Pond Skim - what a splash!

Australian National Pond Skim Championships make a SPLASH

Mt Buller’s snow season is in its final hours today as skiers and snowboarders enjoy the daylight savings and Spring vibes on the slopes this afternoon.

Yesterday saw the long-awaited National Pond Skim Championships and entries were strong after two years off the pond!

Points were awarded for a combination of ‘bigness’, costume, choreography, and skimming prowess.  A lively crowd gathered pond-side for the afternoon of colour and crashes and many felt the refreshing splash of the pond as skimmers came unstuck and created waves.  An esteemed panel of judges included resort Ambassadors and Olympians Anton Grimus and Jacqui Cooper.  Energy was high in the Pirate Life beer garden where a bubble artist and fire twirler added to the closing carnival atmosphere and celebrations of the final weekend on the slopes.

Winners on the day included local skier Andre Bennett for the adult skim, HMAS Pondy McPond Skim for the teams, junior winners were Genevieve O’Callaghan and Maya Onslow as Mario Bros with the Prawn Pirates (complete with a giant pirate ship) taking out special honours for costume.

Andre Bennett took (another) Pond Skim title in this year's event for this awesome 'full send' in Grand Finalist Geelong colours!
Pic: Abbey Jordan The Photo Shop

Federation Internationale de Pond Skim President David Clark was thrilled to have the competition back at Mt Buller,  “This is what Spring is all about. Colour, costumes, skimming and of course elite international sport right to the closing days of the season!  These are the world’s best skimmers showing the depth of skill and style that is lurking in the pond here on Bourke Street.  Other resorts may skim, but we are very proud to host the National Championships and the best skimmers in our solar system.”

“The judges had a challenging time of it with such a strong line up of talent in all categories.  Bluey and Bingo were superb in the under 18.  Skimmers definitely understood the assignment creating timely themes for their costumes with Scotty from Marketing making an appearance in Aloha shirts, the winning Top Gun aircraft carrier team and the Queen (maybe too soon?) being chased across the pond by the Grim Reaper”  he added.

Mt Buller has 11 lifts rolling including Summit, Wombat, Bull Run and Skyline today for the closing day with a good cover of soft groomed snow and four terrain parks filled with features for those enjoying the final moments of the 121 day long season. 

The resort is already shifting gears and preparing for ‘green’ season with refurbished mountain bike trails and some new walking tracks on the menu for spring and summer visitors. 

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• See the complete Pond Skim photo gallery (shot by Abbey) here. You know you'll want the photo to go straight to the pool (pond) room!