Mt. Hood Meadows Finishes The Season With Freestyle Parks Session Friday And Ninkasi Pond Skim Saturday

The season winds up this Friday and Saturday at Mt. Hood Meadows - the last two days of the season. Meadows Parks crew presents a Spring afternoon session in the Zoo and Fireweed parks and at the halfpipe Friday, April 28.

It’s all for fun, swag and chances to win prizes in a raffle. The Easy Rider and Buttercup lifts will operate until 6 PM free for passholders and a special $10 lift ticket is available for those that want to ride those two lifts from 3 - 6 PM. 

Ninkasi Pond Skim features the Special Olympics of Oregon 1st Annual Pond Skim Polar Plunge

The season ends Saturday with the Ninkasi Pond Skim at Mt. Hood Meadows! A full field of 120 skiers and snowboarders will attempt to cross the icy waters of the 100 foot pond, located right in the base area. There is no cost to spectate as competitors are judged on their ability to skim across the pond with style and in costume. Prizes are awarded to the top three skimming performances, as well as for best splash, best costume and overall impression. Head judge Matt Zaffino from KGW returns for his 13th pond skim and Josh Cozart from KOIN-TV will judge his first event, accompanied by judging pro and Meadows local Dan Kniep. First run action is scheduled for 10:30 AM - pre-registered competitor check in is at 8:15 AM.

The 1st annual Pond Skim Polar Plunge for Special Olympics of Oregon (SOOR) will be presented immediately following the second run of skimming. SOOR representatives will be on hand to register participants who want to take a Plunge through the pond for $20 - all funds raised go to supporting the programming and events of more than 12,000 athletes statewide. Plungers receive four raffle tickets for prizes SOOR is bringing to the event including two round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines (restrictions apply), two Pit Viper sunglasses packages, a Craft Outdoor Package, a 2023/24 Mt. Hood Meadows Value Season Pass and more. Individual raffle tickets will be sold at the event and the winning tickets will be drawn at the Pond Skim Saturday (need not be present to win).

To purchase raffle tickets in advance or to register for the 1st Annual SOOR Pond Skim Polar Plunge, visit https://support.soor.org/event/2023-pond-skim-polar-plunge/e484710/register/new/select-tickets