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Photo essay: Clear the Pond

Skiers compete to cross the Bear Creek Mountain pond
Mackenzie Bross, 24, of Perkasie, makes a splash crossing the pond at Bear Creek Mountain Resort as part of its yearly competition.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

On a warm, cloudy Sunday, more than 130 participants signed up for a chance to cross the pond at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. Winners would take home a season pass. According to Gary Kline, director of marketing and guest experience, the key to crossing is speed. Competitors race down the mountain, hit the water, and try to skim all the way to the other side. Wider skis help, and so does leaning back, keeping your ski tips up.

Bear Creek has hosted a pond skimming event since the early 2000s, though a few years didn’t happen because of warm weather. One of the skiers who made it across, Jim Dolan, of Denver, Pa., said, “It’s a good end of the season.”

Kline pointed out that the season isn’t over just yet; as of last Sunday, the resort made it to 93 days. The average is 81.