#Frisco, Colorado.
On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Frisco Nordic Center and the town of Frisco will host the 45th Frisco Gold Rush benefiting the Summit Nordic Ski Club, with a portion of the proceeds helping to send local athletes to Junior Nationals.
The Gold Rush is the longest running Nordic event in Colorado, and the races are open to skiers of all ages and abilities. The event includes a 30-kilometer skate-ski race, a 10K classic or skate race and a 3K fun race. The 3K fun race is untimed and intended to draw inexperienced racers or experienced racers in search of a relaxed cruise on their skis. Each 10K and 30K racer will receive a commemorative Frisco Gold Rush buff, one hour of tubing at the Frisco Adventure Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, and hot soup at the Nordic Center Lodge.
New this year, racers will experience skiing on the snow-covered terrain of the Frisco Bike Park, Frisco Ski and Ride Hill and, most exciting of all, portions of the 10K and 30K courses will take racers onto Dillon Reservoir.
“We really wanted to mix it up a bit in our 45th year and offer an experience that you can’t find every day, so we did some serious legwork over the past year and came up with some exciting new terrain for skiers, which will just be available for these races,” said Linsey Kach, town of Frisco recreation programs manager.
Again this year, the Colorado High School Activities Association will bring racers from around the state to compete in 3K or 5K skate ski events.
“You are likely to see future Olympians in this group, and these 200 to 300 young racers bring a really fresh energy to this wonderful historic race,” Kach said.
The day of races will be capped off with the Spontaneous Combustion community bonfire and a fireworks display at the Frisco Bay Marina. The community is invited to the marina lot at the corner of Summit Boulevard/state Highway 9 and Marina Road at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, to watch the bonfire and fireworks light up the Frisco sky. Beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, and food will be available for sale.
The town is accepting Christmas trees to fuel the bonfire through Saturday, Jan. 31. Trees must be stripped of all lights, tinsel, garland, tree stands and decorations prior to drop-off at the marina dirt lot. The tree drop-off is open 24 hours a day. The town of Frisco, Frisco Nordic Center, Baymont Inn and Suites, Western Enterprises, the Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue, the Forest Service and the Summit Daily News are Gold Rush sponsors.
For information, contact Kach at LinseyK@townoffrisco.com or (970) 668-9133.
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
