Soar, slide, splash? It’s skiers’ choice as spring’s wacky pond skimming tradition returns
GILFORD, N.H. — A costumed skier races down a slope, hits a pond and floatplanes halfway through. He pirouettes, then dives into the icy water, jumps up and waves to the cheering crowd.
It’s the crazy springtime tradition of pond skimming, and it’s happening this month at ski resorts across the country. It is often held to celebrate the last day of the ski season before the chairlifts close until the following winter.
Among the resorts hosting pond skimming events this weekend are Snowbasin in Utah and Winter Park in Colorado. Mountains in New England and California have already held events or are planning to do so later this month. The tradition dates back decades and was made famous by the late filmmaker Warren Miller, who began documenting the annual Mt. Baker Slush Cup in Washington State.
Nowadays, most resorts make their own ponds with plastic sheeting and water about 1 meter deep. The idea is that skiers and snowboarders try to gain enough momentum on the descent to be able to skim over a pond. People ski in pajamas, dressed as movie characters, with fishing rods in hand or shirtless.
During the pond skimming at Gunstock Mountain Resort in New Hampshire this month, Dan Nutton made one of the most spectacular splashes of the day. His skis dug into the water early on, propelling him through the air with his arms outstretched like Superman before he hit the water. Difficult.
“It was a little difficult going into the corner there, and then we hit a bump and I was going a little slow,” he explained with a grin. “So I mis-navigated and I made a mistake.”
Gunstock ultimately made the pond longer and more challenging this year after too many skiers stayed dry last year.
“We really enjoy it sometimes when they don’t make it – it gets the crowd more excited and it’s a little more fun,” said Tom Day, the resort’s general manager, who is retiring after more than four decades in the ski business. . “We’re going out with a bang. It is a beautiful day. We’ve got the music on the deck, and we’ve got the barbecue, burgers going.
Many skiers and snowboarders showed their skills by zooming across the pond. Edward Murphy, dressed in a bright green suit, was not one of them. Halfway through he realized he wasn’t going to make it.
“I decided to reach out and get some water,” he said.
“It feels great,” he added. “A dip in spring.”