Eaglecrest Skia Area’s entertaining spring send-off returns for the first time in three years this weekend.
The Slush Cup, which has been canceled during last two seasons due to low snow levels, returns to Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday, April 8 at 1 p.m. The ski area’s final day of operation is the following day. The fan-favorite event tasks competitors with successfully gliding across a man-made pool of water near the Hooter Chair.
The theme is “party animal” for those wishing to compete for the “best costume” award. “Best accuracy” and “biggest show-off” awards will also be given out. Eaglecrest is still finalizing its sponsors for the event that will be helping supply prizes.
“It’s a great end of the season party-event because we put a lot of time into it,” Interim Eaglecrest General Manager Nate Abbott said. “It’s probably one of the biggest spectator events that we have here on the mountain — quite frankly it’s a really good time.”
Skiers and snowboarders can register by calling 790-2000 (ext. 214) or signing up the day of from 10 a.m.-noon on the mountain. Youth registration (ages of 10-17) is $5 and adult registration is $10.
Before entering the water, contestants must pass through a series of gates just uphill from the pool. This is a newer adaptation to the event, in addition to extending the length of the pond to over 100 feet.
“When we first started, we didn’t have a very long pond,” Abbott said. “As skis have gotten fatter, they’ve become more like water skis and people were getting across the pond way too easy.”
Crews will begin work on the slush cup around midnight on Thursday (Friday morning) so as not to interrupt skiers. The pit will receive a liner the following day before being filled in with around 90,000 gallons of water before the event on Saturday. Abbott estimates the size of this year’s pond will be approximately 125 by 30 by 5 feet.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
A 2012 Slush Cup skier tries to maintain his balance before hundreds of curious onlookers. The event is a popular spectator sport as many contestants endure comical crashes into the water. Courtesy Eaglecrest Ski Area.
