Locals survive Snowshoe mountain

After trudging through the slick, muddy mess that was Snowshoe Mountain, Patrick Koetting reached the finish line at 2:52 a.m.

But unlike the David Hasselhoff 5 B team's previous nine laps in the 24 Hours of Snowshoe mountain bike race, there was no teammate ready to ride. Keven Bricknell had just finished a lap before Koetting. Brian Smentkowski was vomiting and Jim Fox was suffering with cramps.

It appeared the mountain had defeated the Southeast Missouri entry. The weather had provided too tough of a challenge as the four members went to their camp for some rest and relaxation.

However, after resting their battered bodies, the team resumed racing in the light of day, completing 14 laps for 55th place in the men's sport class and 121st overall.

The All-American Bicycle Club was the top overall finisher in the race near Marlinton, W.Va., completing 24 laps and Anatomical Designs finished 23 laps to win the men's sport class.

"We're pleased with the finish, but it was very difficult for us," said Koetting, the team captain. "Even though we prepared, there was so much we weren't ready for."

The weather conditions was one aspect the team was not prepared for as Koetting said the team expected rain, but not the cold temperatures. This created problems when riders rested in between laps.

"Raining while camping is demoralizing," he said. "It is so hard to sleep and rest when you're cold and wet."

The cold and wet weather also created problems on the course, as the course turned into a 7.33 mile long trail of mud. These conditions caused riders to carry their bikes through portions of the course and Koetting said he probably averaged at least four crashes per lap.

While those conditions created a difficult race, Koetting said it also created a bond between riders. There was no cutthroat competition, rather a willingness to help a fellow participant.

"If you fell, everybody that passed would ask if you needed help," Koetting said. "So I know, if something went wrong when I was on top of the mountain in the middle of the night, I would've been all right. Because, somebody would've came along and helped me."

This kindness from other riders has the four Hasselhoff members thinking of a return visit, despite the difficulty of the course.

"It was so difficult, it was a competition against the mountain, not against other riders," Koetting said.