Skiers and boarders made a splash at Fernie Alpine Resort's Raging Elk Slope Soaker on Apr. 13.
The final event of the 2024-25 ski season was a big crowd pleaser. More than 80 skiers and boarders, dressed in their craziest costumes, raced down the hill to try and make a clean run across an icy pool of water or wipe out in a spectacular wave of water after a major jump.
It was a bluebird day with a mild five degree temperature and decent snow coverage at the top of the mountain.
Young Eva Redmond skimmed gracefully across the pond, dressed in a colourful rainbow tutu. She claimed Best Overall performance, to wild applause from the crowd.
Ian Flannery took a terrific leap into the pool on his board and hit the water hard, toppling sideways before sinking. He claimed the Biggest Splash.
Local Fernie skier Olivier Leblanc powered across the pool in one massive wave. He maintained a steady pace when he shredded across the final stretch of the course, and nearly took out the audience standing at the finish line. The judges awarded him Best Water Skim.
"I didn't want to get wet. That was the goal," said Leblanc.
It was Leblanc's first time participating in the event. He had been trying to enter for years, but it had always filled up too quickly. This year, he finally got his shot.
Ben Riggs, dressed as the Monopoly Man's ambitious brother, was voted Best Costume for his sophisticated tuxedo and top hat.
Lindsay Wolf won an award for the second year in a row, dressed as a suburban wine mom. She boarded across the pool wearing a white bathrobe and hair towel, and struck a pose for the cameras as she was helped out of the water by Fernie Search and Rescue volunteers, which earned her Best Showmanship.
Kerry Baird got Best Crowd Reaction after she fell sideways into the water and made a tidal wave that soaked the audience.
Honourable mentions were given to Lara Pranckevicius for Best Crowd Participation and Erin Maycock for Best Bribe. Tatum Villard, Allison Rayner and Maya and Julia Redmond were proclaimed Best Group, for dressing as grandmas. Each of the girls wore night gowns and wigs with hair curlers.
The Slope Soaker was accompanied by the Fernival music festival. The festival kicked off on Apr. 12, with performances from local artists Blues Steel and Naena Robinson and headliner Elliott Brood.
Members Mark Sasso, Casey Laforet, Stephen Pitkin from Elliott Brood have found success collaborating with country musicians like Corb Lund and Blue Rodeo. Their most recent album, released last year, is Town and Country.
Mile High Club, an eclectic cover band from Cranbrook, performed for the finale on Apr. 13. They sang a mix of popular songs, spanning 80s to 10s.
Proceeds from the Slope Soaker will go toward supporting Fernie Search and Rescue, who volunteered at the event and helped participants out of the water at the bottom of the hill.
