Red River’s Annual Pond Skim Returns for 2026 Season Send-Off
Red River, New Mexico – The days are getting longer, the temperatures are creeping up, and the slush is starting to build. This only means one thing: it’s time to say goodbye to another winter.
What better way to send off the ski and snowboard season than the annual Red River Pond Skim? It’s a classic mountain pastime, where skill meets hilarity and a cold plunge into an icy pool is always just a slight edge-catch away.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 pond skim event, from the history of the sport to this year’s schedule.
When and Where
Mark your calendar for the main event!
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM (Event Start)
- Location: The Lift House Patio
Event Details: Watch the Action and Join the Party
The legendary Lift House Patio is, without a doubt, the place to be. With the pond constructed right at the base of the mountain and perfect sightlines from the deck, it offers the ultimate viewing party atmosphere.
Spectators are encouraged to head to The Lift House to grab a spot, a cold drink, and enjoy the show. Watch as participants don their wildest costumes and push the limits of physics as they speed toward a massive (and icy) custom-built pond skim track.
The event will kick off at 3:30 PM sharp, celebrating the close of another wonderful winter in Red River. Make sure to stick around after the skim for a post-season celebration with friends, old and new.
To register for the competition or learn more, visit the event page at: https://heyor.ca/9VLWMr
From Practical Origins to Pure Fun: A History of the Pond Skim
The pond skim is a global phenomenon today, but it hasn’t always been just about wacky costumes and splashdowns.
Historians believe the event has its roots in early-season pragmatism, perhaps with original ski patrol teams. In the early days of resort skiing, during the spring thaw, patrollers and mountain staff needed to find ways to cross meltwater streams and slush pools that formed. Over time, these necessary maneuvers became challenges of skill and bravado, eventually morphing into a public competition for pure entertainment.
Today, pond skims are a symbol of spring skiing across North America, serving as the quintessential end-of-season ritual. They represent the joyful, community-driven spirit of mountain life—a chance to have one last laugh together before trading skis for fishing poles.