10 crazy events to mark the end of the ski season
It's been a mighty cold and snowy season in ski season around the world, but ultimately as Spring approaches temperatures rise and the snow melts, meaning skiers and snowboarders have several options. Some of us might put the gear away until next winter, while more serious sports fans head for the nearest glacier so they can keep riding all summer long.
On the other hand, slushy late spring conditions are also provide a good excuse for messing around in the terrain park, or dressing up in a daft costume and having some fun. Here are some of the silliest end-of-season showdowns at ski resorts around the world.
1. Derby de la Meije, La Grave, France
For the past 30 years at this cult resort for experts, more than 1,000 skiers, snowboarders, telemarkers, monoskiers, mountain bikers and people riding inflatables race to the valley solo or in teams. The 9km route in La Grave descends more than 2,000m vertical, mostly off piste – not for the faint-hearted.
2. Bikinis and Boardshorts, Banff, Alberta
Think clothing on the slopes is overrated? Then this mid-May event in Canada is for you. Ladies in bikinis and men in boardshorts descend the Strawberry Face run in Banff’s ski area of Sunshine to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer charities. There’s also a raft obstacle course, a fat bike race, a 'beach' party and mini-golf course.
3. Boogel Woogel & Grelka Festival, Russia
Swimwear is also a theme at these Russian shindigs. In 2016 1,498 scantily-clad skiers and snowboarders on a slope at the Grelka Festival in Sheregesh, Siberia, made it into the Guinness world record books as the most people in swimwear on a piste at one time. The festivals aims to beat its own record again this season. There's also a Miss Sheregesh bikini contest, ski jumping in the pool and live music.
4. Hardbooter’s Day, Courmayeur, Italy
Eighties-style multicoloured onesies meet hard-boot snowboards or monoskis at this giant slalom competition. Running in Courmayeur every April, the event is held in memory of Italian World Cup snowboarder Davide Marciandi, who died in an avalanche in 2000.
5. Hochfügen Snowdown, Austria
At this annual bash, Hochfügen says farewell to winter with concerts, parties and the Hochfügen Rope Team Race. Teams of three racers on skis, snowboards or sledges complete a downhill course while tied together by a rope. Children can take part in the Kids’ Rope Team Race.
6. Gamsleiten Criterion, Obertauern, Austria
Thirty chests containing prize vouchers are hidden in the snow on the Gamsleiten 2 run in Obertauern, one of the steepest pistes in Austria. The covetable top prize in this free-to-enter treasure hunt? A brand new BMW.
7. Monoski World Championships, Val d’Isère, France
“Is monoskiing cool again?” we asked last season, but the hosts of this annual race meet in Val d’Isère would reply that it never stopped being cool in the first place. Equipment is supplied by the event team, and most competitors have never or rarely been on a monoski before – leading to some rather unorthodox descents.
8. Defi Foly, La Clusaz, France
A number of American resorts host an annual pond skim event, including the World Pond Skimming Championships in Vail, where skiers and snowboarders try to make it to the other side of a shallow pool without falling in. But this contest in La Clusaz ramps up the challenge with a full-sized lake, as competitors battle it out to slide the furthest over the icy Lac des Confins on skis, monoskis and snowboards. “Come on in, the water's lovely!” Er, maybe not.
9. Snow Golf Tournament, Alpine Meadows, California, USA
Plus fours are encouraged but not compulsory at this yearly tournament in Alpine Meadows, the neighbouring resort to Squaw Valley, with which it shares a lift pass. The nine-hole event, now in its 35th year, is played with a golf club and tennis balls (they're easier to spot in the snow). And with it being a crazy end-of-season event, naturally there's also a prize for the best fancy dress costume.
10. Dummy Jump, Big Sky, Montana
“Let’s build a ski jump, put a crash test dummy on skis and push it down.” We don’t know which genius came up with the idea, but dummy jumping competitions are now a regular fixture at American resorts, including Big Sky in Montana, Alyeska in Alaska and Brian Head in Utah. Over time, the “dummies” have become more elaborate – as well as humanoid mannequins, previous competitions have seen a dinosaur, a popcorn stand and a sack of potatoes on a sofa fly through the air.
