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THE OLYMPICS HOTTEST NEW SPORT:
The Winter Patch |
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"I've trained my whole life for this one shot at a Gold Medal!"
-Ed Bunk |
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Torino, Italy, Feb. 21-- With the Games of the the 20th Winter Olympiad winding down, all attention is being focused on the inaugural Winter Olympic Patch Sprint.
"If we can just get through the women's figure skating, our viewers are anxious to watch live coverage of the Olympic Sprint," said NBC sports anchor Bob Costas.
Due to weather conditions, the event has moved from Sestriere, in the Italian Alps, to its more traditional location in Willsboro, NY. It was there that Jason Fiegl (right) set a winter course record en route to winning the 2005 Patch Sprint World Championship of the World. |
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While the list of competitors will not be released until race day, rumor has it that Fiegl will be on hand. Others to watch include winter specialists Mike Ryba and Dave Durant. "I spent last winter in Patagonia with the sole purpose of qualifying for these Olympics, and winning a medal of some color," said Durant. |
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There is a bit of controversy raging over the inclusion of the Patch Sprint at these Olympics. "It's just another sport added so the Americans can chalk up more hardware," said a clearly disgusted Austrian journalist. But don't concede the gold to the USA just yet. The fastest training times this week have been put in by Ed Bunk, who is clearly not American nor, quite possibly, from this planet.
While this is the Olympic debut for this race of endurance and extreme conditions, the sport dates back two decades, with Canadian John Rayburn capturing the first winter World Title, in 1991.
The field is still open to potential winter racers and trekkers. And while the closing ceremonies will take place Sunday here in Torino, the Winter Olympic Patch Sprint will be open for competition until March 21. (see winter race rules)
The fastest time of the winter earns the Gold. |
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ABOVE LEFT: Phil Corell negotiates the back side of Sugarloaf during the 2001 World's. Corell was later disqualified for riding a snowmobile to the base of Pok-O. BELOW LEFT: Mike Ryba powers up during an Olympic training run. |
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SEE PAST WINTER SPRINT RESULTS |
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REGISTER for the 2006 Patch Sprint - May 27 |
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