Slush Cup 2026 brings big splashes to Saskatoon

(Carla Shynkaruk/CTV News)

Spring was celebrated with a splash this weekend as the annual Slush Cup returned to Optimist Hill, marking the unofficial end of the ski season at the Saskatoon hill.

Dozens of people gathered to watch and take part in the popular event, where about 50 skiers and snowboarders raced down the hill and tried to skim across a pool of ice-cold water.

“The skiers and snowboarders come down the hill and hit the jumps as they come down, whatever they choose to do, and then they try to, the brave ones try to get through the pond, dry,” Todd Harms, operations manager for Optimist Hill, told CTV News.

While some participants managed to glide across with ease, many ended their runs with a splash into the frigid water.

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Costumes were part of the fun for some, while others, like snowboarders Leo Nagus, chose to embrace the cold and go shirtless.

“It’s kind of the end of year fun thing. I practice all year and then this. And I just get to show off my tricks,” Nagus told CTV News.

He was able to make it across the water unscathed.

The Slush Cup is a long-standing tradition in Saskatoon at Optimist Hill.

Harms said officials with the hill will be getting together in the coming weeks and months to reflect on a season with low attendance due to uncooperative weather. He said they rely on lots of traffic during Christmas and February breaks, but this year numbers were disappointing because the weather wasn’t conducive to attracting big crowds.

Sunday’s wrap-up event featured ideal conditions, with sunny weather, soft snow and plenty of slush.