What Is Pond Skimming? Spring Skiing’s Wildest Tradition

What Is a Pond Skim?

Pond skims can be official or unofficial. From a definition standpoint, to “pond skim” is to glide across a small body of water using snow skis. You’ve likely seen videos of this activity online—a ski gains speed on snow before soaring onto a pond or lake. If they have the requisite balance and grace, they casually reach the other side and return to the snow. But part of the allure is that, oftentimes, pond skimming goes wrong. Mishaps—read: plunging headfirst into the water—are as hilarious as they are common.
 
At ski resorts, official pond skims often see event organizers constructing a body of water using a large tarp. Then, skiers and snowboarders don fun costumes and compete to execute the best pond skim of the day. Their efforts are typically rewarded with a prize, like gear or a season pass.
 
The focus of these events is waterborne athletics, but attending a pond skim is a sport in and of itself. You don’t need to risk soaking yourself to have fun. Spectating and cheering for the best skims—and bails—is just as fun as spending time in the arena. Fight the urge to throw snowballs at the skimmers, though. They already have enough to worry about.

Pond Skimming Tips

Keep Your Speed Up

Whether you’re hitting a park jump or jumping off a cliff on skis, speed, generally, is your friend. This rule applies to pond skimming, too. To glide across the water, you’ll need to be going quite fast. So, as tempting as it is to scrub speed before hitting the water, do your best to fight those instincts. Otherwise, you might make it halfway across the pond before sinking like a rock.

Bring a Change of Clothes

Mountain weather is always unpredictable, even in the spring. No matter what the forecast says, there’s always a chance of snow arriving during an end-of-season event. Another factor to consider: pond skims take no prisoners. Expert skiers can end up in the drink, too. Nothing sours a day spent partying and skiing like standing around in 30-degree weather with wet pants. Be prepared, and bring something cozy you can throw just in case you don’t make it across the water.

Be a Costume Champion

A change of clothes shouldn’t be your only wardrobe consideration. Pond skims are all about cutting loose and getting weird. That sentiment includes your skimming attire. Some events, like Big Sky’s, even hand out awards for whoever shows up in the best costume. So, take some time to plan out what you’ll wear. Maybe that’s a collaborative costume with your friends or a ridiculous stand-alone piece. Don’t be afraid to test the limits (within reason: kids go to pond skims, too). This way, even if you trip and get wet, you’ll still be a hit with the crowd.

Accept Failure

Two of these tips involved preparing for and avoiding failure during a pond skim. But pond skimming, by design, is all about embracing that fact no matter what you do in advance (Squats? Silent prayers?), there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself flipping head over heels. Don’t fight this reality.
 
For one, blowing it, particularly on your first attempt, is normal during a pond skim and nothing to be ashamed of. Secondly, the more you worry about crashing, the more likely you are to tense up and crash. Anxiety and smooth pond skimming aren’t a great combination. To cite Bruce Lee: “Be water, my friend.”

Where Can I Pond Skim?

These are a few major pond skim events worth checking out across North America. Don’t fret if an event is sold out—you’ll still be able to go and spectate.

Palisades Tahoe, California
Date: May 3—Event link

Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon
Date: May 3—Event link

Big Sky Resort, Montana
Date: April 26—Event link

Mammoth Mountain, California
Date: April 20—Event link

Crystal Mountain, Washington
Date: April 19—Event link

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Date: April 13—Event link

Killington, Vermont
Date: April 12—Event link