Mining For Gold
RUSSIAN RIVER
  by Ron Wu  
OLYMPIC
  Guerneville, California - June 2006  
EVENTS ORDER
   
FOR 2006
Nestled in the foothills of Northern California, amidst groves of ancient and majestic redwood trees, lies the sparsely populated town of Guerneville, California. With a population of only 2000, this sleepy town has a rich history unbeknownst to most Americans.

For it was here, in mid-1800's that a certain John Sutter, proprietor of the Russian American Fur company purchased a large tract of land, originally claimed by Spanish explorers, and subsequently chartered by the Spaniards to Russian fur traders at the turn of the nineteenth century. It was here too in 1848, that Mr. Sutter was to discover that most rare of earthly elements--gold. Yes, the Gold Rush of 1849, started here. As word spread, immediately invading the area were prospectors, eventually dubbed "Forty-Niners".

Basketball (fullcourt)
 
Soccer (penalty-kicks)
 
Volleyball
 
Swimming (relays)
 
Football (accuracy toss)
 
Golf (2-club, 9-hole)
 
Shooting (.17-cal. air rifle)
 
Running (1.25mi trail relay)
 
above (left-to-right): Alex Cushner, Scott Mason, Greg Jones, Chris Hauswirth, and Bruce Bligh chat it up before Opening Ceremonies
above (left-to-right): competitors all; (back row): Bruce Bligh, Scott Mason, Elliot Schaffer, Greg Jones, Tommy Spencer, Anthony Hosking, Ron Fiore, Alex Cushner, Rod Burns, Chris Hauswirth, Brad Klapper, Ron Wu; (front row) George Berridge, Danny Bernard, Brad Koch, Steve Bernard, Travis Parsons    
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They were hardy and resourceful men, full of hope and dreams, chasing the riches that would precipitate from unearthing gold. Many hit it rich, most did not. Nevertheless, the Gold Rush left its mark on California history.

Since then, over a century has passed since the gold has been mined anywhere near the town of Guerneville. For the time has long passed since prospecting has proven commercially viable.

However, since 2001, a new breed of prospector has migrated to Guerneville--hardy and resourceful like the original prospectors of 1849. However, the new prospector is an athlete full of hopes and dreams of realizing a different type of gold--Olympic Gold that is at the Russian River Olympics.

    

The Teams

No. 1 (Tanya Harding): Roderick Burns, Brad Klapper, Elliot Schaffer, Greg Jones

No. 2 (Danny Almonte) : Bruce Bligh, Alex Cushner, Chris Hauswirth, Tommy Spencer

No. 3 (Rosie Ruiz) : Daniel Bernard, George Berridge, Ron Fiore, Ron Wu

No. 4 (Spanish Special Olympic Basketball Team) : Steven Bernard, Anthony Hosking, Scott Mason, Travis Parsons

 
This years RRO drew a field of 16 highly-motivated athletes to compete in; basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, football, golf, shooting, and running (in that order).

Somewhat ordinary you might think, that is until you are advised that this takes place in a single 24

above (left-to-right): Mr. Elliot Schaffer and Mr. Greg Jones, at the Awards and Closing Ceremonies, along with trophies for the Winners, MVP, Horse's Ass, and Rookie of the Year

ing competitors to dig deep and find hidden reserves of energy and will. Fighting injury and illness--for the most part--the competitors battle fiercely to win--but also avoid the dreaded "drag penalty" for the last place finishers going into the golf competition.

At the Opening Ceremonies, the year's randomly selected teams (see sidebar "The Teams") had one obvious standout squad which became known as the "Dream Team". Composed of Mr. Elliot Schaffer, Mr. Greg Jones (4-time Overall Winner & also an MVP), Mr. Brad Klapper (4-time runner-up, and the best athlete to come home empty-handed), and Mr. Rod Burns.

Expectations were high. Opposing teams' fears were possibly higher. Nonetheless, in his Opening Ceremony remarks, Mr. Schaffer offered a tidbit of wisdom gained from 4 years of hard fought Olympics and experience, "Shit happens. The unexpected especially. Don't count yourself out ever, you're never out of the running." Hauntingly preminiscient words were these to become over the next 24 hour period, in which victory and heartache were to ensue.

  
 
  above (left-to-right): Tommy Spencer (background), Chris Hauswirth (Winner & MVP), Bruce Bligh (Winner & Rookie of the Year)
   
  While a complete summary, with event-by-event reporting and commentary, is beyond the scope of this article, it was Team No. 2 (pictured below), composed of Mr. Bruce Bligh (also crowned Rookie of the Year), Mr. Chris Hauswirth (also received MVP honors), Mr. Tommy Spencer (with an unbeatable 1.25 mile trail run performance to put the games into sudden-death tie-breaker), and Mr. Alex Cushner (battling illness and unable to compete in the swimming event) who, in 2006, struck Olympic Gold in Guerneville.
above (left-to-right): Tommy Spencer (partially hidden), Chris Hauswirth, Roderick Burns, Scott Mason, shooter (unknown), Daniel Bernard (back to camera), and Anthony Hosking discuss and practice in .17-caliber Air Rifle Shooting competition.  
   
The brainchild of Mr. Elliot Schaffer and Mr. Steven Bernard, the Russian River Olympics (RRO) has become a annual mainstay of life in the little town of Guerneville, California.

Conceived as competition between former high-school and college friends, it has evolved in the last five years to attract a much wider field of competitors from far and near.

hour period. Strike that. Make that a single 24 hour crucible. Four-man teams are drawn randomly from the pool of athletes, letting to chance the skill-set attributes of each squad. Thus, the RRO, becomes a true test of equally important elements; teamwork, endurance, strategy, and individual skill.

Strengths and weaknesses are mitigated and exacerbated by the punishing chain of events, requir-