Make a Big Splash at Gore’s Pond Skim
It's the annual Adirondack end-of-season competition to cross the pond successfully.
Pond Skim at Gore Mountain. All photos courtesy Gore Mountain Ski Center.
So you've had another fun ski season, and the resorts are slowly closing in the Adirondacks. This can bring about some sadness that your favorite winter sports season is ending. Gore Mountain’s Annual Pond Skim ensures you end the season on a high note with a fun event for the whole family,
What is a Pond Skim?
Boarder attempts to skim.
Ski resorts hold Pond Skim or Slush Cup events in the spring when ski season is winding down.
Contestants dress in creative and zany costumes and attempt to glide across an artificial pond on their skis or snowboard.
Champions are crowned for staying dry, making the biggest splash and exhibiting the best style in and out of the water.
GoMountain's Pond Skim: Fun for the whole family.
Gore's Annual Pond Skim contestants are grouped according to three age categories: 7 to 12, 13 to 19, and 20 and over.
Creative costumes are encouraged. This skimmer dressed as a Sumo wrestler.
Participants in each category go down the course according to bib order, with the youngest age group going first. To ensure you don't miss your bib order or age category, arrive at the check-in and starting gate early and pay attention.
The best costume, biggest splash, and best overall skim are awarded points in each age category. Skimmers must:
Have a valid lift ticket for March 30, 2024, or a season pass
Register ($10 for non-season pass holders). Register online on Gore’s website.
Wear a helmet
Go down the hill without poles
Check-in starts at 9; competition begins at 10:30. Don’t be late!
Here’s the “run-of-show” on Pond Skim Day.
Check-in and bib pick-up from 9 am to 10 am at the Base Lodge
The competition begins at 10:30 at The Arena — the youngest age group goes first, in bib order
Prizes will be awarded afterward on the Sun Deck
Tips from the Pond Skim pros.
Super-heroes pre-pare to skim.
Gore Mountain’s pros and Pond Skim veterans offer a few pointers for competitors.
Tips up, but keep your skis and board flat for the best chance of making it across the pond
Go as fast as you can and full speed ahead to go straight through the pond
Wax the boards before you go
Dress to impress
Bring a towel and a change of clothes
Most importantly, have fun.
And just remember, it’s not a real pond-skimming party until someone ends up wet!
Places to explore near North Creek.
It’s early morning, and the mist hovers above the glassy surface of your favorite Adirondack lake, undisturbed but for the rhythmic dip of your paddle. The only sound is the gentle ripple of water breaking against your canoe. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the promise of another perfect day in the Adirondacks. Your worries are left ashore, traded for the serenity that only paddling these waters can provide.
You’re not just wearing any shirt. You’re donning an invitation to adventure, to explore the thousand lakes and secret inlets of the North Country.
Our Adirondack Paddler’s Long-Sleeve Tee is made of the softest cotton. It's perfect for layering or wearing on its own. It’s designed for those who know the joy of a paddling in the Adirondacks, who’ve felt the thrill of a canoe gliding silently through mirror-still waters.
This ultra-cotton long-sleeve tee is perfect for Adirondack paddlers of all kinds—canoers, kayakers, SUPs, guide boaters and more. It is a clear comfort winner in any season.
There are no side seams for a relaxed fit. The shoulders are taped for improved durability. We love that the cotton used for these shirts is environmentally friendly.
Check the size chart; friends and family tell us this long-sleeved tee may run a little small.