20th Cushing Crossing pond skimming returns to Squaw Valley USA this Sunday
OK, so skiing and riding are pretty much over for the season. But get out your swim suits, 'cause Squaw Valley is holding its annual pond skimming event.
Squaw has announced that the 20th Annual Cushing Crossing, North America’s original pond crossing, will return to Squaw Valley USA this Sunday. This wildly entertaining competition challenges local lunatics and gregarious guests to cross the vast and chilly waters of Lake Cushing on skis, a snowboard or any ski or snowboard-based vessel. Notorious for its colossal crashes, hilarious costumes, and ultra-creative pond skimming contraptions, the annual Lake Cushing Crossing comes to Squaw Valley on Sunday May 9.
Pond Skimming has become a fixture on spring event lineups at ski resorts around the world. However, it was at Squaw Valley, 20 years ago, when the event was first conceived. At the end of each ski season, when Lake Cushing, the large pond at the base of the mountain, had melted, Squaw Ski Patrollers would attempt to ski across Lake Cushing as a ceremonious goodbye to the season. The ritual developed into a public competition and later, Squaw Valley’s signature spring event.
Since then, plenty of ski resorts have their go at pond skimming events, yet none can rival Squaw Valley’s. Perhaps it is because the characters at Squaw are a little more daring, a little more agile, and a little bit better on sticks. Or maybe it is because Lake Cushing is a real pond, rather than a tarp-lined ditch or kiddie pool. Whatever the reason, the Cushing Crossing blows other pond skimming events out of the water, and demonstrated by the thousand plus spectators that come out for the event every year.
Divisions & Prizing
Prizes are awarded in five divisions – men’s ski, women’s ski, men’s snowboard, women’s snowboard and the fifth, and often most amusing, the Unlimited Division. This last group of participants has been known to attempt the Cushing Crossing on beach chairs, old snowmobiles without engines and even a chair lift affixed to three snowboards. Multiple people may compete as one unit in the Unlimited Division only if they are bound together. Judging is based on style, grace, creativity, and of course, successfully crossing the lake.
The grand prize is a Bronze 2010-11 Squaw Valley Season Pass and a $100 cash prize is awarded to the highest scorer in each class. Also, new for the 20th Annual Cushing Crossing are the Skinny Skis Award and the Most Creative Award. The skier who crosses the pond on skis narrower than 70mm and earns the most points will take home the Skinny Skis Award and $100 cash. The Most Creative Award and an additional $100 cash prize will go to the pond skimmer who competes in the most creative costume and/or apparatus — successful crossing not required.
The Cushing Crossing is open to the first 50 registrants. Registration takes place on the KT Sundeck at 12 p.m.and the competition kicks off at 2. The cost to participate is $20 per person. All entrants MUST be 18 years of age or older and have a life preserver and a helmet. All entrants must also sign a liability release form.
The most up-to-date resort conditions, operations, event schedules, video and live mountain cams are available at www.squaw.com.
— Sam Bauman