By Carli Johnson and Jack Reaney
Nacho Libre, bananas, a shark, Richard Simmons and the Titanic were among the costumes worn by skiers and snowboarders who took part in Big Sky Resort’s closing weekend pond skim. For the first time since 2019, Big Sky Resort wrapped up its 51st season with the return of the fan favorite event.
On Saturday, April 26, locals and visitors made their way up to the bowl beneath the Powder Seeker lift to cheer on the skimmers and swimmers. A previously scheduled 1:30 p.m. start to the pond skim was delayed by a 30-minute lightning hold.
Although clouds stormed in the distance, the sun conquered and poked through to allow the closing weekend festivities to resume. A Big Sky ski patroller kicked off the pond skim with a successful run, spraying the crowd at the base with snow.
Visiting for the weekend, Rylee Vitrano cheered on her friends from the sidelines. “It was really fun to watch them,” Vitrano said. “Nacho Libre took a swim, but Santa made it across.”
Big Sky local Max Scheder-Bieschin competed in the pond skim for the first time. With his wetsuit, inner tube and snorkel, getting wet wasn’t a problem.
“All the competitors up at the top were encouraging each other, giving each other tips,” Scheder-Bieschin said. “It was just real good camaraderie. I really loved it.” Noting his thanks to Big Sky Resort for bringing it back, he looks forward to doing it again next year.
For two hours, pond skimmers made their way down the slope across the 80-foot pond, or sank in the three feet of water. A few skiers who didn’t make it across lost their skis in the process, having to search for them in the pond.
Participants ranged from ages six to 66, making a splash for the return of pond skim in hopes of securing enough stoke to motivate the resort to bring it back for years to come.
On Sunday, April 27, the clouds hung low. The mountain was relatively quiet for closing day, after a busy Saturday of spring shenanigans. But the dedicated ones showed up to close off a great season.
EBS caught up with a few locals in the Lone Peak Tram line on Sunday afternoon.
George Suehnholz summed up the season simply: “pretty fun… can’t really complain,” adding that skied nearly every day including his work as an instructor. He noted he was proud to earn his level-III PSIA certification, and checked off a couple boxes: Donkey Slot and Little Couloir via Apple Core.
Callie Pecunies kept track of her ski days for the first time in her life—42 at Big Sky with 33 tram days, and that’s not counting her dozen-odd days elsewhere.
“It has been an awesome season. The snow started out a little light, and then it was just great,” Pecunies said. “… Amazing snow. I mean for those of us who live here, maybe it’s not over. We’ll do a little skinning up into Beehive. It’s just been a great year.”
Pecunies gave a shoutout to the resort’s staff, particularly the tram ops for “awesome” interactions throughout the long season. She said the resort did an excellent job managing the tram line this year.
Mike Wolfe, a board member with the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, reflected on what he’ll miss as the resort closes its 51st season.
“It was a season that wouldn’t stop snowing. So, powder skiing with friends I think is gonna be the biggest miss of the year,” Wolfe said. “The good thing about Big Sky is we get to take that into summer, and be with our friends on bikes and rivers, boats—it just doesn’t stop.”
He said a memorable run was skiing the North Summit Snowfield with the BSSEF Nordic coaches.
Peter Manka described the season as “epic.” He said most runs were memorable, but he won’t forget skiing the Big Couloir to help spread the ashes of legendary Big Sky musician Terry Stebbins, led by Terry’s brother, John. Conditions were rough that day, Manka recalled, but the Big Sky Ski Patrol opened the terrain for the unique occasion.
“Feeling a lot of great fortune and gratitude for this mountain, this place, and for the family, the community, health, happiness, all those good things,” Manka said. “Feeling really blessed.”
