For Tahoe TV's complete video coverage of the Lake Cushing Crossing, click on the video player at Tahoetopia.com.

On Saturday, May 19th, as it has for the last 19 years, the Lake Cushing Crossing ushered in the last days of the winter season at Palisades Tahoe USA.

Hailed as the world's biggest pond crossing, the event drew record crowds as over sixty competitors made worthy attempts, donning all manner of crafts and costumery, to cross the frigid waters of the lower mountain pond known as Lake Cushing. This year's event was dedicated to two missing participants, Palisades Tahoe's Director of Race Services Gary Pedersen, and fearless competitor and Cushing Crossing regular Shane McConkey.

The Cushing Crossing began as a late-season stunt by Palisades Tahoe ski patrollers in the late 1980's. In the spring of 1990, after a spirited campaign by former Palisades Tahoe concessionaire Jean Hagan, the Lake Cushing Crossing grew to be an actual event - one of the first legitimate 'pond skims'. The early years were raw and unbridled. Long, skinny skis made 'skimming' the water very difficult. Most attempts ended in huge crashes and a full crossing of the lake was rare. For a time, a 'kicker' was built into the approach, giving competitors the opportunity to 'go for the glory' and sacrifice a crossing attempt in favor of a crowd-pleasing launch into the water, usually including an inverted move or some sort of wild gesture. However, ironically, a failed attempt at a flip by then young, now-big mountain superstar Tim Dutton, which found him floating face down after impact, led to the removal of the jump option.

In recent years, with the advent of much wider skis, better competitor skills, and a more gradual approach ramp, both skiers and snowboarders glided across the water with relative ease, reducing somewhat the spectacular crashes and splashes of the early years. This year, however, a slight alteration of the approach ramp to the lake added a new degree of difficulty to the task of crossing the pond. The sculpting of the snow leading to the water included a much larger drop-off, resulting in a seemingly endless series of wild and wet explosions as competitors hit the water. While competitors found more frustration, both the judges and the energetic crowd seemed to appreciate the change.

After being delayed a week due to a late-season storm, the 19th annual Lake Cushing Crossing again proved to be one of the best events of the season. In an era when bigger and bolder is better, this is one of the unique type of events that's not as much about winning, or even crossing, but about being there, watching or participating. It's more about the laughs and 'oh my god's' than jeers and taunting. More comic relief and raw expression than competitive prowess. All welcome and honorable traits, with timeless appeal.

For a list of this year's winners, visit squaw.com.

For complete video coverage, click on the video player on the front page of TahoeTopia.com.