November Road Trip - Calling All Ski Bums!

Winter Sports Destinations - Ideas for Gay Travel

The Powder is Beckoning You to the Slopes

Get your gear ready – winter is coming and your choice of upcoming gay ski weeks/weekends is amazing! And for best prices on travel and accommodation packages, no matter where you decide to travel, November is absolutely the right time of year to book your reservations. While not every ski venue has its full events calendar set in stone, they nevertheless are sure to be filled with lots of great skiing, après-ski events, spa days and great parties.

In addition to fun on and off the slopes, a number of the major ski events are partnering with or supporting various GLBT organizations that maintain strong gay and lesbian communities through vital education, awareness and support services. A recent addition to the other well-known offerings is Summit 2011: North Carolina Gay Ski Weekend at Blowing Rock, N.C. Only in its third year of operation, this event is being held January 20-23 with all activities centered at the beautiful Crestwood Resort and Spa.

Located near the picturesque town of Blowing Rock (adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Pisgah National Forest), The Inn at Crestwood is a luxurious boutique resort, restaurant, lounge, spa and private events venue in the heart of the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains. Once the private summer home of renowned architect Claus Moberg, the family has redesigned Crestwood to maintain its warm, family feel while providing the expected amenities of a first-class resort. In addition to the spa, they include free wireless Internet, indoor lap pool, fitness room, dry sauna and steam bath as well as a light continental breakfast for all their guests.

All aspects of the skiing experience for the weekend will be handled by the award-winning French Swiss Ski School, the oldest and best-known ski school in the southeast. If you don’t own your own equipment or you simply don’t want to deal with airline luggage hassles and costs, they have a rental option available. In addition to handling the actual skiing and snowboarding events, their sister-company, French-Swiss Rentals, offers a full line of rental skis, snowboards and clothing at affordable prizes.

Kicking off the weekend is a Thursday Welcome Cocktail & Party hosted by the French Swiss Ski School, followed on Friday by a 1.5 hour yoga class, an afternoon wine tasting by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, a late afternoon Champagne Gallery Crawl through Blowing Rock’s various art galleries, followed by the Gamekeeper Cocktail & Dinner. Ending the Friday festivities is WET, a pool and video dance party. Sponsored by the NC Mountain Boys & Girls, it features a swimsuit contest and cash prizes.

Saturday proves to be just as fun-packed, starting again with the yoga class and wine tasting but then moving to a shopping spree in downtown Blowing Rock, an adult novelty party in the afternoon, followed by your choice of three restaurants for dinner. Closing down Saturday night and welcoming in Sunday morning is the SNOWBALL 2011 dance party, presented for the second year by JustTwirl.com. Featuring DJ/Producer Seth Cooper, this event is the highlight of the Ski Weekend 2011.

Visit their website at www.ncgayskiweekend.com for details or, for more complete information on 2011 Summit Ski Weekend, contact Greg Jung by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone at 877-951-6262, x101.

Other major gay ski celebrations this winter include the following events:

January 30-February 6
WinterPRIDE 2011, the annual Gay & Lesbian Ski & Snowboard Festival Whistler, British Columbia
www.gaywhistler.com/winterpride2011.php
Thanks to a La Niña weather pattern, local forecasters are predicting an early, snowy winter for the Whistler area, bringing with it perhaps the best snow season since 1950! So don’t wait to make your reservations if this is your gay ski week choice because there will be lots of people drooling over the snow forecast. The official host hotel is the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa and the destination is the Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America. In addition to hosting the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, it was also the site of the very first LGBT Gay Pride Pavilion at the Olympics – PRIDE House.

While the full calendar of events is still subject to change at this point, it’s sure to be filled with many of the fun and fabulous events for which this north-of-the-border event is known. They’re currently listing a comedy show, pool party, mountain top party, Snowball Dance and some culinary events, to name a few. If you’re not Canadian, remember that you’ll need to have appropriate travel documents to cross the border.

February 26-March 5
Telluride Gay Ski Week
Telluride, Colorado
www.telluridegayskiweek.com
Named “Top Gay Ski Week” in the U.S. by Gay.com, organizers for this year’s event (better known as T-11) are working hard to keep the title for 2011. Located in the San Juan portion of the Rockies is the quaint and historic town of Telluride. The town itself is upscale but laid-back and very gay-friendly, boasting a large number of fabulous restaurants, inns and shops. Perhaps the best way to describe the mountain overlooking the town is challenging – its highest point is 13,150 feet and it sports a 4,500 vertical drop. And with 115 runs and 18 lifts, it’s a ski bum’s dream.
 
The exact schedule of events for T-11 is still being firmed up but you can be sure it will include loads of activities, both on and off the slopes. Watch for more information on parties, spa days, social mixers, the Drag Race Challenge and lots of après-ski events.

March 19-26
Butte 11: Matthew Shepard Foundation Gay Ski Week
Crested Butte, Colorado
www.matthewshepardgayskiweek.com
Butte 11 marks the beginning of a combined effort between Crested Butte Mountain Resort, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and StraightOut Media & Marketing to create an annual signature gay ski event that raises both awareness and contributions to the organization. They’re calling all skiers to “RAISE some funds, RAISE awareness and RAISE a glass or two.”

With the Elevation Hotel & Spa as the official host hotel, the week promises parties from start to finish. You’ll not only experience great skiing in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, there will also be activities, theme parties, bar crawls, and food at a variety of locations – from lunch on the mountain to dinner at various local restaurants. All of this is kicked off by the legendary annual Al Johnson Costume Race as the first on-hill event, followed by the Al Johnson Afterparty. Who says skiing can’t be glam and fun, all at the same time? And when you throw in a spa day, après-ski events, and Martini Monday, you’re sure to have a week to remember (maybe, depending on how long Monday lasted).

Also included in this year’s “snow and go” season are the following gay skiing events:

January 5-9
Utah Gay & Lesbian Ski Week
Park City, Utah
Website
Utah resorts market the state’s snow as "the Greatest Snow on Earth" due to its dry, powdery texture, the result of low relative humidity during the winter and the added lake-effect from the Great Salt Lake. And if this is your ski week of choice, you’ll be sure to enjoy primo skiing in addition to lots of fun off the slopes. While the official host hotel for this week is the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, the ski package for the week utilizes a Mountain du Jour approach. Each day you’ll be skiing one of the best-known peaks in the Park City area – The Canyons, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude and Alta, all located just 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City. The tentative schedule of events includes a welcome party, friendship dinner, and a meet and greet with ski week participants as well as some Salt Lake City locals. In Park City, social events will be held at Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons and Deer Valley. If you’re planning on attending the Official Ski Week Dinner and Party, you must book it by December 15 to guarantee a spot by calling 877-429-6368.

January 16-23
Aspen Gay Ski Week
Aspen, Colorado
www.gayskiweek.com
One of the oldest and largest gay ski events in the U.S., Aspen draws an upscale crowd. Host for this year’s event once again is Aspen’s Limelight Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. With a theme of Wild Wild West, this year’s events include a pool party, après-ski events, talent that’s both local and international, boutique and comedy nights, and the downhill costume parade and competition that awards $1,000 in cash and prizes to the Grand Prize Winner. While you’re at it, grab your hottie and head for those two 20-person hot tubs! All these activities are rounded out with their traditional “Friendship Dinners,” aka “meet and eats” at the many fine participating restaurants throughout downtown Aspen.

January 19-23
Winter Rendezvous Gay Ski Week
Stowe, Vermont
Website
The 2011 Rendezvous marks the 27th anniversary of this annual event, held at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, one of the northeast’s best resorts. While the 2011 schedule of events isn’t completely set at this point, outdoor activities will definitely include great downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, even dog sledding. Off-slope activities will include après-ski social mixers with cocktails and wine tasting, parties (a classic disco ball one evening and a blow-out house party the next), and live entertainment that includes Girls Will Be Girls star Varla Jean Merman as well as comedian James Judd.

February 15-20
Ski Bums Jackson Hole Gay Ski Week
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
www.ski-bums.org/GroupTrips.html
Lodging for the organization’s Jackson Hole trip is at what they describe as “an easy contender for our favorite hotel of all time,” the Hotel Terra, located 12 miles from downtown Jackson in Teton Village. But what sets this event apart is that it’s really a “two-fer” – skiing at two of the most challenging Wyoming resorts, Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee. Located in the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is known for one of the longest, steepest continuous vertical drops of any North American ski area.

Dropping from 10,450 feet to 6,311 feet, it provides skiers 4,139 feet of vertical excitement. In fact, the organization does NOT recommend this trip for beginner skiers or snowboarders. But be aware that Ski Bums trips are open only to members of the organization. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it more information on this trip or on joining the organization.

March 6-11
Lake Tahoe Gay & Lesbian Winterfest 16
South Lake Tahoe, California
www.laketahoewinterfest.com
The same La Niña weather pattern feeding Whistler along the Pacific Northwest is also providing the third wettest season in recent history for Lake Tahoe. So skiing here should be as spectacular as the views. Host resort for the event once again is Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort, whose property spans the border of California and Nevada so you can actually ski in two states. Now in its 16th year of operation, this event still has an intimate feel to it. Although this year’s schedule of events wasn’t available at the time of this writing, it’s sure to follow last year’s menu of parties, contests, adult beverages, and, since part of the party is in Nevada, gambling.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 800-842-4753 for updated information on this great event.

March 16-20
Elevation Mammoth 2011
Mammoth, California
www.mammothgayski.com
Celebrating its ninth year, this Southern California event still holds to its core mission of “2000 riders. 7 major parties. 0 attitude.” Great skiing is a given. And with event names like “Skiers, Studs, One Night Stands & Ski Bunnies” and “Boys, Boarders & a Beach Party,” you’re sure to have a fabulous time. All après-ski events are headquartered at the Village at Mammoth but you’ll need to purchase weekend passes and main event tickets early because they’ll hit capacity quickly. Since Elevation has already outgrown every après-ski venue in town, the big Saturday dance party, Cliffhanger, takes it to the streets – literally. They pack sound and lighting gear into two trucks and haul it up to gay-friendly Mammoth – it’s the biggest and best party around!

Vail Gay Ski Week
Vail, Colorado
www.vailgayskiweek.com
No date or host hotel for the annual Vail Gay Ski Week has been confirmed at the time of this writing but you can contact the website above, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call toll-free 877-845-1519 for the latest information on this great annual event as it’s available.

Canadian mountain guide, Hans Gmoser, once said that “a person should have wings to carry him where his dreams go, but sometimes a pair of skis makes a good substitute.” It’s a sure bet that no matter which ski adventure you choose, you’ll have a great time, both on and off the slopes! So from all of us at Compete, we wish good weather, good company and a good pair of skis (just in case your dreams need a little lift).

Written by :

Connie

 

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Don't Forget OutBoard, the biggest snowboarding event

Hey Connie- Don't forget OutBoard, held March 29-April 3rd 2011 in Crested Butte, CO. Over 200 Gay and Lesbian snowboarders and skiers will get together for a week of deep powder and great parties.

All the details are on our website at http://www.outboard.org

Ladd , December 01, 2010 | url

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