I look at the number five written behind my hand and my heart sinks.
It seems that I was selected to compete in the “The Hunger Games”, as depicted in the diastopian series of the best -selling writer Suzanne Colins. The number scattered in the permanent marker had just thrown me very close to my fate, which was fortunately not as a result of a cruel death, but a potential icy dip.
I am participating in the 18th Annual Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mutton Resort held on Cloudless Spring Saturday on Saturday of April 5.
Like The Hunger Games, ME and 59 other contestants are kept in over-the-top getup reminiscent of the inhabitants of the ruling government nation of Panm. And like a cruel-free-for-All Kill Fest, our numbers will definitely be reduced as the competition moves forward.
An organizer tells us how the skim will go down. The entire competition will include four rounds: a trip across the pond, a journey across the pond after jumping, a journey on the back side of the pond, and then a journey across the pond after jumping, backwards.
Everyone has a chance on $ 1,500 cash purse, but once they do not make it, they get out of the competition.
Like District 12 Hartthrobe Peta Melk, I befriend other participants. Paul Hanigen, who is flaunting a screwdright neon green green dress with similar painted skin, is designed as Marge Simpson from hit animated TV-show, “The Simpsons”. With his 4 -foot -high chicken wire and paper mawt blue behaive wig, he tells me that he has never participated in the pond scheme before.
Like me, many others had never had a skim before, either because they had missed the small window of time before the sign-up, or because it was only the year, they were inspired to give it a shot.
The best overall skiers or snowboarders, male and female walk away with $ 200. The best crash also receives $ 200 and the best dress with ranked also becomes $ 300.
But Snowboarder Jane Lippe dressed as Obi Van Kenobi from Science-Fi epic “Star Wars”, success is happening in the first round. She failed to do so in the last two years, but is expected to be different, and if not, she will probably not come back.
And then there is, in a bilovi pink dress, the puffy shoulders, curly blonde wig, fuzzy tiara and a sash that say prom queen across my chest, is up in a bilovi pink dress. I am hoping to make it at least in the third round.
With The bouquet of pink plastic flowers in one hand and the ski in the other, I boot the middle fork slope by the base of the chair 1. Whether the heavy dress, surprisingly standing tilt, or on the 60 degree day, I am huffing and puffing up to the time of reaching the launch point, which is above a few hundred yards above the pond.
Turning towards the shore, I ask someone how much speed we are planning to take in the pond.
I know that if I slowly drown in the pond by wiping brilliantly by moving very fast, I would be more disappointed in the pond.
Waiting for anticipation, I look towards the way that looks like thousands of spectators that soaks the rays of the sun in the opposite direction of the slope. my heart skips a beat. But when I look at the people around me, I see that smiling, laughing people wearing ridiculous clothes, and the competition does not seem as much of a competition as it does. We are all going to throw our body in some water for entertainment.
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is the first from “Ghostbusters” films. I later learn that TJ Hable is hidden under a bloated dress. He has competed in the pond skim with a clear itching to take things at the next level. And he did it.
Habel begins slopes with some slipping 360 spin. But at a few yards away from the beginning, he does a ski for a man for a man who was designed as Ghostbuster Peter Venkman.
Venkman Emporsnor uses his “proton pack” to spray a pink liquid on the back of the Hubel. I and others around me are more than confused.
He then removes a small blostorch and indicates it directly on the back of Habel. “Is he burning on fire?” I heard someone asking someone.
Then I see the flame.
Habel takes down the wild slope, flame to the center of his back, because the air feeds him. He suddenly moves towards a jump, which does not mean until the second run. Flowing, it crashes in water on half the way of the pond.
I am gobsmacked. After the initial confusion, my fellow contestants exploded into the cheer. Was all the other people going to this type of show?
After minutes, I am taking it to the center of the footpath. The crowd is on a large scale, and through the red barrier mesh I am waiting for my friends enthusiastically whether I will drown or skim.
The way I practiced during the drive of Big Mountain Road that morning, I give the crowd a Regal Wave and throw them up the air kisses.
My ski points to the slope, quickly creates enough speed to force me to take a couple.
Bending back, my ski across the pond, my dress flutters behind me. Feeling egoistic, I try to finish out of water with a good 180 spin, but instead find myself beyond the slush. Still, I made it!
Electricity crowd, the enthusiasm to do something that I had never done before and the speed fills me with adrenaline. I come in two rounds with a new confidence and skills. This prom queen is going to kill it.
Without bending my knees anytime in an attempt to absorb jump, I launch myself through the wind with my weapons. I come down on water with force. The amazing amount of effect separates my ski, makes me out of balance and kicks my dress.
Somehow, almost comfortable, I stay straight and just barely make it to the end of the pond. I hoist my bouquets in Triumph, which is found with a roar of cheers.
From The end of round two we are 17 contestants of an average status.
But when I go back to the top of the slope, there is no smokey bear, there is no marshmallow man. Then I remember that I was finished before I was abolished.
As I am called at the launch point, I slow down my breath. My brain Ping-Pongs is on whether to change half the backward path from the slope. But then I remember my philosophy: If I am going to fall, make it big.
Initially, I turn my ski backwards. There is no need for any carving, I steamol under the hill.
As I leave the slope and move towards the pond, I realize that it is not going to end how I want. My ski catches the water, shoots me backwards. I think I feel completely flat stones, I feel my back slide beyond the water. I settled in blue water.
Me and my companions live on the banks of the pond, cheer two skiers and two snowboarders, who successfully brought it close to the cash purse in the fourth round.
After worrying about competing, I admire the Comradery that is built among the American strangers, who voluntarily selected this sun on Saturday to be wet on Saturday.
I think Hanigan’s fond, dressed as Marge Simpson, who gripped from behind my dress when he was in disarray. I remember shouting with joy as lippe, dressed as Obi-Gauni Kenobi, successfully skimmed in the pond during the first round, completing his JD Destiny.
Whitefish local Gabriella Heric, who took a $ 200 home for the best female skier, left with a new friend with another contestant.
“We don’t have our phones, so we are going to meet later [Great Northern Bar]I made a new friend, it’s going to be great, ”Heric said.
Whether he is successfully killing the jump switch and making it the best male snowboarder like Kodi Thomas, dressed as a monkey, or was sending flip to the front side in the water like a skier vivian white, which was dressed as a western barbie, in mind, everyone’s intent was an explosion to finish a cheerful show with a banging ski.
At the end of the competition, everyone gathers to hear the result.
Habel, dressed as Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, wins the best dress. Gabriel Jostrom, prepared as Hamburgler, was awarded the best accident. The male ski winner is Travis Cofman, who is dressed as a robber and Anya Shoback goes away with the best female snowboarder.
After taking out the awards, we end with a group photo. Gradually, once the wild and living environment pay homage to calm down.
until next year.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailinterlake.com.
A skier crosses the pool in the pond scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
The Daily Inter Lake Reporter Jack Underhill travels a successful visit to the pool at the Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
The Daily Inter Lake Reporter Jack Underhill travels a successful visit to the pool at the Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
The Daily Inter Lake Reporter Jack Underhill travels a successful visit to the pool at the Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
The Daily Inter Lake Reporter Jack Underhill travels a successful visit to the pool at the Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
The Daily Inter Lake Reporter Jack Underhill celebrates on Saturday, 5 April after a successful journey in the pool at the Pond Skim of the Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
A skier crosses the pool in the pond scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder 
A contestant at the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man costume on Saturday, 5 April, sprinkles the pool in the Pond Scheme of the Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
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Ryan Economy successfully crosses the pool at the Pond Skim of the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Saturday, 5 April. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
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A snowboarder crosses the pool on Saturday, 5 April in the Pond Skim of the Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Casey credder/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey credder