Camping it up on Queenstown's slopes
06 Aug 2010
Gay Ski Week
4 - 12 September 2010
The biggest gay alpine party in the southern hemisphere is celebrating its eighth birthday this year in Queenstown, New Zealand’s ‘adventure capital’.
Gay Ski Week, informally dubbed the ‘Big Gay Out’, attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the world to Queenstown every year - and has become Australasia’s biggest and most happening alpine gay and lesbian party.
The week-long party sizzles with exciting events on and off-piste including a bowling night, cowboy dinner, DNA pool party and a closing night ‘White Out’ party.
Topp twins party
The week’s headline act is the Topp Twins - Kiwi lesbian entertainers who are much-loved at home and abroad for their comedy and musical talent.
The Topp Twins released an autobiographical documentary film last year which won awards around the world, and became New Zealand’s most popular documentary film ever released.
Gay Ski Week organiser Mike Sanford says it is a great coup for the event to get the twins to perform.
"It’s always been a dream for us to have these Kiwi icons and national treasures to be part of the awesome week," he says.
In their down time, the twins say they are planning to hit the slopes and join in the revelry.
Event highlights
The week-long festivities kick off with a welcome party on 4 September, at the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside Hotel.
Visitors going up to the mountains will also enjoy a ride on the ‘pink bus’, which departs from the Base hotel in the mornings and returns at the end of the day - taking skiers up and down the slopes in style. Once on the snow, snow bunnies can take a break from skiing with one of the many fun ‘snow games’ planned throughout the week.
Games will include the ‘undie run’, dash for cash, costume race and also snow tubing at The Remarkables. There’s also a retro bowling and unlimited pizza night, the ‘big gay out’ tour around the Queenstown region, and the official ‘white out’ closing party to mark the end of an eventful week.
Snowbows - Mt Ruapehu
North Islanders who can’t get to Queenstown for Gay Ski Week can have their own fun during ‘Snowbows’, a gay ski weekend planned to run concurrently at Mt Ruapehu.
Organiser Steffi Richter said the idea of the event was to bring together gay people who loved skiing.
"You don’t have to be a ski or snowboard expert to be on board. Even if you have never been in the snow, just try it or book an hour with the ski school," says Richter.
More information
Spring 2010 - New Zealand highlights
Winter 2010 - New Zealand highlights
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