New Mexico ski resorts wrap up winter with pond skim events

When it comes to ski and snowboard season, saying goodbye doesn’t have to be a melancholy occasion.

In fact, at a few resorts around the state, it feels a lot more like a party. That’s because the end of the season is celebrated with a pond skim, an event where participants — often in costume — attempt to glide across a man-made body of water on their snowboards or skis (no poles allowed).

“Pond skim is just wild if you’ve never been to one,” said Christiana Hudson, Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort marketing director. “It really is an amazing feat that people can get across a 75-foot pond and skim across it. And a lot of them will go way farther, and they’ll do tricks and flips at the end. So it’s pretty fun and pretty cold for them.”

While making it to the end of the pond is the goal, spectacular crashes are applauded as well.

“It’s not easy — not a given if you’re gonna attempt it,” said Reed Weimer, Red River Ski & Summer Area sales and marketing manager. “Plenty of people definitely go for a swim. It’s just the atmosphere of closing day. A lot of places close that day or evening, so people aren’t really working. A lot of locals are out having fun.”

Most routes usually occur at the base area of one of the slopes at the respective resort, and the pond is created in advance.

“At the end of the season, our grooming staff will use the big snow cats to dig out a hole in the snow,” said Michael Hawkins, Angel Fire Resort marketing manager. “We put a liner down so it holds water, and then we use our snowmaking infrastructure to fill that up with water.”

On the Angel Fire Instagram account, a video from last year’s festivities shows a skimmer, who is decked out in Spider-Man garb, punctuate a run across the pond with a backflip out of the water. Depending on the location of the resort, each pond skim event provides a different atmosphere.

“From a visual perspective as you’re skimming across the water, you’re looking across the Moreno Valley and toward Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico,” Hawkins said.

Meanwhile, at Red River, spectators gather at The Lift House to observe the action.

“It’s one of the better operated bar (and) grill restaurant spots in town. So it happens right outside of there at the bottom of the face on closing day. Usually like last year, it’s nice, sunny and warm,” Weimer said.

“That’s what makes it super cool is that everybody, whether you ski or snowboard, you can watch. The bar and restaurant is open so you can get your beverages there and stay on the deck with that stuff. You can watch from there, or if you want, you can go watch on snow, as well. It usually draws a few hundred people.”

Prize packages vary depending on the event. At Sipapu, winners have received snowboards, skis and goggles in past years. At other places, awards are more casual, with swag like koozies and beanies given out for the most spectacular tricks and crashes.

The festive atmosphere extends beyond the skim. Angel Fire, for example, will have a live band performing, while Sipapu will have Sierra Nevada on hand pouring beer and handing out free merchandise.

“It’s a big party,” Hudson said. “We’re hoping to get a DJ this year and get a lot of spectators and people just attending.”

ADDITIONAL FUN: As the pond skim winds down at Angel Fire, the resort ushers in its next season with a mountain bike race down the main lift at Chile Express the same day. The race costs $10 to enter, and the top three finishers will receive season passes to the bike park.

Meanwhile, the winter fun at Sipapu extends one week past the pond skim with Corny Closing Days. It’s a celebration of the corn snow, which is usually found during spring on the mountains instead of powder. Sipapu will have plenty of free attractions, games and corn-themed food and drink on April 5.

New Mexico ski resorts wrap up winter with pond skim events