Pond Skimming in London in October!
‘Skim City’ was organised by Icebreaker – the New Zealand merino wool performance wear brand – to mark its 30th anniversary.
70 tons of re-cycled snow from the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead was brought to Potters Fields Park by Tower Bridge in four lorries early on Saturday morning.
It was London’s first ever urban pond skim
21,000 litres of water were used.
This is what it all produced.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
And here’s some of the action from Saturday afternoon:
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The participants needed to register in advance and have some experience on snow.
There were ski instructors on hand to offer advice on balance – and wish them luck.
A winch then pulled them at speed across the snow and they let go as they approached the water.
There were a few anxious faces as people queued up to give it a go.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
“Much organisation has gone on to make the event happen and I have obviously had some worries about the weather, but it has turned out to be a fantastic day for everyone,” said one of the organisers, Sam Meaden from Jibworx.
“We looked at a number of hills in London and then settled on this great location on flat ground by Tower Bridge in the knowledge that a winch would be good enough for the riders to get them decent speed to make it over the water.”
Several pro riders turned out including the UK 2018 Olympic bronze medalist in Snowboard Big Air, Billy Morgan.
That’s Billy with the white snowboard.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
The Pros got the event underway and inspired the rest who followed.
PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, caught up with Billy for the first time in a while.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
“It was such fun and I must admit I was a bit worried about getting wet, but I made it over OK,” said Billy to James.
“This is such a cool event with loads of skiers and snowboarders here, plus many passers- by who have no experience of our sport and what fun it is to be in snowsports.”
Just in case you are wondering what Billy is currently up to after his Olympic bronze in Pyeonchang in South Korea, he is training to be an electrician.
“I am going to be a ‘Sparky’!” he enthused.
The event has MCs and DJs to create the atmosphere.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
Back on the water one of the loudest cheers went to the youngest competitor, 10 year old Hatty, who went on to win a prize.
Needless to say, not everyone made it over.
“I have been to many snowsports events in London over the years and Skim City was right up there as one of the best,” said the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.
“We were blessed with great weather and it had a really good vibe produced by the participants, the crowd who had planned to come along and the curious passers by.
“It has certainly got me and hundreds of others in the mood for the approaching season.
“There were even people watching the action from Tower Bridge itself, some of whom then came down to see what all the fuss was all about.”
“All in all a great day of snowsports fun,” added James.
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
Skim City in London from Icebreaker. Image © PlanetSKI
We will be posting a few more videos of the fun later, so do check back.
The free-to-watch event combined live music, family fun and apres-style energy that brought a taste of mountain life to the city.
For most, it was their first brush with snow this season and perhaps their first time seeing it at the foot of Tower Bridge.
Icebreaker’s Skim City not only marked the brand’s 30th anniversary, it highlighted the brand’s key message of Move To Natural – an invitation for us all to opt for fewer man-made materials in our activewear.
PlanetSKI will be based in Canada for a couple of months next winter, and we will be wearing and testing some Icebreaker gear in the freezing cold temperatures often found in the Canadian Rockies.
Icebreaker is our base layer of choice.
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
The post Pond Skimming in London in October! appeared first on PlanetSKI.
Leave a Reply