Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Famer Konstantin (Conny) Klimenko Passes Away

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS and SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (April 7, 2026) – Conny Klimenko’s path to the top of the sporting goods industry is a story that could only happen in America. Born on February 12, 1936, in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union, Klimenko survived the upheaval of World War II and eventually made his way to the United States where he would spend more than three decades building Sevylor, Inc. into a nationally recognized name in water sports and recreational products.

Klimenko’s lasting impact and journey through the sporting goods industry from shipping clerk to President & CEO earned him induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 2005. He passed away on March 18, 2026. He was 90 years old.

“Conny Klimenko’s story is one of the most compelling of our industry,” said Matt Carlson, NSGA President & CEO. “He came to this country with virtually nothing and, through sheer determination and an incredible work ethic, built Sevylor into a brand that introduced millions of Americans to the joy of water sports. That kind of entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to this industry is precisely what the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame was created to recognize.

“Conny was truly one of a kind, and learning of his passing is a profound loss for all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and to everyone in this industry whose lives were touched by his generosity, his grit and his spirit.”

Klimenko left Germany and arrived in New York with his mother in 1957. He often liked to say that they passed Elvis on his way to Germany for his U.S. Army tour of service. In Brighton Beach, he would soon meet his future wife Hilda, also from war-torn Germany. While going to college night school in New York, he studied the garment industry and received his degree. He then secured his first job in the sporting goods industry as a shipping clerk for Klepper Folding Boats.

Within a year, he and a former manager left to form Kayak Corporation of America, where he was soon named junior partner. That same year, his business became the exclusive U.S. distributor of products made by a French company named Sevylor, which was created in 1948 to meet needs resulting from World War II. This was the beginning of a relationship with Sevylor that would span nearly five decades. This long association also saw Klimenko become a member of the Board of Directors of Zodiac, the largest conglomerate in France and owners of Sevylor at that time.

In 1973, Sevylor began distributing its own products and Klimenko was appointed President & CEO of the newly formed Sevylor USA. He would hold that position for more than 30 years. His tenure was defined by a relentless drive to innovate and grow the recreational water sports category.

Among Klimenko’s most enduring contributions to the sporting goods industry was his development of products that created entirely new categories. In 1969, he introduced the first snow tubes and sleds made of cold-resistant PVC to the U.S. market. In 1977, he developed the first commercially produced ski tube with handles and a special harness, which he called the Tube’N’It, a product that effectively transformed tubing from a backyard pastime into an organized sport enjoyed by millions worldwide. He also coined the term “TOWABLES” to describe the category of inflatable tubes and structures used for that purpose. His creations verifiably number well over 500.

His 1987 introduction of the Ski Bob towable may stand as his single greatest product achievement. Klimenko had projected selling 4,000 units in its first year; Sevylor sold 120,000. The Ski Bob ignited the towable craze across the United States and is widely regarded as the grandfather of the modern towable industry. Over the decades that followed, Klimenko continued to expand Sevylor’s catalog with inflatable solar-heated hot tubs, fishing boats, kayaks, dinghies, pool floats and furniture, snow products, the first inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board (ISUP) in 2006 and dozens of other innovations, including an inflatable bikini that was featured in the Sports Illustrated ™ annual swimsuit edition.

Following the sale of Sevylor USA to National Ventures in September 2003, Klimenko continued as President & CEO of the newly restructured Sevylor, Inc. He remained there until 2007 when Sevylor was sold again, this time to a very large conglomerate, which prompted Conny’s retirement from corporate life. He continued to work on developing products and consulting others in the field until shortly before his passing.

Klimenko’s personal story was as extraordinary as his professional one. In 1945, his father Peter was captured by Soviet troops, went missing and was presumed dead for decades. Conny only saw him again after 45 years – in August 1990, when through distant relatives, he located his father living in Lutsk, Ukraine. In a gesture that made international headlines, Klimenko negotiated directly with local authorities, trading two large above-ground swimming pools for a private apartment for his father. The story ran under the headline “American Businessman Finds Father After 45 Years, Swaps 2 Pools for an Apartment.” His father Peter passed away in 1992 at the age of 96.

Conny is survived by Hilda, his wife of 65 years, and sons Fred and Peter. A small private memorial service was held for immediate family and a few friends near his home in Santa Monica on April 3, 2026.

About the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

NSGA created the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 1955 to honor sporting goods pioneers, innovators and leaders, while recognizing and encouraging continued excellence in the industry. Since the first induction in 1956, 188 men and women have been inducted. For more information on the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, please click here.

About the National Sporting Goods Association

Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has been the leading voice and go-to resource for the sporting goods industry. NSGA helps the industry grow its businesses through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please click here.