Registration open for World Pond Skimming Championships at Spring Back to Vail

The World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar will return to Vail Mountain's Golden Peak base area for the ninth year on Sunday, April 24, 2011. Skimmers from far and wide will gather in Vail to test their buoyancy on Lake Golden Peak for thechance at the title of 2011 World Pond Skimming Champion and the grand prize of an Epic Pass for the 2011/2012 season.

The pond skimming competition is a long-standing closing day tradition on Vail Mountain and is a well-loved part of the lineup of entertainment at Spring Back to Vail, the yearly festival to celebrate the conclusion of the skiing and riding season in Vail. The schedule of entertainment for closing day on April 24 also includes a free concert from Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars in Vail Village following the conclusion of the World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar.

“This has been amongst our best and most memorable seasons in recent history,” said Adam Sutner, director of sales and marketing for Vail Mountain. “Spring Back to Vail generally with more than 10 free shows in ten days, and The World Pond Skimming Chamiponships in particular, is a suitably compelling way to close out the season.”

The World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar entails floatable (and many times sinkable) athletes who aren't afraid of a little water launching off an on-snow jump onto an icy-cold pond with the goal of making it to the other end on both feet. Participants will compete for fame and glory in a spectacle that defies the laws of physics – and perhaps even common sense. Judges will score each skimmer on distance, style, creativity and water resistance. All eyes will be on the prize – the elusive title of 2011 World Pond Skimming Champion and a 2011/2012 Epic Pass – as competitors hurtle down Golden Peak and across the pond on Sunday, April 24.

Registration for this year's World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar opened on April 1 at www.vail.com/springback and will cost $75 per competitor. The field is limited to 75 participants ages 14 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Entries for this outrageous event sell out quickly eachyear, so those interested in participating are encouraged to register promptly.

The World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar is guaranteed to be a wet, wild and wacky good time for participants and spectators alike. The venue will open at 1:30 p.m., featuring expos from event sponsors, and the competitionwill get rolling at 3 p.m. Spectators can expect plenty of thrills and spills as the field of competitors is whittled down to the champion.

Following the crowning of the 2011 World Pond Skimming Champion at Vail Mountain's Golden Peak base area, the Spring Back to Vail festivities will continue with a free concert from Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars in Vail Village. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars played at Spring Back to Vail in 2010, and due to the overwhelming positive response to their show, Vail has decided to bring them back for an encore performance.

Formed of refugees displaced to Guinea during the Sierra Leone Civil War, this band's uplifting message and beats make for a live show that is loved by audiences all around the world. Singer/songwriter and guitarist Chris Velan will open for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. The concert venue, located on Meadow Dr. near Solaris, will open at 4 p.m. and the music will begin at 5 p.m. that afternoon.

For more information on the World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar,including rules and judging criteria, as well as the full Spring Back to Vail schedule visit www.vail.com/springback.

Spring Back to Vail is presented Vail Mountain, Bud Light, SoBe Lifewater, Sprint,Captain Morgan, Town of Vail, Cadillac, Maui Jim and Men's Journal and is sponsored in part by U.S. Army, Merrell, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Macanudo Cigars, Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, Liberty Skis, SmartWool, Vail Daily and KZYR-The Zephyr.

Spring Back to Vail Schedule:

Friday, April 15

Free Concert

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Opening act TBA

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive

Venue opens 6 p.m.

Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 16

Free Concert

Train presented by Bud Light

With Saint Motel

Ford Park

Venue opens 6 p.m.

Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 17

Free Concert

The Greyboy Allstars

Opening act TBA

Vail Village - Checkpoint Charlie

Venue opens 4 p.m.

Music starts 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 – Sunday, April 17

Reverb Eco Village

Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) base area

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22 – Sunday, April 24

Spring Back to Vail Expo Village and the Men's Journal Lounge

Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) base area

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

Free Concert

Shpongle presents the ShpongletronExperience

Opening act TBA

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive

Venue opens 6 p.m.

Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

Free Concert

Stephen Marley presented by Bud Light

Opening act TBA

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive

Venue opens 6 p.m.

Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

World Pond Skimming Championships presented by ROCKSTAR

Golden Peak base area

Venue opens 1:30 p.m.

Competition 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

With Chris Velan

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive

Venue opens 4 p.m.

Music starts 5 p.m.