The enthusiasm of Jack Bright and fellow club members will bear fruit on Sunday 1 February, the day after Braník Ice, with the first-ever Kryathlon. This is a true winter triathlon: a 250-metre winter swim, 2.5 km run and 5 km cross-country ski on the snow-covered Chuchle racecourse.
How did Kryathlon begin? Three years ago, we organised a tribute to Ladislav Nicek (Czech Television report). Richard Machálek, Jack Bright, Václav Pátek and Matěj Červený first swam with torches in the icy Vltava, then camped overnight at −17°C on the island opposite our clubhouse. Around the fire there, they first discussed a winter triathlon — now named Kryathlon.
The idea has matured over those three years, but Václav is no longer with us. Because winter swimming, running and cross-country skiing were the sports closest to his heart, the event will bear the name Václav Pátek Memorial.
More information and entries: www.kryathlon.com.
See you by the water! The Kryathlon team — winter swimmers from I. PKO Praha.
Race director Jack Bright, Zuzana Pátková, Tomáš Prokop, Mirek Fajfrlík, Josef Stolín, Tomáš Pilát, Richard Machálek and Vláďa Chmela.