When the weather gets cold, real men (and women) head to the mountains for a white-hot gay ski weekend. Yep, it's time again for some good old-fashioned, red-blooded, white-powdered gay winter fun. Follow us as we slalom through this year's best gay and lesbian winter events. Take every mogul in your path, or pick your favorite and savor the experience -- just hop in your car, fly, walk or ski to your favorite resort and hit the slopes for a weekend (or longer). (Note that some events had incomplete information at press time. Be sure to check back here or with the organizers for the most up-to-date information.)
Need more weekend gay ski getaway ideas? Click here for the perfect gay-friendly gay ski resorts to wrap a weekend around.
January 4-8
Utah Gay & Lesbian Ski Week
Park City, Utah
This event, now in its sixth year, is more intimate, relaxed and community-oriented than some of the larger ones. Skiing takes place on the slopes at Park City, the Canyons and Deer Valley.
January 15-22
Aspen Gay & Lesbian Ski Week
Aspen, Colorado
This is the longest-running gay and lesbian ski event in the world, attracting thousands of skiers, boarders and après-skiers with a diverse lineup of activities, parties, entertainment, a film festival and -- oh yes, skiing on four different mountains.
February 4-11
Vail Gay and Lesbian Ski Week
Vail, Colorado
From the same people who organize the gay ski week at Park City, Utah (see above), this outing (formerly known as Summit County Gay Ski and Snowboard Week) provides a more select experience for those with a penchant for powder -- with access to the slopes of Vail and Beaver Creek.
February 4-13
GayWhistler Ski Week 2006
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Altitude has hit a few bumps. The original event has been canceled, but others have stepped in to plan events during the week in the hopes that participants still attend the function. The founders of Gay Whistler in conjunction with Tourism Whistler will host an event during the same week that Altitude was supposed to take place. All event, booking and ticket information will be available at http://TourismWhistler.com and www.GayWhistler.com.
February 17-20
Winter Explosion 2006: "Family Reunion"
www.winterexplosion.com, don@winterexplosion.com
The largest and longest-running gay and lesbian African-American winter event on the East Coast (2006 will be its 12th season), Family Reunion attracts close to 1,000 participants to New York's Hudson Valley Resort and Spa over Presidents Day weekend.
February 17-20
Denver Meltdown: Black Gay Ski Week
http://denvermeltdown.com
For three days beginning February 17th, thrill-seeking men from around the country will converge in Denver for a massive Meltdown; The Largest Black Gay Ski weekend of events ever over Presidents Day weekend.
February 26-March 5
Telluride Gay Ski Week Telluride
Telluride, Colorado
In-drag skiing is just one of the events at this relatively young but increasingly popular Rocky Mountains affair, which includes sleigh rides, snowmobiling, an Oscar party at the Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride AIDS Benefit and fashion show.
February 26-March 5
Ascent, the Winter Party at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, NV
So you can navigate the slopes and the weeklong party like a VIP, the adventurous OutWest people offer a package to this serious snow fiesta, which also draws plenty of lesbians.
March 5-12
Lake Tahoe WinterFest 2006
Lake Tahoe, NV
Nevada Gay and Lesbian CVB (877/777-4950; www.laketahoewinterfest.com, nglvcb@aol.com)
During the 11th annual ski WinterFest, skiers and boarders enjoy morning socials and nightly entertainment, including comedians and dance parties. The highlight is a dinner-dance cruise on Lake Tahoe.
March 15-19
Elevation 2006
Mammoth, CA
Come for four days of spring skiing and snowboarding. Stay for seven major après-ski and nighttime events, including world-famous DJs and a crowd of 1,500-plus guys and girls from across Southern California.
March 12-19
SWING (SWiss and INternational Gays in the Swiss alps)
Lenzerheide, Switzerland
This intimate affair usually attracts around 50 gays and lesbians of different ages to a magical mid-size ski resort in the Graubünden mountains.
March 20-26
Switzerland Gay and Lesbian Ski Week
Hosted by Swiss Tourism; Booking agent: Eurobound (888/672-7476; http://eurobound.com/gay_pack/gayski05.asp)
Late-spring skiing in Switzerland is an unforgettable experience. You'll find yourself in a fairy tale landscape, surrounded by some of the most stunningly beautiful mountains in the world. Davos is one of the largest and most popular winter sport regions in Europe.
March 24-26
Powder & Pride
Panorama, British Columbia, Canada
The first gay ski and snowboarding weekend hosted by not-for-profit travel organization Gayoutdoors.com includes nightly dancing to DJs and a Winter Wonderland Ball. Check back here or on organizer's Web site for updated information.
Late March or early April
European Gay Ski Week 2006
Pila, Italy
Alternative Holidays (+44-20/8795-6567, fax +44-20/8903-7357; www.alternative-holidays.com, info@alternative-holidays.com)
London-based Alternative Holidays has organized successful gay ski events for 10 years running. This year, the shussing takes place in the Aosta Valley of the Italian Alps, with lodging in the resort town of Pila. Participants can also book add-on trips to Rome, Milan or Florence. (Dates are not confirmed as of press time. Check back here or on organizer's Web site for 2006 dates.)
April 5-9
OutBoard 2006
Keystone, Colorado
Begun in 1997, OutBoard is the oldest and largest gay and lesbian snowboarding event in the world, drawing more than 300 boarders. Steamboat, about 180 miles northwest of Denver, is known for late-season snow and its legendary "champagne powder."
April 1-7
Gay Snowhappening
Soelden, Austria
End-of-winter skiing in the splendiferous Austrian Alps: It's the perfect way to bid the season auf wiedersehen. This is the seventh year for this festive event.
September 2-9
Gay Ski Week
Queenstown, New Zealand
A social whirl of a week in the self-professed "après-ski adventure capital of the Southern hemisphere" in this gay-popular resort town. It drew nearly 300 revelers in 2005.
Early September
WhiteOUT!
Mt. Buller, Victoria, Australia
Melbourne's gay and lesbian Midsumma Festival organization will be hosting their seventh annual ski weekend, which draws a smallish crowd of 150 bunnies of all levels, who register in August. (Dates are not confirmed as of press time. Check back here or on organizer's Web site for 2006 dates.)
Please note: As noted above, some events had incomplete information at press time. Be sure to check with the organizers for the most up-to-date information.
Click here for our favorite gay-friendly ski resorts.
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