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Add These Items to Your End-of-Ski-Season Bucket List

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Apr 3, 2025 6:17 AM ET

Inevitably, at the beginning of ski season, we all say, "I want to do this or ski that this year!" and inevitably, some of those things just don't happen.

There are a few things, though, that are easy enough to accomplish, and no ski season should pass by without them. Most of them don't really have to happen on skis, which makes it a little easier, and, after all, skiing's at least partly about the culture.

So check your local resort's closing dates, slap one last layer of wax on your skis, and buckle up because you've got some things to get done before the lifts stop spinning!

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There's nothing like the time-honored tradition of drinking alcohol that's attached to a ski with friends. Please do so responsibly if you elect to partake.Photo: Silvrshootr/Getty Images

Do a Shot Ski

Shot skis are a hallmark of the true ski experience, or maybe the true après experience, depending on how you look at it. If you've never done one, a shot ski is an old ski mounted with shot glasses, usually between 4-5, depending on the size of the ski.

With a group of people, you fill each shot glass with the alcohol or liquid of choice, line up along the ski and tilt it back all together so everyone gets to take a shot. It's all about coordination and communication to make sure no one ends up dumping whiskey all over themselves.

Most good après spots have a shot ski somewhere, so get a group of friends (or strangers!) pick your poison, and throw back a shot all together.

Ski That Line You've Been Eyeing All Season

Everyone sets goals at the beginning of ski season, whether they're conscious or not. Maybe it's just to improve a skill or learn a new trick, but for some, it's to ski a specific line. Whether it's because conditions haven't lined up or you're still a little nervous, if there's some line or run you've been eyeing up all winter, there's no time like the present!

Checking off those goals or skiing a line you've been preparing for all winter is the best feeling, and the clock is ticking on ski season to get it done. Obviously, don't ski anything you're not ready to ski or that has dangerous conditions, but otherwise, go forth and conquer that couloir!

Shop an End-of-Season Sale

Tons of brands, ski shops, online retailers, and resorts have amazing end of season sales. Whether you're looking to update your kit or gear for next year, buy a discounted ski pass, or just do some price-conscious retail therapy, there's tons of good deals at the end of the season. Lots of resorts are selling passes for next season at their lowest prices. Some also have a spring pass option that gives unlimited ski days through the end of this season tacked onto next year's pass.

Many shops sell at least a portion of their demo skis at the end of the season, so if there's a pair of 2024/25 skis you love, but don't want to pay full price for. and don't mind them a little worn in, it's worth asking your local shop if and when they're selling their demo fleet.

Used gear stores are also in the time of year when they need to make room for summer gear and will often have end-of-season clean-out sales. These can be a great option to find already discounted, used gear at an even better price. Just remember, the correct number of skis to own is always N+1.

Attend an Après Party

Maybe you've never been to a truly epic après, or maybe the spring weather just has you jonesing for a good dance party in your ski boots. Either way, everyone should attend an après party that feels like a celebration of the ski season before the lifts stop running.

Many resorts host end-of-season events and parties through the spring and near their closing weekends. Depending on the resort, you can sometimes find great après parties in the parking lot throughout the spring season if you know where to look.

Even if your season isn't over just yet, we could all stand to let loose a little, so grab a bevy and your most stylish sunnies and put your dancing shoes on, even if they're your ski boots!

Watch (or Do!) a Pond Skim

Pond skims are a time-honored spring ski area tradition. When the temps get warm, and the snow gets slushy, lots of resorts will create a 'pond' at the base of the mountain and host a pond skim event.

If you're feeling sendy and fast and don't mind the potential of plunging into icy cold water in ski boots, sign up, find a costume and try your hand—just remember that modern powder skis were modeled off water skis—the wider the better!

If the skim itself isn't your vibe, pond skims are usually a carnage fest and a blast to watch. Bring some snacks and post up to watch all the bravest folks around try and surf their way across.

Ski Your Favorite Run a Few More Times

Everyone has that run that's inexplicably the most fun to ski in any conditions on any day. It's that run when you need a great end-of-the-day lap or you just need to feel a little pure skiing joy that you go to. Like it or not, the ski season is coming to a close, and the number of times you'll get to experience the joy of skiing (insert run name) is limited until next winter. So go forth and ski your favorite run a few more times and really soak in every detail of the slope to last you through the summer.

Ski in a Costume

We could all stand to take skiing a little less seriously sometimes and what better way to do that than shed your Gore-Tex and ski in something completely ridiculous? Maybe your mountain has an epic Gaper Day or closing-day celebration for you to ski in costume, or maybe you just choose a weekend with your friends to dress up.

Either way, there's something magnificently silly fun about skiing in jeans, a swimsuit, your sparkly disco pants, or whatever else you can find. Just don't forget the sunscreen if you've got more skin showing than a normal ski day!

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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