Rainy Slush Cup doesn’t dampen spirits at Alyeska’s annual Spring Carnival

By Rachel Drinkard
Turnagain Times Correspondent

An otherwise dreary day took on a brighter hue at this year’s annual Spring Carnival held April 26 at Alyeska, the big draw being, of course, Saturday’s rowdy Slush Cup event.
Over 50 competitors and a league of spectators ranging from families with small children and dogs in tow to the revelers and party-seekers showed up at the Sitzmark for the afternoon festivities despite a steady drizzle and a surprise snow dump the day before the event.
The costumed skiers and boarders competed for points in categories such as biggest splash and crowd participation as they skipped, skimmed and often sank in a 90 foot span of ice cold water prepared for the event.
“A lot more are making it across this year,” observed one spectator. “The snow is a lot faster and the jump is better.”
In the end, judges Todd Palin, Kikkan Randall, still recovering from recent hospital stays for complications with blood clots, Iron Dog winner Marc McKenna and KTUU’s Megan Baldino awarded top honors to “Monkey Business,” a bare-bottomed baboon also known as Colby Kelly.
Kelly narrowly beat out the popular Caitlin “Pink Taco” Chenoureth, whose costume primarily consisted of a pink gymnast leotard she got when she was 11.
“It’s very stretchy,” she said in response to surprised looks as she adjusted her pink party wig.
Girdwood’s Kami Cabana rounded out the winner’s podium with her second year running in the third-place spot.
The day’s other events included a bikini fashion show around the slush cup pool and an “Idiot’s Swim Across” in which the pool was open to whoever would brave the frigid water.
The weekend was rounded out with Sunday’s closing night party at the Sitzmark featuring Lulu and the Aqua Nets.