I’ve never seen a ski resort celebrate its Closing Day like Mammoth does with Yacht Club. It was purely wild and hilariously creative. For Saturday of Closing Day Weekend, Mammoth Mountain hosted its third annual Yacht Club boat races, where daring guests raced down a frozen track at breakneck speeds in homemade “boats” constructed only from three basic home materials for a chance at eternal glory. The fastest team I witnessed consisted of four boatmen riding a makeshift orca that hit 34 mph and almost cruised over the speed barrier at the end of the track. Some contestants sailed smooth, swift, and easy. Others wrecked big. And some boats didn’t catch any sail at all. The crowd roared on regardless.
Here’s how it works
Started three years ago and what has now become an instant classic at Mammoth is a “boat race” where teams of four race down the snow in a boat they constructed using only cardboard, tape, and paint (Flags are also allowed) to see who can take the fastest time. Contestants build intricate, creative boats that they hurl down the mountain at full steam while wearing fun and stylish costumes, because why not? The yachtsmen are also required to carry their boats up to the starting line, keeping weight in mind. There is both a kids and adults division and three lucky winners will be awarded prizes for:
1.) Fastest time
2.) Best costume/boat decoration.
With brave boatmen and women dressed up in outlandish costumes and sailing down a slick track at inhuman speeds in their homemade ships, there aren’t many other resorts in the country that take it to this level of Closing Weekend fun.
Mammoth knows how to party.
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