BROOKVALE — Skiing and snowboarding turned into water sports on Sunday as patrons ended the provincial ski season with an aquaneige.
For about an hour, more than 20 people zipped their way down the slopes of the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park towards a massive pool of water in hopes of skidding across and making it to the other side.
Silas LeClair wasn’t so lucky to make it all the way across on his second trip down the slopes.
“It was fun the first time, at least,” said the 16-year-old from Emyvale. “The second time was pretty cold.”
Many of the participants took off their winter attire and went down the slopes in their T-shirts and shorts.
Mitchell Guindon spiced up his trip down the hill by wearing a white onesie suit.
He made his way across the pond and on to the second round.
On the second round, Guindon went a step further.
He and his friend, Frank Watts, went in tandem on Guindon’s skis.
The second the skis were off the slope, both plummeted into the water.
“We were open-minded,” said Guindon, who is from Green Bay.
The water sends a quick shock to the system.
“It gets cold in a hurry,” said Watts, who is from Glen Valley.
Guindon has been taking part in the aquaneige for the last seven years, while this is Watts’ third year.
Both also work at the ski park.
Guindon said there is a trick to making it across the water.
“Just go fast and lean back,” he said.
Those who made it to the other side got to partake in a second round of the aquaneige until just a few finalists were left for the final round. The winner, Taylor VanEwak from Argyle Shore, got a stay at the Best Value Comfort Inn.
For LeClair, the aquaneige has been on his bucket list for some time. He wanted to take part last year, but a broken wrist kept him on the sidelines – but dry.
He is already looking forward to 2020.
“I’ve seen people do it every year and it looked like fun,” he said. “I’ll be back here next year.”
