Pond skimmers make big splash Saturday at base of Park City Mountain
The sun was out in full force, the drinks in the crowd were flowing and the skiing and snowboarding competitors in unique costumes were flying across the water Saturday as Park City Mountain held its third annual pond skim.
The resort welcomed 150 competitors to the pond beside the Eagle chairlift, each vying for the event’s top honors of biggest splash, best costume and best overall skim. While the award ceremony was a bust, with most of the competitors ducking out early and leaving soaked in pond water, the competition itself was far from it.
Competitors’ costumes included Jesus, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, and each wowed the massive crowd by either skimming the whole pond, falling spectacularly or falling intentionally in hopes of winning the biggest splash award. The crowd was also treated to food and live music from local DJ Matty Mo.
Local judges including Park City Council member Tana Toly, local artist Lamont White, YSA programs director Heather Sims and NAC athlete Serei Panh ranked scores for the subjective categories. They held giant signs featuring positive and negative emojis up after each run, taking a few moments to decide on the winners following the last skim.
These competitors were from Park City, Salt Lake City and elsewhere in the U.S. Most of them had competed here or at other pond skims before, most competing with a group of friends. A group of men dressed as The Incredibles said they brought five and even ended up adding one more like-dressed competitor to their crew.
The competitors hoped to make it across the entire pond or make a giant splash, yet most were just hoping to have fun and let the spectators see their costumes. Everyone seemed to enoy the warm weather, which reached the 60s on the spring day. The event was originally scheduled for April 6 and changed dates due to a snowstorm delaying the spring conditions.
Parkite Ray Vagely dressed as Jesus Saturday, donning a traditional white robe. He had a blast and would love to return next year, he said.
“Weather couldn’t be better for this, nice, beautiful sunny day, everyone seems to be having a great time,” Vagely said.
Vagely noticed the effort and creativity the competitors brought with their costumes and said he’ll have to come up with something strong for next year.
One of those strongly dressed competitors was Andrew Voigt of Philadelphia, dressed as football quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a full Chiefs uniform and shoulder pads. Voigt, his sister and cousin completed the costume trio of Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, and they had hoped to win the best overall skim award, having Voigt pass his cousin a ball while skimming, which slipped through his hands as he completed the entire skim.
Voigt kept a smile on his face despite the dropped pass by his cousin, loving competing in the event for the first time.
“It really hurts me as an Eagles fan,” Voigt joked about his costume. “I’ll be a yearly member here.”
There were several Parkites enjoying a return to the event, taking in the skims and some brutal falls. Leyton Schnell said he was enjoying both equally and feeling inspired to potentially strap his skis next year.
“You can hear the adulation that they get from the crowd,” said Schnell. “I can’t imagine much being better on a day like today.”
The pond skim will return next spring at an unannounced date.
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