An iconic Canadian Rockies tradition continues with the 94th final splash of the 23/24 Winter Ski and Snowboard Season this coming weekend.
Banff Sunshine’s Slush Cup is the longest-running end-of-ski-season pond skimming event in North America (and probably the world). Skiers and snowboarders flock together at the shine on Slush Cup Monday, May 20, 2024, but with Saturday and Sunday also seeing warm up events to make a long-weekend of it.
To celebrate Canada’s longest ski season, Banff Sunshine Village hosts the biggest farewell winter party they can, the 94th Slush Cup. This year, 100 competitors from around the world will attempt to skim across Canadian Rocky Mountain Slush for the honouring title of, “Mrs. SLUSH CUP,” and, “Mr. SLUSH CUP.” The title comes with a cash prize of $1,000 and a 24/25 Banff Sunshine season pass.
The origins of Slush Cup trace back nearly a century now, to a dare between friends on a particularly slushy day in the spring of 1928. As the legend goes, two buddies skiing the slopes of Sunshine encountered a patch of slush that beckoned them to attempt a daring feat: skiing across the slush.
“What once was a friendly dare is now the coolest party in the Canadian Rockies,” explains Kendra Scurfield, VP of Brand and Communications at Banff Sunshine Village, adding, “Over the years, Slush Cup has grown from a campy staff party to a can’t miss, most fun you can have with your ski boots on party.”
Banff extend the Slush Cup into a weekend-long, water-themed festival. Starting off is the biggest party weekend in the Canadian Rockies, with Slushshine Rail Jam on May 18th, 2024. This is followed by Watergate Banked Slalom on May 19th, 2024. And the season finishes off with the legendary Slush Cup itself on Monday, May 20th, 2024, when riders skim (or swim) across the slushy pool in costumes designed to impress a panel of celebrity judges, rounded off with an après party to send the season off in style.
