As spring weather brought the temps above 70 degrees on Saturday, skiers and snowboarders brought their sunscreen and beach hats to the snow for the annual Park City Mountain Pond Skim. With 150 skimmers competing for five spots on the judges’ awards, many just felt lucky to make it across the water.
Dressed in everything from pool floaties to edible arrangements, spectators and skimmers crowded around the pond to celebrate one of the final big weekends of the ski season before Park City Mountain’s closing day on Monday, April 21.
Skimmer number 057, Anna Moon, said she had 20 to 30 good ski days at Park City Mountain this season, and though she wasn’t hopeful for one of the five winning titles, she had hopes to make it across the water.
“Park City has my heart!” said Moon. “I didn’t make it across, it was devastating, but I got really close and it’s really warm out, so not too bad considering.”
Chamberlin Standridge was on the sidelines cheering for her friend Emily Brown, who embraced the beach-meets-mountain theme in a doughnut pool floatie and a tropical T-shirt. Brown had never skimmed before and was looking forward to making it across the water.
“This is such a fun event. I love it. It isn’t super widely advertised and it keeps it local, which is really fun,” said Standridge. “I’ve really enjoyed the season and the days we were able to get out.”
Spectators brought the energy with cheers and laughter for some of the more dramatic wipeouts in the pond. Don Rausch attended his sixth pond skim in a row on Saturday dressed as DC Comic’s The Riddler in a bright green suit, where he tested passersby with a riddle of his own.
“I’m white, soft, you can find me on hills, I’ll cushion your fall, and give you thrills. What am I?” asked Rausch. “It’s snow!”
Rausch returns to the pond skim every year to meet with good company and watch the excitement.
“I love the last days of the season. I’m looking forward to meeting good friends and celebrating the end to a great season,” said Rausch.
For Jess Kenney and Rosie Britt, the pond skim is the beginning of a new season of friendship as the locals all gather together for the off-season.
“We see a lot of our local friends here who live here year-round and it’s finally that time when we all venture out and the weather is nice,” said Britt.
Kenney has been coming to the pond skim for more than 15 years, remembering when it was still held at The Canyons.
“It’s great to see everybody as they come out of the woodwork and it’s just fun entertainment,” said Kenney.
David and Kelly Johnston also returned to the pond skim after some time away, having left Park City for Virginia 25 years ago.
“I’m a little bitter because I participated at a younger age and I went all out, full-on Little Caesars Pizza guy with the toga and the headgear. I had pizza. I gave it to the judges back at the Canyons,” David joked. “I got no love whatsoever. So I’m trying to come back maybe next year.”
Though Kelly might resist David’s comeback tour to the pond, the weekend has always been about good people and good entertainment, she said.
“We love it, it’s a great end to the year,” said Kelly.
Danielle Fraser dressed in matching tutus with friends, celebrating her first time at the Park City Mountain Pond Skim.
“I’m from Crested Butte, but our season has been fabulous. We come visit friends and get to enjoy all the fun times together. I just love spring skiing and the festivities that go with it. It’s like a rebirth into summer, what a great way to bring summer on!” said Fraser.
For Emily Miquelon, the pond skim isn’t just a show, it’s a tradition. This marked her seventh year as a proud spectator, joining friends to celebrate a 30th birthday in matching “Thirty is an Attitude” T-shirts.
“We’re here for the pond, the spring vibes, and the great weather,” said Miquelon.
While Miquelon stood firm in her no-skimming-ever stance, others were itching to get in, whether they had a spot or not.
“I would have been skimming,” said first-timer John Cordier, “but it was booked out four weeks in advance and I wasn’t on top of it.”
Still, Cordier celebrated a successful end to his season.
“It was a great season. I never get out as much as I want to, but I had a good time every time I went to Park City.”
Skimmers competed for titles including Best Skim, Best Costume, Best Splash, Biggest Wave, and Judges’ Choice, decided by a jury of Park City community leaders.
Winners included Adam Sadowski for Best Skim, Shawn McClanna for Best Costume, David Chawaga for Best Splash, Alan Howell for Biggest Wave, and the Pink Pony Club for Judges’ Choice.
