Big Sky, MT – With the close of the ski and snowboard season this weekend, Montana’s Big Sky Resort will present the 7th Annual Spring Run-Off this Saturday, including the yearly pond skimming comp and numerous other events and activities.nFor those unfamiliar with the concept, a pond skim is exactly what it sounds like: people try to skim across the surface of a pond on skis or snowboards. But this is not just any pond; this one is made of snow and ice – and once filled with water, the frozen walls provide very little insulation for the future swimmers.

The aim of the game is to ski or snowboard down the slope, then tackle the trickier terrain of the icy, cold water. Some skim across as easily as if it were light fluffy powder, others find it a little harder to navigate and succumb to the chilly waters. The acrobatics can be truly astounding; in previous years the event has seen nose dives, flips, cartwheels or just huge dive bombs creating tidal waves across the entire pond.

Skimmers and swimmers do not just stick to regular ski attire. Crazy costumes abound; in the past clowns, scuba divers and gorillas have entered, along with a generous helping of people sporting capes, grass skirts and other amusing accessories. Some brave participants even decide that as they will probably end up swimming in the icy run-off, then swimwear, and swimwear only, seems the most appropriate thing to wear down the ski slope.

The event is free to watch, $20 to compete in, and proves to be one of Big Sky’s most popular events of the season.

The pond skim is the highlight of a whole day of festivities to mark the closing weekend of the winter season. Children’s activities will be available in the plaza, with live music from DJ Joe all afternoon. This year the pond skim event has been moved to 4 p.m. Once the event is over, the party continues with the live band, The Cropdusters, on the plaza.

“After another fantastic winter season, it’s always fun to end with a bang,” says Dax Schieffer, Director of Big Sky Resort Public Relations. “The pond skim is great as it appeals to people of all ages, whether they ski or not, to ensure that everyone enjoys the last weekend that Big Sky is open.”