From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.
Low snowfall and warming temperatures across the Sierra Nevadas have forced Royal Gorge XC Resort to cancel the Gold Rush, Silver Rush, and Bronze Rush races originally scheduled for March 21, 2026. Pre-registered racers will be offered a refund or a deferred entry to the 2027 races.
The long course races are off, but the Gold Rush Festival itself will carry on in a modified form on Saturday, March 21. Royal Gorge is planning a full day of activities, including live music, food, ski demos from Atomic, waxing clinics from Maplus, a laser biathlon demo courtesy of the U.S. Biathlon Association, and their redesigned Slush Cup Super Sprints.
The festivities kick off Friday evening with the cafe and bar opening at 4:00 p.m. serving tacos, pizza, fries, and drinks, followed by a free Maplus-USA glide waxing clinic at 5:00 p.m.
Gold Rush 2010 (Photo: MacBeth Graphics)
Saturday’s schedule runs from 8:00 a.m. through the afternoon:
8:00 a.m. — Resort opens for demos and skiing 9:00 a.m. — U.S. Biathlon Association “Take a Shot” laser rifle demo 10:00 a.m. — Cafe opens; Maplus-USA glide waxing clinic 12:00 p.m. — Music on the deck 1:00 p.m. — Slush Cup Super Sprints qualifiers (day-of entry only; $20 adults / $10 under 20)
The Slush Cup Super Sprints will feature a super short loop with single-lap qualifying, terrain elements, and gates. There will be Beginner, Fitness, and Expert classes, with heats of six following qualifying. Expert Class heats will be a minimum of 600 meters.
Over 260 racers ranging in age from 3 years old to 81 years old skied either the Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Junior Rush on a warm, sunny day at Royal Gorge. Snow conditions began with very firm tracks in the morning, leading to some exciting downhill turns, but as the day warmed up the snow slowly began to soften up.
The 45 km Gold Rush was won by former Far West Nordic Junior Matt Gelso of the University of Colorado, fresh off of his NCAA National Championship win of 2 weeks ago, with a time of 1:57:53. Steinbock Racing’s Andrew Johnson and XC Oregon’s Marshall Greene were 2nd and 3rd. A lead pack of 7 formed on the back stretch of the first lap, including University of Reno, Nevada Head Coach August Teague, former UNR athlete Lutz Preussler, Williams College athlete Alex Taylor of Truckee, and local hero Tav Streit of Sacramento. By the end of the second lap, however, it was Johnson breaking up the pack, with Green and Gelso close on his heels, building a 20 second lead. The third lap, however, was Gelso’s, who used his local trail knowledge (and his recent spate of heavy-duty kayak training during Spring Break) to the fullest to cruise to a 20 second victory over former U.S. Ski Teamer Johnson, with Green another 15 seconds behind.
The lead pack (Photo: MacBeth Graphics)
The women’s top racers were a bit more split up, with many of the local athletes choosing the 30 kilometer Silver Rush, part of the prestigious Fischer Cup Series for Far West Nordic. In the 45 kilometer Gold Rush distance, UNR’s Maria Grafnings won for the women with a time of 2:06:44, dueling it out in an 8-person chase pack with second place Beth Reid of Palo Alto. The two top women placed 10th and 11th overall. Finally, former U.S. Olympian Laura McCabe of Winthrop, WA and 2000 Gold Rush champion made a rare California appearance after a 10-year hiatus, placing 3rd (17th overall) in the women’s division.
Maria Grafnings on her way to a 5-second victory (Photo: MacBeth Garphics)
The 30 kilometer Silver Rush was dominated by the Far West Nordic junior contingent, with Austin Meng first overall in a time of 1:24:33, with Justin Ondry and Carl Reid 2nd and 3rd, over a minute behind. Palo Alto’s Joanne Reid of the Colorado University ski team was the first women at 1:28:18, 5th overall, while Truckee’s Kara LaPoint and Cathy Howard took 2nd and 3rd.
In the 15 km Bronze Rush Adele Espy of Freeport, Maine was 1st overall with a time of 43:35.9. Debbie Hakansson and Raylene Chew were the 2nd and 3rd women. Jackson Rohlf was 1st man at 45:30.5, and John Munger and Joe Piercy were 2nd and 3rd.
In the 3km Junior Rush, Truckee’s Lizzie Larkins of the Alder Creek Middle School Nordic Team was 1st overall, while Wesley Romer of Rocklin, CA was the 1st boy, second overall.
The California Gold Rush is a benefit for the Far West Nordic and Auburn Ski Club Junior Programs, with Royal Gorge Cross Country donating all of the proceeds to those organizations. More race photos can be found at http://macbethgraphics.smugmug.com/NORDIC-RACING/Nordic-Races
Women's Winner Katerina Vinogradova (photo by Emma Garrard)
Donner Summit, CA—
More than a foot of snow fell on Donner Summit overnight Saturday and continued prior to the start of the annual California Gold Rush, a 46k cross country ski race held at Royal Gorge.
The weather resulted in a delayed start and slight course change.
The races started at 9:30 a.m. and instead of a two-lap 21k loop, Gold Rush competitors skied three laps of a 15.3k loop.
Silver Rush Competitors skied two laps (30.8k) and Bronze Rush skied a 9k.
The only thing more challenging than trying to skate ski through the soft, fresh snow was the visability, or lack of.
Adam Swank, 33, of Duluth, Minn. won the Gold Rush race with a time of 2:28.49.
The Minnesotan said the conditions were the toughest he’d ever seen at the race.
There were sections where it was coming down so hard, he was trying to skate through “boot-high” snow.
“It was like an expedition out there,” he said. “There were times when you couldn’t see the trail in front of you.”
Adam Swank (Fischer-Craft) finishes lap 2 and heads out on his final lap. Photo by Emma Garrard.
Swank took the early lead and broke away from the pack around 7k, along with local skier Ian Case of Truckee. The two were soon joined by Nikolai Aniken, also from Duluth, who bridged the gap within two or three kilometers after Swank’s initial break.
The three leaders worked together for the first two laps before Case dropped off heading into the final lap, leaving Aniken and Swank to battle for the win. Swank was able to put an impressive two minutes on Aniken on the long final climb up to the finish.
His best finish prior to Sunday was 2nd in 2007.
Aniken easily took second with a time of 2:30.36, while Case hung on for third with a time of 2:34.17 after skiing the entire third lap alone.
On the women’s side, Katerina Vinogradova of Auburn won with a time of 2:45.22.
Behind Vinogradova were Sarah Max of Bend, Ore., with a time of 2:51.03 and Lenka Palanova of Boulder, Colo., with a time of 2:56.00.
Swank had nothing but praise for the race organizers and groomers who dealt with the challenging conditions.
“They did a good job,” Swank said. “Free beer and chili (for racers) will keep you coming back.”
Besides the racing, Swank said he enjoys coming to the Sierras to train in the 60-degree spring weather.
“I love coming out here,” Swank said.
2nd Place Woman Sarah Max laps through the stadium. Photo by Emma Garrard
Silver and Bronze Rush
In the shorter races it was all about girl power.
Joanne Reid, 16, of Palo Alto was the first-place female (2nd overall) finisher with a time of 32:50.5 in the Bronze Rush. Behind Reid was Janelle Webb with a time of 40:18.0 and Nancy Rosenblum with a time of 40:29.7
The first place male was Truckee junior Justin Ondry, with a time of 31:58.3 followed by Alex Kopytko (38:02.8) and Bill Aaron (39:40.5).
The top two finishers in the Silver Rush were Beth Reid (Joanne’s mom) of Palo Alto with a time of 1:47.46 followed by Cathy Howard of Truckee with a time of 1:57.48. The 3rd place female was Kari Rust with a time of 2:04.09.
The men’s race was won by Adam Wright of Truckee with a time of 2:00.58 followed by Glenn Jobe with a time of 2:01:21 and Scott Fairman with a time of 2:01.30.
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/03/goldrush2010_gr_1start0.jpg" "Gold Rush 2010 (Photo: MacBeth Graphics)")
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/03/goldrush2010_gr_2leadpack1.jpg" "The lead pack (Photo: MacBeth Graphics)")
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/03/goldrush2010_gr_graf9AA5F0.jpg" "Maria Grafnings on her way to a 5-second victory (Photo: MacBeth Garphics)")
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2010/03/goldrush2010_gr_gelso-m.jpg" "Gelso (Photo: MacBeth Garphics)")
