The Great Ski Race used to be the primary fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue (TNSAR). Held each March, the 30-kilometer Nordic ski race goes from Tahoe City to Truckee and for many years, it brought in hundreds of participants and around $25,000 a year to fully fund the organization’s annual operational fees. The race began with hand timers back in 1977 and grew to over a thousand racers by the mid 2000s.
But due to decreased participation and many canceled races—because of lack of snow, too much snow, and of course, a global pandemic—the Great Ski Race is no longer a reliable source of funding for TNSAR. “Historically, it was our main source of funding,” says Andrew Oesterreicher, who’s on the board of directors for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and is a longtime rescue volunteer. “But it’s fair to say that’s no longer the case.” When it’s been held recently, which is just six times since 2010, the Great Ski Race has only brought in around $5,000.