Well… this is awkward (in the best way possible).

Cushing Crossing is officially back on its original date, Saturday, May 2. Yes, the same date we planned from the start before March decided to take a vacation and had us second-guessing everything.

Fast forward to April… and Mother Nature absolutely overdelivered with 81 inches of snow. So now we’re back full circle to Plan A like nothing ever happened.

Thanks for sticking with us through our brief weather-induced panic. Grab your costumes, your skis, and your best pond-skimming confidence because spring just showed up in a big way, and we’re ready to celebrate.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Location: Cushing Pond
• Registration: 8am at Wildflour - First come, first serve, $20 cash only, participants must be in-person to register
• Event: 1pm at Cushing Pond
• Awards: 3:30pm (approximately) by Cushing Pond

The 34th Annual Cushing Crossing is the ultimate spring spectacle. Join us for big sends, bigger splashes, and plenty of laughs as skiers and riders attempt to skim across Cushing Pond in front of celebrity judges and two of the best emcees around. Costumes are highly encouraged, and the awards ceremony will take place immediately following the event at Cushing Pond. Each category winner will receive prizes from our partners: Smith, Darn Tough, The North Face, Smartwool, Chomps, and Honey Stinger.

Categories

• Men’s Ski
• Men’s Snowboard
• Women’s Ski
• Women’s Snowboard
• Unlimited (any apparatus that isn’t a straightforward pair of skis or snowboard, but is of skiing or snowboard origin)

• 25 points for creativity and style
• 25 points for a successful pond crossing

• Participants must be 18+ and present to register
• No one may register on behalf of another competitor
• Costumes are highly encouraged
• Approved helmets and flotation devices are mandatory
• No inappropriate clothing or profanity associated with costumes
• This is a family-friendly event — if you wouldn’t do it in front of your grandmother, don’t do it here
• Snow sliding apparatus must be of a winter sports origin
• Participants must be able to control their apparatus
• Palisades Tahoe reserves the right to disallow any competitor or apparatus
• Tie breaker for the overall winner will be decided by a second run ski-off
• Overall winner is determined by the highest combined score from two runs
• Participants are responsible for their actions
• No pyrotechnics or open flame on course
• Multiple competitors must be attached to the same apparatus
• Please bring your own PFD if possible; limited loaners will be available