Pond skimming is a classic spring skiing event, with skiers and snowboarders attempting to ride across a man-made pool without touching the water below. It tends to be one of the best parties of the year at every ski resort, and usually features crazy costumes and wild antics.
But have you ever wondered how the resort actually builds up the pond? It’s not really that complicated of a process. They use a groomer to form the shape of the pool in the snow, digging down and building the walls and runout, then they lay down a tarp to keep the water in and fill it up. It doesn’t seem that difficult but it takes work, and we’re grateful to all the resorts that keep it going.
This video was taken at Soldier Mountain in Idaho, which is now closed for the 2024/25 season. However there are plenty of ski areas across North America that are yet to have their end-of-season pond skim tournament, so do a bit of research and make sure you don’t miss out on the fun!
