If you are drawn to costume-clad crazies bombing across a baby blue pond on skis and snowboards, then don’t miss out on the pond skimming at Whitefish Mountain Resort on April 9. In its sixth year, the festive event celebrates the end of the ski season and embodies the wacky feeling of spring.
A true spectator event, the competition is limited to participants over 21 years old, but there is no age requirement for the audience. Competitors are required to wear their snowboard and skis appropriately as they use gravity and momentum to attempt crossing an 80-foot pond of water. Costumes are also encouraged for competitors adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
The competition is based individually on the longest skim. After each round, the starting line is moved down the slope making it more difficult to gain speed to make it over the pond. Keep an eye out during the first round for some of the best watery accidents – speed can be a friend or an enemy.
The event starts at 2:30 p.m., but show up early for a front row seat near the fence. Awards are given out 30 minutes after the final skim and include best costume, best crash and longest skim.
How to get there: From downtown Whitefish take Baker Avenue over the train tracks. Baker Avenue becomes Wisconsin Avenue. Continue on Wisconsin. Turning right, take Big Mountain Road up the mountain.