What a Rush!

The 29-year-old Denver native scored two tickets to every Nuggets home game this season by beating out several hundred competitors during the inaugural Denver Nuggets Gold Rush through the streets of downtown Friday.

``I can’t afford tickets most of the time, so this is going to be really, really nice,’’ said Trostle, who works as an aircraft dispatcher at Centennial Airport. ``If I was lucky, (I thought) maybe I could get in the top 10.’’

Competing in an Amazing Race-style event, Trostle crossed the finish line at Lucky Strike Lanes at the Denver Pavilions just ahead of Chris Cornish, who received a pair of tickets to five Nuggets games at Pepsi Center.

``I was on the escalator when I heard the (fireworks) popping,’’ Cornish said. ``I was like, `I know what that means.’’’

Aaron Schneider also earned two tickets to five games by finishing third.

``Season tickets have been a dream of mine, but I’m happy with five games,’’ Schneider said. ``I’m excited.’’

Schneider and Cornish were among four contestants to receive the five-game prize. Sixth through 10th place received two tickets to one game in 2009-10.

The Gold Rush went viral after being launched on Facebook and Twitter earlier this month. About 3,200 people signed up for the event, and more than 500 were selected to compete. Supermascot Rocky, along with Nuggets Dancers Krista, Katie greeted the competitors as they checked in at Skyline Park along the 16th Street Mall.

Joy Sabo was among those hoping to conquer the course and win the grand prize.

``I had season tickets last year, but I lost my job,’’ said Sabo, who worked in human resources for Home Depot. ``I wish I could get tickets again. (The Gold Rush) should be a good opportunity.’’

Like runners starting a marathon, the competitors took off en masse after receiving the first clue. The first checkpoint turned out to be Lucky Strike Lanes, where the first 100 to arrive received a Gold Rush T-shirt and another clue.

Subsequent destinations included the Chris ``Birdman’’ Andersen wallscape on the side of the Spire Building, the Paramount Theatre and the Blue Bear outside the Denver Convention Center.

The final clue made reference to a four-leaf clover, a pitch, a strike and déjà vu. While some people headed toward Coors Field, Trostle turned back toward Lucky Strike.

It proved to be a wise decision as he arrived to find Nuggets Dancers Elyssa and Miranda waiting at the door, along with a camera crew and his grand prize.

Eyes wide with excitement, Trostle realized he had just struck gold.