03/16/2025
Update: The unstoppable and fearless Gina has done it again. She remains the Womens World Champion Longboard Racer. I can't wait to see pictures, I'm sure it was quite windy and chilly up there today. Great work Gina, we expect to see you wearing that championship buckle at the endurance ride.
Almost exactly a year ago I said I was going to tell you what a post I made about snowy mountains had in common with endurance riding. I'm sorry, life got so crazy getting ready for the ride, plus I wanted to make sure I did a decent job with that story, and I think I neglected to get back to it. So a year later here we go.
When it comes to putting on an endurance ride, there are some absolutely critical people that often get overlooked. And that is the wonderful landowners who allow us to use their property in order to have these events. Here in our neck of the woods, and in many other areas, we are fortunate to have miles and miles of public land to ride on. But....there are VERY limited places that have enough space for a ride camp. It takes A LOT of room to accommodate the many big trucks and trailers plus room for portable corrals and such. Not to mention if you camp on public land that adds a whole other element of meeting the many requirements for obtaining a special use permit. In the case of The Lost Sierra Endurance Ride, we absolutely would not be able to have this event without the cooperation of a few different private landowners, as well as the Forest Service. Without the kindness of this amazing person I got to know a long time ago, we would not have our beautiful base camp. I wish I could have properly introduced her and her family to you at the ride, but I sure hope some of you got to meet them.
So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to our absolutely amazing Ride Camp Hostess, Gina Luciano. Gina is the owner of Luch Equine, she teaches riding lessons and does horse boarding at her beautiful facility. She's a champion jumper, a phenomenal horse trainer, and all around fun and adventurous person. And speaking of being a champion. The reason she's on my mind today, is because she's right this moment getting ready to climb the slopes and speed down the mountain to try to retain her World Champion title at the historic Longboard Races at Johnsville. A year ago when I was at the races with Gina, she had fun saying she was a "Thrice World Champion". If she wins the races today that will make her a 4 time winner in the womens division.
The Longboard Races have so much history, I can't write it all here. But race day is a really fun time at Plumas Eureka State Park and the old mining town of Johnsville. This area is about a 15 minute drive from our Ride Camp. The races have been running off and on since 1861. I've heard that this was the location of the first recorded downhill ski races in the country, but don't quote me on that. You can visit Plumasskiclub.org for more information on the races and the Johnsville ski hill.
Anyway, best of luck to our amazing ride hostess, have tons of fun Gina and we hope you get to hang on to that champion buckle another year or more. I wish I could be there today, but I have to work. Plus I didn't think they were going to have the races due to a lack of snow. But at the very last minute Mother Nature came through and dumped a decent amount up there.
If you come to the ride this year, please take the time to thank Gina, her husband Geoff, her dad Robert, and all of the ranch employees. They're all really great and fun people, we couldn't do this without them.
