VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Closing Day at Vail

Celebrate Closing Day of Vail’s 50^th Anniversary Season this Sunday, April 14!

Here are the details for our sponsored parties and rules for responsibly enjoying the last day of the season.

World Pond Skimming Championships
1:30 p.m. at Golden Peak
Venue opens with expos and giveaways from event sponsors.

3 p.m.
The legendary World Pond Skimming Championships get underway! The annual competition entails floatable (and sometimes sinkable) athletes launching themselves off an on-snow jump onto an icy pond in attempt to successfully exit the pond on both feet. Competitors will vie for both fame and glory in a showing that defies the laws of physics – and perhaps even common sense.

This year, two Champions will be crowned – the top male and top female competitor – who will each take home an Epic Pass for the 2013-2014 season.

Registration is $75 and is limited to a field of 75 participants on a first-come, first-served basis and is now open! Register Online Here.

Jimmy Cliff Concert
5 p.m. at Solaris in Vail Village
The legendary, Grammy-winning reggae artist Jimmy Cliff puts on a free concert as a final goodbye to our 50th Anniversary Season!

 

Rules for enjoying Closing Day on mountain
All operating lifts and decks will close for the season at 4 p.m. As is customary on closing day, Vail Ski Patrol will detonate a series of avalanche explosives at approximately 4:30 p.m. to signal the end of the season.

Resort officials ask everyone for their continued cooperation with Ski Patrol and other Vail Mountain staff on closing day Sunday. For those picnicking on the mountain, trash and recycling containers will be provided. Skiers and riders are also reminded that variable late-spring conditions exist and are encouraged to descend or download early. Once Vail Ski Patrol sweeps the mountain, it will remain closed until summer operations resume in early June.

U.S. Forest Service and local law enforcement officers will be on the mountain Sunday to help facilitate a safe end to the ski and snowboard season. Guests are expected to abide by the laws and rules of skiing and snowboarding and risk fines or arrest for irresponsible behavior. Skiers and snowboarders must continue to abide by the Colorado Ski Safety Act and “Your Responsibility Code” and observe all posted signs and closures.

“Playing it safe is critical to everyone having a good time on closing day,” said Don Dressler, snow ranger for the White River National Forest. “Take care of each other and enjoy your public lands responsibly.”

Guests are reminded that using any ski lift or trail while impaired by alcohol or controlled substances is prohibited under the Colorado Ski Safety Act. Guests are also not permitted to ride lifts, ski or snowboard on Vail Mountain with open containers or exposed quantities of alcohol, coolers, suitcase-like carriers, barbeques or similar items. One daypack per person will be permitted on closing day, provided the bag fits in a five-gallon container. Bags that do not meet the requirement will only be allowed if they contain no alcohol or controlled substances.

Inappropriate behavior that may jeopardize the experience of other guests is not tolerated. As in recent years, violators who are ticketed or arrested or caught throwing snowballs will lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for the 2013-2014 season. Those who disobey posted signs and closures or engage in other inappropriate behavior could lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for up to the entire 2013-2014 season.

Vail Mountain staff thanks all guests, employees and the Vail community for a fantastic 50^th anniversary season!