From Prom to Pond: A wild ride at the annual Whitefish Mountain Resort competition

I see the number five written on the back of my hand and my heart sinks.  

It feels like I had just been chosen to compete in “The Hunger Games,” as depicted in best-selling author Suzanne Collins’ dystopian series. The number scrawled in permanent marker had just thrown me that much closer to my fate, which in this case luckily wasn’t one resulting in brutal death, but rather a potential icy plunge.  

I am taking part in the Whitefish Moutain Resort’s 18th annual Pond Skim held on the cloudless spring Saturday of April 5.  

Like The Hunger Games, me and 59 other competitors are garbed in over-the-top getups reminiscent of residents of the ruling government nation of Panem. And like in the brutal-free-for-all kill fest, our numbers will surely dwindle as the competition progresses.  

An organizer gives us the rundown on how the skim will go down. The entire competition will consist of four rounds: A trip across the pond, a trip across the pond after hitting the jump, a trip across the pond backwards, and then a trip across the pond after hitting the jump, backwards.  

Everyone has a chance at a $1,500 cash purse, but once they don’t make it across, they are out of the competition.  

Much like District 12 heartthrob Peeta Mellark, I befriend the other participants. Paul Hannigan, who is flaunting a skintight neon green dress with similarly painted skin is dressed as Marge Simpson from the hit animated TV-show, “The Simpsons.” With his 4-foot-tall chicken wire and paper machete blue beehive wig by his side, he tells me he has never participated in the pond skim before.  

Like me, many others had never skimmed before, either because they missed the short window of time before sign-ups filled, or because this was simply the year, they were inspired to give it a shot.   

The best overall skier or snowboarder, man and woman walk away with $200. The best crash receives $200 as well and the ranked best costume even gets $300.  

But to snowboarder Jen Lippe dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi from the sci-fi epic “Star Wars,” success means getting through the first round. She was unsuccessful in doing so the past two years but hopes this year will be different, and if not, she probably won’t be back.  

And then there is me, dolled up in a billowy pink dress with puffy shoulders, curly blonde wig, fuzzy tiara and a sash that says PROM QUEEN across my chest. I am hoping to at least make it to the third round.    

WITH A bouquet of pink plastic flowers in one hand and skis in the other, I boot pack up the Middle Fork slope by the base of Chair 1. Whether from the heavy dress, the surprisingly steep incline, or the 60-degree day, I am huffing and puffing by the time I reach the launch point, which is a few hundred yards above the pond.  

Turning to the side, I ask someone dressed as U.S. Forest Service icon Smokey Bear how much speed he plans on taking into the pond.  

I know I’d be more disappointed if I slowly sink into the pond from going too slow than wiping out spectacularly from moving too fast.  

Waiting in anticipation, I look toward what looks like thousands of onlookers soaking up the sun's rays on the opposite side of the slope. My heart skips a beat. But when I glance at those around me, all I see is a bunch of smiling, laughing people dressed in ridiculous clothes, and the competition doesn’t feel as much of a competition as it does a party. We are all about to throw our bodies across some water for the sake of entertainment.   

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from the “Ghostbusters” movies is up first. I learn later that TJ Habel is the one hidden underneath the bloated costume. He has competed in the pond skim before with an apparent itch for taking things to the next level. And that he did.  

Habel gracefully starts down the slope with some sliding 360 spins. But only a few yards from the start, he skis over to a man in line dressed as Ghostbuster Peter Venkman.   

The Venkman impersonator uses his “proton pack” to spray a pinkish liquid on Habel’s back. Me and the others around me are more than confused.  

He then pulls out a small blowtorch and points it directly at Habel's back. “Is he getting lit on fire?” I hear someone ask.  

Then I see the flame.  

Habel wildly carves down the slope, the flame on the center of his back flickering as the wind feeds it. He abruptly veers toward the jump, which isn't meant to be skied until the second run. Flailing, he crashes into the water halfway across the pond.    

I am gobsmacked. My fellow competitors erupted in cheer after the initial confusion. Was everyone else going to put on such a show? 

Minutes later, I am beckoned over to the center of the trail. The crowd is massive, and through the red barrier netting I make out my friends waiting excitedly to see whether I will sink or skim.  

Just as I practiced during the drive up Big Mountain Road that morning, I give the crowd a regal wave and throw them air kisses. 

My skis point down the slope, quickly building enough speed to force me to take a couple carves. 

Leaning back, my skis glide across the pond, my dress flapping behind me. Feeling cocky, I try to finish with a nice 180 spin out of the water but instead find myself on my side across the slush. Still, I made it!  

The electric crowd, excitement of doing something I had never done before and the speed fills me with adrenaline.  I come into round two with a newfound confidence and prowess. This prom queen is going to kill it.   

Without ever bending my knees in an attempt to absorb the jump, I launch myself through the air with my arms pinwheeling behind me. I come down onto the water with force. The surprising amount of impact spreads my skis apart, knocking me off balance and kicking up my dress.  

Somehow, almost instinctively, I remain upright and just barely make it to the end of the pond. I hoist my bouquet in triumph, which is met with a roar of cheers.  

BY THE end of round two we are a measly 17 competitors.  

But when I get back to the top of the slope, there is no Smokey Bear, no Marshmallow Man. That’s when I remember everyone before me had been eliminated.   

As I am called over to the launch point, I slow my breathing. My brain ping-pongs over whether to turn backward halfway down the slope. But then I remember my philosophy: if I am going to fall, make it a big one.  

Right at the start, I turn my skis backwards. No carves needed, I steamroll down the hill. 

As I leave the slope and soar toward the pond, I realize this isn’t going to end how I want. My skis catch the water, shooting me backwards. I feel my back slide across the water, embodying a perfectly flat stone. I settle in the blue water. 

Me and my fellow fallen remain at the edge of the pond, cheering on the two skiers and two snowboarders who successfully made it to the fourth round, inching closer to the cash purse.   

After the anxiety of competing fades, I admire the comradery that has formed amongst us strangers who all willingly chose to get wet on this sunny Saturday.  

I think back fondly of Hannigan, dressed as Marge Simpson, who clasped the back of my dress when it came unbuttoned. I remember yelping with joy as Lippe, dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi successfully skimmed across the pond during the first round, fulfilling her jedi destiny. 

Whitefish local Gabriella Herrick, who took home $200 for best female skier, also left with a newfound friend with another competitor.   

“We don’t have our phones, so we are going to meet up later at the [Great Northern Bar]. I made a new friend, it’s going to be great,” Herrick said. 

Whether it was successfully hitting the jump switch and making it across like the deemed best male snowboarder Cody Thomas, dressed as a monkey, or sending a front flip into the water like skier Vivian White, dressed as Western Barbie, everyone’s intention was to have a blast while putting on an hilarious show to end the snow-filled ski season with a bang. 

At the end of the competition, everyone gathers to hear the results. 

Habel, dressed as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, wins best costume. Gabriel Jostrom, dressed as the Hamburglar, is awarded best crash. The male ski winner is Travis Kauffman, dressed as a robber and Anya Shawback walks away with best female snowboarder.  

After the awards are doled out, we conclude with a group photo. Slowly, the once wild and alive atmosphere reverts to the quiet. 

Until next year.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.  

    A skier crosses the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Daily Inter Lake reporter Jack Underhill makes a successful trip across the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Daily Inter Lake reporter Jack Underhill makes a successful trip across the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Daily Inter Lake reporter Jack Underhill makes a successful trip across the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Daily Inter Lake reporter Jack Underhill makes a successful trip across the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Daily Inter Lake reporter Jack Underhill celebrates after a successful trip across the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A skier crosses the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A participant in a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume splashes into the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Ryan Economy successfully crosses the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A snowboarder crosses the pool at Whitefish Mountain Resort's pond skim on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider