Nothing signals the end of ski/snowboarding season quite like some loony spring-skiing event at your local ski area. We have the Pond Jump on the last day of the season here at Seven Springs—where participants don costumes…or not much of anything else…and ski down a slope, onto a ramp and into a the pond. Of course, there’s much partying before, during and after the event.

Our friends up north at Whistler Blackcomb take their end-of-season celebration to the next level by combining their retrospective partying, with the dawn of the next season of activities for the mountain: mountain biking! The Crud 2 Mud Downhill race has been absent for the past four years, but it’s back this year on May 22nd.

It works like this: teams or individuals strap on their favorite alpine sliding devices (skis or snowboard), and get to the starting line at the top of the mountain. They then race down to where the snowy slopes end. They immediately hop out of the skis or snowboards, switch footwear and clip into their bikes for a race through Whistler Mountain Bike Park. This is one duathalon that I can get into!

“The Crud 2 Mud is the only race that solves the spring-time dilemma of choosing whether to ride or ski. It allows you to do both,” says Rob McSkimming, Whistler Blackcomb VP of Business Development.

While it’ll definitely be a fun and unique way to end one season and start another…it’s no joke. “The event is recommended for strong intermediate to expert skiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers.” And, “Full face helmets are mandatory for the mountain bike portion of the race and protective padding is strongly recommended.”

Interestingly enough there’s no mention of what a prize might be for winning such an event. But that doesn’t matter, for there’s a party after the race with awards and other entertainment.

You must pre-register, and you can do that, and find more info, at the Whistler Blackcomb web site.

If you live anywhere near mountains and snow, chances are you like to slide down snowy mountains like you do. What’re some of your end-of-season rituals? Tell us about them in the comments section below!