Tom Podrybau of Northwet Powersports passed away yesterday, May 13, 2008.
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My Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer in May of 2005, when they found he had a brain tumor. They removed the tumor (the size of a baseball) and he underwent radiation and chemotherapy. He rallied back, beat the odds and seemed to be getting better. Then last November another tumor appeared and he had to have another surgery to have it removed. In January, 2008 he started on another round of chemotherapy. He didn’t really bounce back like the first round but seemed to be doing ok. Yesterday morning at 3:00am he stopped breathing.
Some of you knew him and know how passionate he was about Jetskiing and working on customizing skis. We started our jetski venture in 1985 (JetSet Racing) as race promoters. We were the first in Oregon to put on 5 IJSBA racing events a year in Eugene, OR. (at Fernridge Reservoir). At that time we also were working on skis and rebuilding them from the ground up. In 1993, we opened our first retail location in Keizer, Oregon. We grew out of that place immediately but stayed till 1996. We then moved to a bigger place in Salem, OR. where we still reside.
I remember how proud Dad was of me in 2003 when I took 2nd in Amateur Vet Runabout 1200 Superstock at the World Finals. He loved going to World Finals, hanging out in the pits and talking with some of the Pro racers. Chris Fischetti was always his favorite. I will miss him immensely and he will always be in my heart.
Mike Podrybau
Northwet Powersports
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