The invention relates to a process for the production of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene ((U)HMWPE) article comprising: —copolymerizing ethylene with a linear, branched or cyclic polyene having 3 to 100 carbon atoms, resulting in a copolymer of ethylene and polyene ((U)HMWPE-P), using such a content of polyene that the number of polyene branches in (U)HMWPE-P is 0.01 to 15 on the average per 1000 carbon atoms; —cross-link the (U)HMWPE-P during or after molding the (U)HMWPE-P.