a local company that is investing its own funds. We plan to complete the reconstruction of the inrun hill for the K90 ski jump in time for the competitions in September. There are no other ski jumps like this in Ukraine. Here, athletes can train both in summer and winter. It is these jumps that allow our athletes to prepare effectively for international competitions,” Gladysh said.
Today, Ukraine’s leading ski jumpers—Vitalii Kalinichenko and Yevhen Marusiak—are training on the large ski jumps. Younger athletes train on smaller ski jumps. In total, 290 children are enrolled in the sports school, where they learn ski jumping, Nordic combined, and biathlon.
The complex is being renovated with the support of local businesses. Ihor Farberov, a representative of the partner company, said that the collaboration with the sports school is planned to last at least three years. “We’ve signed an agreement to support the school. Every year, we’ll allocate at least half a million hryvnias. Last year, our contribution totaled about two million hryvnias. These ski jumps have a rich history. We want to restore them to their former glory and make Vorokhta a training center for children in winter sports,” Farberov noted.
According to him, last year the inrun hill at the K75 ski jump was already repaired using funds from partners. This year, repairs are underway on the takeoff hill of the 15-meter ski jump, and the largest ski jump, the K90, is being reconstructed. In addition, the metal stairs and judges’ platforms are being renovated, and the judges’ tower is being repaired. “We’ve already invested about 60,000 U.S. dollars in maintenance work. We plan to allocate another 40,000 dollars toward hosting the September competitions. A year ago, this seemed like a fantasy to us,” said Ihor Farberov.
The organizers are also working on hosting the traditional Cup in Vorokhta. This year, they plan to increase the prize fund to over 200,000 hryvnias. Athletes from Romania and Slovenia have already been invited to participate. The Vorokhta community says that the ski jumps are not just a sports facility, but also an important part of the village’s history. “Before the full-scale war began, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of our ski jumps. This is a very important place for the community. Children who represent our school, the region, and all of Ukraine in competitions train here,” emphasized Oleg Dzemyuk, head of the Vorokhta community.
He added that a special program to support young athletes has been operating in the community for three years now. During this time, about 30 children who competed in national competitions received a one-time financial grant of 50,000 hryvnias each. The program’s fund currently stands at 900,000 hryvnias. Vorokhta is part of the international network “The Best Tourism Villages,” established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. It is home to Ukraine’s only complex of five operational ski jumps, and the main K90 jump remains the highest in the country.
The renovation of the complex is intended not only to preserve Vorokhta’s sporting heritage but also to create a modern facility for training a new generation of Ukrainian athletes and hosting international tournaments. Ihor Hladysh, director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Comprehensive Children’s and Youth Sports School for Winter Sports, shared this information with media representatives.
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