Before lifts grind to a halt this season, select Colorado resorts host one last hurrah for diehard downhillers: pond skimming. In these madcap contests, strangely costumed skiers and snowboarders descend a slope and jump off a ramp to create (hopefully) enough momentum to skim across a glacier-cold body of water. Competitors who impress the judges often earn prizes, including, at Vail Ski Resort, free Epic Passes. This year, spectators can win, too—thanks to our bingo card. Just mark these pond-skimming standards as you spot or hear them; first person among your friend group to holler “BINGO!” gets their next round paid for.*

Image credits: iStock (gorilla, turtle, plane, pizza, trophy, ski); Courtesy of Tripp Fay (backflip); Larry Pierce/Courtesy of Steamboat Ski Resort (black slap)

*Just to be clear: by your friends, not 5280
**E.g., the one committed by the idiot who tried to jump over the crowd at Copper Mountain last year, which resulted in several injuries and a misdemeanor charge
***The now 18-year-old has won at Vail two years running

5280 April 2019
More From The Issue

Colorado’s Five Biggest Pond-Skimming Events

Landshark Pond Skim | April 6
Crested Butte

Slush Cup | April 7
Keystone

World Pond Skimming Championships | April 12–14
Vail

Splashdown Pond Skim | April 14
Steamboat Springs

Red Bull Slopesoakers | April 20
Copper Mountain