Pond Skimming is the Last Hurrah of the Ski Season

Pond skimming is a longtime tradition at the Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett

What do you get when you combine snow skiing with water skiing and a costume party?

Soaking wet.

A longtime tradition at the Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett, the annual Attitash Pond Skim challenges skiers and snowboarders to seamlessly transition from a small ski slope to a pool of icy water without wiping out. This year’s event, which is open to all ages but has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches, is on March 28.

“We’re hoping the weather is on the warm side,” says Thomas Prindle, Attitash’s marketing director. “We’ve had guys do this in just Speedo bathing suits and that can get quite uncomfortable when the temperatures are in the mid-to-lower 30s.”

Getting in the spirit of the event, many participants choose to skim the man-made pond in costume. One Attitash employee shows up every year dressed as the 1970s Elvis, while many visitors typically wear outfits that fit the musical genre of the afternoon concert.  

This year’s performance is by Motor Booty Affair, a disco cover band from Maine, so expect lots of wigs and bright-colored clothes.

“There’s a real party atmosphere with the fans cheering both for the people who cross the pond and for those who don’t make it,” he says. “The water’s only two to three feet deep, so it’s easy to stand right back up. My only advice: Bring some backup clothes and a backup pair of boots if you plan to ski later.”

 For more information, visit attitash.com. Watch a highlight reel of last year’s action at youtube/DIbfWCyBafU.