The Bulgarian Ski Federation (BFSki) awarded the best competitors in all directions during the official ceremony that closed the 2022/23—competition season.
It was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports Vesela Lecheva, the President of BFSki Tseko Minev, all the best Bulgarian winter sports competitors led by Albert Popov and Radoslav Yankov, as well as many veterans, sponsors, journalists and figures.
The season was one of the most successful in the history of the Federation. In it, Albert Popov, for the first time, entered the top 3 of slalom in a World Cup start, which a Bulgarian alpine had not done for nearly 40 years.
Radoslav Yankov took fourth place in parallel slalom at the Snowboarding World Cup in Bansko and seventh at the World Cup in Georgia.
Tervel Zamfirov and Petar Gergievski became world youth snowboarding champions, and Alexander Krushnyak won 2 silver medals from the Bansko championship. Christian Georgiev and Petar Gergievski finished fourth in the young talents at the Todorka peak.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Federation President Tseko Minev honoured Minister Vesela Lecheva with a plaque for the support the ministry has provided throughout the years of the Learn to Ski project.
The Federation’s socially oriented program started in 2008 when Vesela Lecheva was again at the head of Bulgarian sports. Since then, 14 editions have been held, annually covering over 60 schools from all over Bulgaria, and the trained students from grades 1 to 4 are already over 40,000.
“This season was full of great achievements of our athletes, BFSki President Tseko Minev told the guests. – All this is the fruit of many years of labour. On a dream, as Albert would say, that is coming true. This has been our dream for at least the last 20 years. Bulgaria to be back on the world ski map”.
President of the Federation also said, “I want to congratulate Mrs Lecheva because the program “Learn to Ski” for 14 years has shown that it is precious to us because it is essential for the young generation of Bulgaria to love winter sports, mountains and fresh air. With this program, we have made this future generation of Bulgaria love white sports”.
“For this, I would like to once again thank you for the faith we all had in this project, for the support of Mrs Vesela Lecheva and the Ministry of Youth and Sports”.
“This program is important because it gives kids the opportunity to ski and be in the mountains. I congratulate the Federation for being our partner and for a consistent policy to develop talent in skiing and snowboarding. Hosting big competitions shows that you work professionally and have earned the trust of the World Federation,” said Minister Vesela Lecheva.
Tseko Minev was awarded on behalf of the Federation with cash awards to Albert Popov and his coach Ivaylo Borisov for solid performances last season.
Fibank CEO Nikola Bakalov also presented checks to Popov and Borisov from the bank, which is the general sponsor of the Federation. The tandem was also excellent by the Bulgarian Olympic Committee with jubilee coins for the 100-year BOK. They were personally presented to them by Secretary General Belcho Goranov.
Tamara Jizem of Vist, the official supplier of BFSki equipment, awarded Albert Popov with a check. The President of the Federation awarded Kamen Zlatkov with a financial award for his impressive performance at the start of the European Ski Cup.
Kamen and his brother Kalin, who made serious progress in the rankings during the season, were distinguished by the general sponsor Generals Bulgaria. The CEO of the company Nikola Stanchev presented the awards.
Kalin and Julia Zlatkovi, who won first place in the restored format of the Balkan Cup for the 2022/23 season, were awarded by Audi Bulgaria through Lachezar Georgiev, brand manager of the company in Bulgaria.
Radoslav Yankov and his coach Georgi Atanasov were also awarded by the Federation and Fibank for their strong performances during the season.
They also received jubilee Olympic coins from BOK Secretary General Belcho Goranov. Nikola Bakalov awarded cheques from Fibank and the winners of the Snowboard Youth World Tervel Zamfirov, Peter Gergovski, Alexander Krishnyak and Christian Georgiev.
The four also received an award from Audi Bulgaria, which was presented to them by Lachezar Georgiev, the brand manager in Bulgaria.
Belcho Goranov presented Olympic certificates to our talented snowboarders Andrea Kocinova, Ivan Ivanov, Tervel Zamfirov and Peter Gergievski, who won medals at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Italy and their coaches Anatoly Zamfirov, Sotir Markov and Victor Zhekov.
Goranov distinguished the wax master at Rado Yankov and team Miroslav Pandurov. For the excellent conduct of the Snowboarding World Cup and the Youth World Cup in Bansko, the President of the BFSki Tseko Minev distinguished Georgi Bobev Deputy—chairman of the Organizing Committee and Maya Hristoskova, CEO of Julen AD.
Traditionally, the President of BFSki Tseko Minev presented plaques to the veterans of white sports who celebrated their anniversaries in 2022/23. season.
Distinguished were Sasho Dikov, Ivan Zharkov, Antoaneta Zlatareva, Adriana Popova, Kamelia Kotsova-Blagoeva, Borislav Kiryakov and Atanas Simitchiev.
Petar Pankov received a prize for completing the Vasalopet ski running marathon. Achieving all these results by athletes was only possible with the severe support of BFski sponsors.
On behalf of the Federation, Tseko Minev expressed his immense gratitude to all of them for their trust and cooperation, especially during the last few challenging seasons.
He distinguished the representatives of Fibank, A1, Audi, Generals and Insa Oil with plaques. The ceremony continued with awarding the best of the season in the four directions of the BFSki.
“Ski alpine disciplines.”
Winners of the Cup Bulgaria:
• Women – Julia Zlatkova (SK Julen)
• Men – Kalin Zlatkov (FC Julen)
Nadezhda Cup winners for senior girls and boys:
• for girls under 16 years old, the first is Eva Koleva (Vitosha ski)
• and for boys under 16 years – Asparuh Sokolov (Vitosha ski)
Hope Cup, Junior Age
• Girls up to 14 years old – Margarita Beyazova (Moten)
• Boys up to 14 years old – Milush Panchev (Julen)
Ivan Kanevchev, the Alpine Ski Coordinator in the Federation, presented the cups
“Snowboard”
Bulgarian Cup winners in similar disciplines:
• Women – Zhivka Uzunova, SC Amer Sports
• Men – Radoslav Yankov, SC Amer Sports
Emanuela Frateva, Snowboard Coordinator in the Federation, presented the cups
Winners of the Hope Cup, parallel disciplines:
• Girls up to 15 years – Malena Zamfirova (SC Julen)
• Boys up to 15 years old – Ivaylo Ermenkov (SK Blade)
Hopes Cup, free discipline
• girls up to 15 years – Yana Popova (Borobord)
• boys up to 15 years – Damyan Yanchev (NSA)
• Nadezhda Cup Girls up to 13 years. – Radostina Slavova (Borobord)
• Nadezhdi Cup Boys up to 13 – Antony Antonov (Borobord)
The cups were presented by Georgi Atanasov – Senior Coach of the National Snowboard Team
“Ski running”
Winners of the Cup Bulgaria
• Women – Antonia Grigorova (Alexander Logistics)
• Men – Mario Matikanov (Alexander Logistics)
A Cup of Hope
• Older girls – Nikoleta Dzhelepova (Alexander Logistics)
• Boys, older age – Ivelin Mashov (Rila skier)
• Junior Girls – Hristina Dimcheva (Triton Extreme)
• Boys Junior – Angel Mandaliev (Triton Extreme)
Summon olympic hope
• Girls under 16 years old – Elena Hristeva (Triton Extreme)
• Juniors up to 16 years old – Iliyan Todorov (Alexander Logistics)
The distinctions were presented by Veselin Tsinzov, coordinator of “Ski Running” in the Federation
“Ski jump”
• Winner of the Bulgarian Cup – Vladimir Zografski, NSA
• Cup of Hope Girls Senior – Bozhidara Bakova (Boyana Team)
• Nadezhdi Cup Boys Senior – Alek Feshev (Boyana Team)
• Cup of Hope Girls Junior – Iva Karadimova (OTP)
• Cup of Hope Boys Junior – Daniel Pavlovich (Boyana Team)
Zahari Sotirov, Ski Jump Coordinator in the Federation, presented the cups.
Traditionally, the BFSki presents a journalist’s plaque every year that most objectively reflects the achievements of the athletes of the Federation. This year the prize was received by Georgi Pehlivanov from Match Telegraph. Georgi Bobev, Vice President of BFSki, awarded him.