PATCH SPRINT EDITION

RYBA LOOKS TO SET WINTER RECORD SHAVES OFF 130 POUNDS:  TRIM AND FAST

Queensbury, NY, Feb. 1--  “With my winter mountaineering experience and my newer, fitter body, there’s no stopping me!  Look out Fiegl, the record will be mine!”      So boasted a barely recognizable Ken Ryba.  The defending Patch Sprint Clydesdale World Champion weighed in recently at a “race-ready 171 pounds”  His goal is to better Jason Fiegl’s winter record of three hours and 13 minutes, set in March, 2006.

Asked how he can cover the course in a time 45 minutes faster than his previous non-winter sprint, Ryba said:  “Three factors.  I’m now light as a feather and able to crank on the uphill and flats.  Two, on the downhill, I still am subconsciously 300 pounds, so I have gravity working in my favor.  And, finally, on Long Pond, I can cruise across with no fear about the ice dropping a foot or two.”      The  Winter Patch Sprint is open to any prospective racers and trekkers, at any time between now and March 21.  Participants may only make one attempt per season and, as Eric Bauer would like to point out, you must be accompanied by at least one other person on each mountain.     As far as defending his Clydesdale title at the May 25 Patch Sprint, Ryba remarked, “Don’t worry, a few stops to Betty Beavers and I’ll be back up to 300 in no time.”

THEN & NOW: Ken Ryba recently showed off his new physique (above)  atop Mt. Pok-O-Moonshine.  The bottom photo shows 300 lb. Ryba hydrating during last May's Patch Sprint.

REGISTRATION is now under way for the 2007 Patch Sprint, scheduled for Saturday, May 26.  Find out more on the always informative PATCH SPRINT website.