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PARK CITY — Perhaps the persistent rain and cool temperatures kept you indoors on Saturday, but it only seemed to embolden the 100 or so competitors at Park City Mountain Resort’s 22nd annual Pond Skimming Competition. It would seem that when you’re already soaked from the rain, it’s less intimidating to barrel downhill toward a pond full of icy water.
The notorious event is part of the resort’s Spring Grüv celebration. After all, what better way is there to say farewell to the ski season than to dress like a yeti and try to skim across a 100-foot-long pond?
While the 2018 version may not have had as many spectators as past years, it wasn’t short on action. Bill Rock, COO of Park City Mountain Resort, even donned an outfit and sped across the water. Rock was actually among the select few who made it to the end of the pond. Many others petered out near the middle, while the more reckless contestants simply went airborne to the delight of the crowd.
Scores were given based off things like crowd reaction, air and style. Some of the best costumes included a dragon, a waiter, a wizard and a giant piece of pizza.
The ski season at Park City Mountain Resort officially ended Saturday, but things will ramp back up on May 25 for summer operations.
And if pond skimming sounds like something you’d like to try, be sure to mark your calendar for Spring Grüv 2019. If your costume is topnotch and you hold your own in the pond, you may just walk away with a trophy.
